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Exodus 1:1-2:25; 1 Chronicles 6:1-3; Exodus 3:1-4:17<\/strong><\/span> Today we begin the book of Exodus!<\/span><\/p>\n ~Exodus~<\/strong> In Exodus chapter 1 verse 12 is awesome: \u201cBut the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more quickly the Israelites multiplied!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing how when God wants people to flourish, they flourish!\u00a0 Even in the midst of oppression.\u00a0 This verse kind of reminds me of the flourishing of churches over the centuries and even today where the body of Christ is still often oppressed.\u00a0 It flourishes!\u00a0 Praise God for flourishing his people then \u2013 and now!\u00a0 <\/span> In Exodus chapter 2 we are first introduced to Moses, who is the author of this book of Exodus \u2013 along w\/ the overall first 5 books of the Old Testament \u2013 also known as <\/span>the Pentateuch<\/span> or the Books of Law.\u00a0 A fun little Bible factoid for you in Exodus chapter 2 verse 6 is that this is the only mention anywhere in the Bible of a baby crying!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 \u201cWhen the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. \u201cThis must be one of the Hebrew children,\u201d she said.\u201d<\/em><\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Exodus chapter 1 titled \u201cPharaoh\u2019s Fears and Israel\u2019s Faith\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n Well, I debated posting up this water color of Moses killing the Egyptian from chapter 2 today, but the image probably captures things accurately enough.\u00a0 We cannot hide from some of the things in the Bible that are not squeaky clean & perfect.\u00a0 The Bible is not always squeaky clean & perfect in terms of the behaviors of people in the Bible.\u00a0 Life is not always squeaky clean & perfect.\u00a0 However God will ultimately make us squeaky clean & perfect \u2013 forever.\u00a0 And in this life God can even redeem Moses after this act:<\/span> Please do read up more on this act of Moses\u2019 in chapter 2 at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 At this link you\u2019ll see this line: \u201cWe dare not seek to defend Moses in the murder of the Egyptian, no matter how cruel he may have been. Moses\u2019 act was in defiance of the authority of Egypt, and it was premeditated murder (\u201che looked this way and that,\u201d v. 12). While Moses\u2019 method of dealing with this problem was wrong, we can see that his motivation was commendable. Moses sought to defend the oppressed. When he sought to rebuke his Hebrew brother for wrongly mistreating another Hebrew (v. 13), Moses revealed, once again, the disposition of a deliverer.\u201d\u00a0 Moses was 40 years old when he killed the Egyptian.\u00a0 Moses then escapes to Midian \u2013 an area on the eastern side of the Red Sea that was very dry and desolate.\u00a0 Moses ends up living in Midian for 40 years:<\/span> In Chapter 3 today God speaks to Moses through the burning bush!\u00a0 What I love about this is in verse 4: \u201cWhen the LORD saw that he had caught Moses\u2019 attention\u2026\u201d <\/em>It seems like Moses probably could have seen this burning bush \u2013 and kept going.\u00a0 He could have somehow walked on by \u2013 maybe because he had to get the flocks back home or he was late for dinner or who knows what.\u00a0 He could have missed the adventure and the calling of his life.\u00a0 But he doesn\u2019t.\u00a0 He stops.\u00a0 He investigates.\u00a0 He has a conversation with God.\u00a0 God caught his attention.\u00a0 And I wonder in our lives today, is God trying to catch our attention?\u00a0 Is God trying to tell us something important?\u00a0 And are we just passing God by \u2013 or will we stop and investigate and have a conversation with God?<\/span> Exodus 3:14 is a biggee in today\u2019s readings as Moses asks God who he should tell the Hebrews who sent him: \u201cGod replied, \u201cI AM WHO I AM. Just tell them, \u2018I AM has sent me to you.\u2019\u201d <\/em>I AM WHO I AM\u00a0 translates into Yahweh in Hebrew.\u00a0 I read a great little commentary that said when God speaks of himself, he says \u201cI AM\u201d.\u00a0 When we speak of God we should say \u201cHe is.\u201d\u00a0 I like that.\u00a0 He is.\u00a0 I actually heard a sermon recently about the unchanging nature of God.\u00a0 He is omniscient.\u00a0 Omni-present.\u00a0 Eternal.\u00a0 He is wisdom.\u00a0 He cannot learn anything, because He knows everything.\u00a0 He is.\u00a0 The Hebrew letters yud, hey, vav, hey (below) \u2014 often depicted in English as YHWH or Yahweh \u2014 spell the ineffable name of God:<\/span> Another powerful thing to note is that Jesus uses this same phrase of I AM and nearly gets stoned to death for sharing this truth in the Gospel of John chapter 8 verses 58 & 59: \u201c\u201cI tell you the truth,\u201d Jesus answered, \u201cbefore Abraham was born, I am<\/strong>!\u201d At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus is? So \u2013 when God says I AM! \u2013 what is our response?\u00a0 He is!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 I like that.\u00a0 \u00a0He is.\u00a0 A great commentary on the Burning Bush & I AM in Exodus chapter 3 is at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span> Today in Exodus chapter 4 we read about God discussing with Moses from the burning bush how Moses will lead the Israelites out of Egypt!\u00a0 Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Moses having this conversation with God before the burning bush:<\/span> Moses has a classic line to God in Chapter 4 verse 10: \u201cMoses said to the LORD , \u201cO Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.\u201d<\/em> I think what is classic about this line is that probably many of us have some sort of line similar to this one that we say to God when God is calling us to do something big for His Kingdom. Or maybe even if it is something medium-sized or small God is calling us to, we probably have some pretty good excuses. \u201cWhy me God?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m too young.\u201d I\u2019m too old.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m too busy.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not that smart.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not that talented\u201d. And I\u2019m sure our list of excuses could go on. BUT \u2013 check out what God says to Moses in verse 12: \u201cNow go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.\u201d<\/em> Wow. Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to move forward? Maybe calling you to some Kingdom work? And are you making excuses? Will you leave those excuses behind? Do you realize that God will help you do whatever you need to do? Do you realize that God will teach you what to do as you go? You may not know exactly what to do right now \u2013 but if you move forward, do you believe God will show up and help you accomplish the task? Will you go? Now? Below is a wonderful stained glass image of God in the burning bush telling Moses to \u201cnow go!\u201d<\/span> Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings remind me of Rich Mullins\u2019 song \u201cI See You\u201d sung here by Michael W. Smith:<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
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Author<\/span>: Moses
Date<\/span>: 1420 or 1220 B.C.
Content<\/span>: The book of Exodus deals with the significant facts surrounding Israel\u2019s emergence as a nation. Moses\u2019 great leadership is described as he accepted God\u2019s call to return to Egypt in order to lead God\u2019s people to freedom. God sent the ten devastating plagues upon Egypt because the Pharaoh refused to obey his command. The ceremony of Passover was established during the last plague and became a memorial of God\u2019s deliverance for all time to Israel. The Israelites crossed the sea and arrived at Mt. Sinai where God gave the Ten Commandments and the plan for the tabernacle, and the covenant was renewed the nation.
Theme<\/span>: The power of God over evil is clearly shown when God defeats the enemy of his people by delivering them from bondage, but God expects that we trust and obey him in return. Worship in the Tabernacle and adherence to the law were two aspects of Israel\u2019s obedience. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d pages 1-2)<\/em> Terrific in-depth commentary on the book of Exodus can be found at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span>