August 31, 2023

Remember when God told the Israelites to borrow or plunder the Egyptians? There was a purpose for doing that, and it wasn’t so they could have the finer things for their possession. The instructions God gives us may not make sense at the time, but when things fall into place, and you see the reason for it, you have a moment of clarity. 

For example, years ago, we had someone doing work in our house, and the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to ask him about his sister who was sick. I didn’t know this guy or if he even had a sister, but I did what God told me to do. He fell apart and wondered how I knew about her. So I told him the impression I got from God. I don’t know what good it did, but maybe he needed to hear it to confirm that God was listening to his prayers concerning her health. 

God had plans for the things the Israelites plundered, and it became apparent when he instructed Moses to build the sanctuary so he could dwell among them. He asks that they contribute an offering specifying certain high-end items. God is royalty and should be treated as such. If you are instructed to do something odd, don’t always dismiss it as your imagination; it could be God preparing you for something he has planned. When his reason becomes clear, you are in awe of how amazing He is. 

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. Exodus 25:1-2

August 30, 2023

Much like the Israelites, I want to hurry the time. Moses gave them a sample of the law, including the Ten Commandments. Those were the basics, but the Ten Commandments had yet to be written in stone. God gave them the commandments in chapter 20 but didn't give them the stone writings until many chapters later. Moses brought the elders and representatives of the tribes up to the mountain. While there, they presented sacrifices and were sprinkled with blood to enter a covenant with God, agreeing to obey Him. After that, he allowed them to see him, yet they saw only the fabulous Safire stone He was standing on. The impression must have been incredible. Moses and Joshua went up the mountain, where Moses met with God for forty days and forty nights. 

The critical point is that we must agree to obey God. Our Holy sacrifice was Jesus, and we are in a covenant with him and are completely washed in His blood, much like Israel was when Moses sprinkled them with blood for their covenant with God. We are chosen like Israel but must agree to be obedient to Jesus. When we realize how lackadaisical we are about salvation, we understand why Paul said in Romans 7:24, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" It's a shame we don't take what Jesus did for us more seriously. We need to spend more time contemplating his sacrifice and being more thankful. 

And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. Exodus 24:6-7

August 29, 2023

God allowed the inhabitants of the land of Canaan to remain until Israel was large enough to move in. The Canaanites and others kept it clean and manicured until Israel was ready and their numbers and strength had increased. He intended to drive them out gradually so the wild beast would not take it over. I can't help but compare it to our sanctification and liberation. Some of us must systematically go through a process and rid ourselves of past fear, trauma, unbelief, and rejection to clean our minds. It is a gradual release so the Holy Spirit can strengthen our confidence and faith in him. There is the initial relief that follows salvation, but then we have to give up old sinful habits and release the filthy build-up left there by our old ways to complete the process of sanctification. 

When Richard's dad died, we had to move onto his property quickly because thieves and robbers found out he was gone and immediately began to loot. We ran off three groups of thieves, but that's just the ones we caught. At that point, law enforcement was no help; we had to secure the premises ourselves. Once the community realized that it was not a game and that their actions could have severe consequences, they quit trying to ransack the home. 

You must work closely with the Holy Spirit to release your mind from the enemy's stronghold. Just like we had to secure Richard's dad's property, it is up to you to secure your mind and arm it against future thieves and robbers. It's a challenging task, but it's well worth your effort. It may not be easy, but He will never leave you or forsake you. 

I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. Exodus 23:29-20

August 28, 2023

God instructed Moses by specifying how offenses should be brought to justice by him and the judges. He knew there needed to be law and order; otherwise, people would take matters into their own hands, possibly requiring too much for an offense. God is fair in his punishment, so he expects us to be fair, too. Though these laws seem basic, they would likely overdo punishment if they were to make retribution in their anger. 

What do we learn about God in this portion of scripture? He is fair, just, loving, and doesn’t tolerate the wicked. The example: 

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Exodus 22:18

That one sentence explains why we have so much evil in this day and age. It has been allowed to grow and metastasize like cancer. The world is riddled with corruption because it hasn’t been stopped. We are only to worship God, but witchcraft and sorcery give place to the devil who doesn’t deserve it. When Jesus came, he freed people from their demons, releasing them from the devil’s stronghold. He loved people but hated evil. Once freed, it is up to that person to fill the void left with the Holy Spirit by accepting Christ as Savior. 

August 27, 2023

Why did God give Moses details on how man and beast should be treated? Israel had been in captivity for so long and were treated harshly by their Egyptian masters that they needed direction from God to see the proper way to treat others in their care. Not only did he spell out the details of how humans should be treated, but he also gave instructions on how animals should be treated and the responsibility of the humans when their animal hurts a man or another animal. They should know these things, but God had to make it clear to them. 

We are servants of God, and he treats us fairly, so he expects us to treat others with respect, fairness, and care. We have the Holy Spirit who guides us, so these laws are written in our minds and hearts. Because not all people have the Holy Spirit and understand how to treat others, we often end up in court to force people to be fair. For this reason, God expects us not to take other Christians to court. However, some people claiming to be Christ-followers are not, so that’s why they end up in court. 

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 1 Corinthians 6:1

Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. Exodus 21:1

August 26, 2023

Of the Ten Commandments, the first four are how God expects us to honor him and how we should show our reverence for him. He is unequivocal in his expectation of us because he is our creator and has delivered us from the hands of our enemy. It was out of love that he created us; it is out of love that he has set us free. LOVE GOD

1.Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3 

2.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Exodus 20:4.

3.Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 20:7

4.Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: Exodus 20:8-10a

The following six are to help us show our love for people and how he expects us to act towards others. LOVE PEOPLE.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12 

6.Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13 

7.Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14

8.Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15

9.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16

10.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Exodus 20:17

We do our best to honor God by keeping these commands, but we are human and mess up. But Jesus came to save us so that if we break any of these laws, all is not lost, and our eternity is secure in him. He died on the cross, delivered our sins to hell, and defeated death so we may live eternally with him. If you are distraught over breaking any of these commandments, know there is salvation in Jesus; he knows we are weak and vulnerable to the enemy's wiles. He was tempted, too. If you are overwhelmed with guilt, reach out to him in prayer and ask him to save you and wash you clean of all your past and future sins. Remember, tomorrow is not promised. 

August 25, 2023

We need to start telling the children the whole story, not just the convenient bits and pieces broken down for easy consumption. I say this because the images we get as children stick with us as adults. Even though I've read the Bible many times and in different versions, simply reading it without in-depth study, my mind still goes back to the childhood version of the stories. Picture the cartoon-like images of Moses on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments from God. Do you see Aaron there with him? I don't. Yet, he was there! He and Moses were the only ones allowed on the mountain. And from the scriptures, it seemed dark and scary, with thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets, commanding reverence and fear of God. We don't think children can handle such stories, but they can because their minds are sponges and can soak up every detail. Not knowing the whole truth makes me feel like I've been deceived my entire life. Though it's not a big deal that Aaron is missing from the image in my mind, it makes me wonder what else I've missed. 

If you haven't begun studying the Bible, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, I recommend starting. Without knowing God's Word, there is no way to get the truth or recognize the lies.

And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. Exodus 19:24

August 24, 2023

Israel packed up and moved to the foot of Mt. Sinai; it was now the third month. God called to Moses, and he went to God on the mountain, and God made them a covenant offer:

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." Exodus 19:5-6

They agreed to the covenant. This is the same as accepting Jesus as our Savior; we must agree to be blessed. God approached them, not the other way around. He must call you out of the multitude of people on earth, offer to be your God, you accept it and then obey his voice. God's Holy Spirit is the one who called to us while we were still in our sin.

God gave Israel three days' notice that they must clean up before coming to him, leave their worldly cares behind, and be ready to receive him on the third day, which happen to be 50 days after leaving Egypt: Pentecost. God came down, and everyone saw the thundering cloud full of lightning and heard an extremely loud trumpet; I'm sure they were overwhelmed with excitement and fear. 

The point is that God comes to us and makes us a covenant offer. If we accept it, we must then obey his voice. God offered himself to Israel, and Jesus has offered himself to us. It's up to us to accept his offer and obey his voice. When you accepted Jesus, you entered into a covenant with him, and that's a big deal! You have the Holy Spirit; listen to him and allow him to be your guide.

August 23, 2023

When Moses was helping God deliver Israel out of Egypt, his wife and two sons stayed with Jethro, his father-in-law. Things had calmed down, so Jethro brought them to be with Moses. Moses told him all that God had done, and they rejoiced together. Jethro was not an Israelite, but he was the priest of Midian from the lineage of Abraham, and he appreciated everything God had done for Israel. Jethro still plays a part in current society because of his layout of the legal system. He helped Moses break down his duties as a judge and divide it out to relieve some of the pressure from him by giving responsibilities to others who were also capable of judging the issues of the people fairly. 

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Exodus 18:21

Before God gave Moses the law, He used Jethro’s wisdom to begin laying out the design and format for how the law would work. 

God is so good! He works out the details in advance, orders our steps, has a plan, and when he speaks to us and shows us the way, we are ready to receive it because he has prepared us. Don’t neglect to recognize the minor details you learn as you traverse the pathway of life. God’s plan is very detailed, and little things work to impact the greater good of your life.

August 22, 2023

Amalek, the family of Esau, came against Israel to fight them. Remember, Jacob’s brother Esau, hated him. Doesn’t it help to know who these characters are? It helps me have a clearer picture of why. Moses appointed Joshua to gather men to go and fight. So the next day, they went out to fight, and Moses took the rod of God and went up to the top of a hill to watch with Aaron and Hur. When Moses lifted the rod, Israel would prevail, but Israel would be defeated when he lowered his arms. Moses's arms became tired; remember, he’s an old man now, so Aaron and Hur sat him down on a rock, situated his arms, and helped him hold them up until evening. They defeated the Amalekites with the sword. A lot is going on in this story. 

1. It’s the first time Joshua is mentioned, and we can see he’s a warrior.
2. When the fighters saw Moses holding up the rod, they knew God was with them. 
3. They had to fight this time; God didn’t tell them to be still. That means we must listen carefully to the Holy Spirit to know whether to be still or fight.
4. Sometimes the enemy is family.
5. Moses couldn’t do it alone; he needed the help of Aaron and Hur. Your preacher shouldn’t be left in the pulpit alone, meaning you must help hold up his arms. That may mean prayer, offerings, or getting involved. In this situation, they got involved.

Sometimes we have to be still, and sometimes we have to fight. Now is not the time to be still when the freedom of our country is at stake. Fight or go to war with your prayer, but don’t remain complacent; get involved. 

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Exodus 17:13

August 21, 2023

God provided The Israelites with plenty of food each day. However, they had no water supply and began to chide Moses and question whether God was still with them. Remember, they still had a cloud by day and fire by night; how could they question whether God was with them? Here is the simple answer, they didn’t have the Holy Spirit, so it was easy for them to forget the goodness of God. By this, we can see that a visual is not necessarily better than the spiritual. We don’t have the cloud and fire, yet we still believe in Jesus and the power of God. With all the miracles they saw and still didn’t believe God was with them, it causes me to judge them harshly; however, we must remember they were incomplete without the Holy Spirit. 

Moses cried out to God because they were so angry over their thirst that they were about to stone him. So God told him to take some of the elders of Israel and the rod and stand before the people, hit the rock, and water would flow out. He followed God’s instructions, and the water came out of the rock just as he said. 

It’s important to remember that we have the Holy Spirit, that precious gift given to us by Jesus, but the people we are trying to bear witness to, do not have him, nor do most people we are surrounded by; they don’t even have the visual as Israel had. We must be patient and pray that they become thirsty for the water of life; maybe you will be their Moses and smite their rock so the Holy Spirit flows and they drink and are satisfied. 

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6

August 20, 2024

The Israelites had been in the wilderness for about a month and were now traveling in the wilderness of Sin. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the place is called Sin. The provisions they brought out of Egypt were gone, and they were getting hungry; they had no meat or bread. There is one thing I don’t understand; they brought all their flocks, herds, and cattle with them; why were they hungry? How were they feeding them? Whatever the case, God heard them complaining and accusing Moses and Aaron of bringing them out of Egypt to die, which also accused God because their release was at his hand. Out of the kindness of his heart, he provided manna with the early morning dew and flocks of quail for the evening meal; he provided their food for the entire 40 years of wandering, and all they needed to do was ask. As a side note: they still had to cook the bread and clean the quail; though God provided the food, they had to do their part. However, they were to gather for six days and rest on the Sabbath. So they gathered and cooked on the sixth day to prepare for the seventh day. Remember, this portion of scripture was before God gave them the law. Just as God rested on the seventh day, he also wants us to take time to rest. 

Jesus set us free from our sins, but we still have challenges to face that come with trusting him. We often feel that it would be easier to return to sin or, as the Israelites, return to Egypt rather than contending with the devil and his minions, but our lives are short, and eternity is long. Instead of complaining, we must seek God’s help and await his deliverance. Stay the course, and know that you are facing challenges because you are doing the right thing, and the devil hates it. 

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. Exodus 16:12

And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. Exodus 16:23

August 19, 2023

After being elated watching God work in their favor, the Israelites traveled three days into the desert. They came upon some water; they were thirsty, but it wasn’t drinkable. They began to complain, and once again, Moses reached out to God for help. God instructed Moses to put a limb from a certain kind of tree in the water, and instantly the water became potable. Even though the tree cleared the water, it seemed like a miracle; in reality, God’s instructions were the remedy for this situation. Afterward, God led them to a place with abundant water and trees for shade. The bitter water was all a part of their training to be self-sufficient. 

“God showed him the tree. God is to be acknowledged, not only in the creating of things useful for man, but in discovering their usefulness.” The Matthew Henry Commentary

As a modern society, we have become too used to running to the store or the doctor to get the things we need and have long left the teachings of wholesome living behind. God has instructed many of us to begin researching remedies for our ailments from the plants growing around us. I was fascinated to learn that many of the weeds growing in my yard, and even some of the trees I’ve planted, have medicinal purposes. It may be beneficial to learn about their uses in case the medical industry is demolished because of some of the things they’ve done recently. We may not always have the internet as a source and should brush up on the things of old.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2

And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, Exodus 15:25

August 18, 2023

When God gives you victory over your enemy, or you endure a hard time just as Israel experienced through their slavery in Egypt, raise your voice, sing, and dance before the Lord. Glorify him and show your appreciation because you wouldn’t have made it without him. The Israelites had a party on the shore after the waters of the Red Sea swept away the Egyptians; they knew where their help came from. 

Don’t just pray and forget what you asked God for. If you can’t remember your requests, write them down; start a prayer journal, so when you get your answer or receive a victory, you can praise God for his faithfulness. Don’t forget to do this! It’s an essential part of our relationship with him. Imagine if someone did something good for you and you forgot to thank them; do you think they will help you again? Maybe, but it’s unlikely. God expects praise just as people do. Sing a song, dance, and shout; it’s biblical!

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15:20

August 17, 2023

We've all been there, in a position that looked impossible, a dead end where turning back would lead to certain destruction. You followed God's lead, but the enemy was closing in, and it seemed all hope was lost. Imagine being the children of Israel following Moses, and instead of taking the shortcut around the Red Sea, God sent them right to its edge. What now? When they left Egypt, God gave them a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, so they knew they were going in the right direction. Pharaoh changed his mind, hardened his heart again, and pursued them. The Israelites freaked out because they could see them coming in the distance. When all hope is lost, and death is sure, God steps in and tells you to relax. Am I to sit there and wait? These people are going to kill me! This is the moment that popular but extraordinary verse comes into play. 

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14

Mind you, it's dark, and God used the pillar of cloud to make it even darker to keep them from seeing one another. God told Moses to tell them to keep going and to lift his rod and stretch out his hand, and they would cross on dry land. Don't forget; it's dark! So scary, but they did it, and the Egyptians followed them in, and God released the water, and Israel saw their dead bodies washed up on the shore. Justice served! 

Whatever you are going through, don't stop going; face forward and walk through your Red Sea and watch as God destroys your enemies! Though this story works for the individual, it's much bigger than our personal issues; it fits more easily into an entire country's situation. The United States is up against a wall where lawlessness abounds, the enemy is in hot pursuit, and it looks like he's winning, but we are still a Christian country. Even though we are full of deniers, just as Israel was, I expect that he will come to our rescue where it can only be attributed to him so everyone will see and know it was God. Fear not; stand still!

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Exodus 14:13

August 16, 2023

As I start reading the Bible, I always come up with questions early on, which is good because I get to watch God show me the answers as I continue to read. Why does the firstborn belong to God? And what is a matrix? Why does an unclean animal require a lamb as redemption? Why should its neck be broken? I now get why Jesus taught in parables because God speaks through life. Jesus taught using parables to confound the unbelievers, and now I see that it’s also essential in understanding the Old Testament. 

Here are the answers I came up with. Before God released Israel from captivity, he killed the firstborn of everything in Egypt, and he expected that they should be thankful that their children were not killed and that they should consecrate them to him. The matrix is the womb, and when they left Egypt, they were now being forced out, like being pushed out at birth. They broke the seal and are now released from captivity. So, the unclean animals are like us and require a redeemer, who happens to be Jesus; otherwise, we are as good as dead in the eyes of God. 

Look at how he laid out the story of the Exodus from Egypt and see how it fits perfectly with the story of Jesus. Only God could create a parallel that works so perfectly. Learn to understand the parables of your life. What lessons is God trying to teach you through your story, and what can you learn about him through them? Israel had no idea they were living out the story of Jesus; we now see the reflection clearly. Recognize Jesus in your own story. 

That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. Exodus 13:12-13

August 15, 2023

The first nine plagues in Egypt were instituted by God through Moses. However, the tenth plague came directly from God with no earthly natural occurrence, meaning Egypt could not explain it away and, therefore, could have only come as retribution from God. Though God brought on the other plagues, this one, in particular, impacted everyone from Pharaoh to the lowly prisoner. Everyone was wailing and mourning and fearful of what was next. Out of fear, they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for, thus plundering Egypt and making them pay the wages they had kept from them and, as a consequence, for treating the Israelites poorly. God will take his portion and give it to the just as if the wealth of sinners is collected for that purpose. Seeing what God was doing for his people, Egypt was keenly aware of their sin and capitulated to their demands.

We are not unaware of what is going on in the governments of the United States and other countries; you would have to be completely blind not to see it. Justice is withheld from the innocent and given to the guilty. We must pray collectively to God for retaliation against this injustice. If we all pray, he will hear us as he heard Israel, and we will watch as he brings down the entire system and repays us for what we’ve lost. Pray that your unsaved friends and family come to know Jesus before this happens, or they, too, will be caught up in the devastation.

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Exodus 12:30-31

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. Exodus 12:36

August 14, 2023

After studying Exodus 12, I realized that the symbolism of the Passover is much more detailed than I thought. It makes me quite sad for the Jewish because the story of Jesus is written throughout this chapter. How can they observe the Passover without comparing it to the life and death of Jesus? I have always wondered why Christ-followers were never taught to celebrate Passover. Those that were not Israelites by birth yet lived among them were also required to follow the ordinances. Here are some examples:

1. Pick a perfect lamb on the 10th of the month, then sacrifice it on the 14th day. Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb.
2. Put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel using hyssops—Jesus's blood protects us from the destroying angel.
3. Roast it with all its insides and eat it with bitter herbs, not breaking any bones. When we accept Jesus, we are eating his body. None of Jesus's bones were broken, and bitter herbs were eaten to recognize the bitterness of our sin.
4. Eat it with unleavened bread - clean all the leaven out of the house (sin.)
5. Leave none of the meat until morning. Burn the leftovers in the fire. Jesus took our sins and burned them in the fire. 
6. The men must be circumcised to take part. In the New Testament, circumcision means you are clean and sin-free.

These ordinances seem like a lot, but if you are brought up in this culture and do it ritually every year, it becomes second nature. As Christ-followers, we are adopted into the family of God; I wish Christians were taught this in the church because the symbolism points to Jesus, and I believe we should observe the Passover just as the Jewish believers do. 

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Exodus 12:14

August 13, 2023

Tribulation is not for us! Throughout the New and Old Testaments, the unbelievers were the people who were subjected to God's wrath. Look at how God showed himself to Pharaoh time and time again, yet he didn't relent in treating the Israelites with contempt and forcing hardships. They were living through problems brought on by man, not wrath. I can't help but notice that through the acts of our ungodly government, many people are now living through hardships brought on by them and their lack of care for the people's lives. Wait for it! Justice is coming, and those who love Jesus will benefit from faith in Him. 

Before the final plague, Moses warned Pharaoh and then left him in anger. Moses probably didn't want to see any more harm to Egypt's people because the final plague would devastate them. God gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they gave them anything they asked for, and so plundered them before God released them from their captivity. Those plagues didn't even prick Pharaoh's heart, which caused him to suffer with his people when God unleashed the final plague. It makes you wonder what will happen when God has had enough of the tyranny happening throughout the world and the United States. Sit back, watch in awe and amusement, and pray for those you love to escape unharmed because things are rapidly deteriorating for the ungodly. Justice is coming! 

And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. Exodus 11:6-7

August 12, 2023

We can compare ourselves to the Israelites living in Egypt to those living in a country where evil rules. Thank goodness God knows the difference and can see our hearts. In all these plagues, Israel was protected and set apart as an example to Pharaoh so he could see how differently they were treated compared to the Egyptians. 

The eighth and ninth plagues brought about darkness. 

The eighth was the locusts God brought to devastate whatever green was left after the hail. There were so many it darkened the sky. Pharaoh asked Moses to pray for God to take them away. I find it funny that his so-called gods couldn't help him. I'll bet they tried to get their help with no avail because how can something that only exists through magic do them any good?

The ninth plague was total darkness for three days, with no light of any kind. God darkened the sky and put out all their fires so no light could be seen. They didn't get up to move. It was the kind of darkness that will be seen and felt by those who reject Jesus and end up in hell. However, the Israelites had light within their homes and only watched the devastation. 

Throughout the Bible, there is a significant distinction between those who trust God and those who don't. God's protection over his people is incredible. We may go through rough times, but God uses them to train us to trust him, but after all is said and done, we will end up in his presence, full of light.

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:22-23