The book of Exodus is the national history of the Hebrew people.  God’s redemption plan included His Way of salvation for all the nations of the world.  His plan has been in place before the foundations of the world. “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)

Exodus recounts God’s thrilling rescue of His people, our ancestors. After the closing scene of Genesis, 350 years passed after the patriarch Abraham died. When Joseph died a new dynasty took the throne of Egypt.  In the eyes of the new Egyptian ruler, the wealth and number of Israelites made those in power suspect a possible overthrow.

The Pharaoh stole their valuables and made the Israelites his slaves. During this time a Jewish baby was miraculously rescued out of the Nile. The foundling grew up in the palace of Pharaoh, and for his first 40 years, Moses was educated as a royal. As God would have it, Moses took a stand to protect one Israelite slave and was consequently forced to flee from Egypt.

For the next forty years, Moses lived as a person without influence. At 80 years of age, Moses was called by God to lead His people out of bondage. For his final forty years, Moses learned that the Lord will equip those He calls into His service. God used Moses to plea with Pharaoh to set His beloved people free. After the seven plagues of Egypt, and one year of pleading with the palace, Pharaoh finally relented. The children of Israel had grown to 600,000 men, plus women, children. In chapter 12 we read that the Israelites dramatically exit Egypt on foot, with treasures in hand, through the Red Sea that God parted. God’s plan to free His people was executed by a reluctant Jew named Moses.

With great compassion our heavenly Father makes known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure. His grand purpose from the very beginning is to pursue us and rescue us by His unmatched authority and power.   “The Lord said to Moses “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show My power and that My Name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (9:13)

In Exodus chapter 12 we are given a glimpse of our individual salvation in the blood sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God.  The Passover is the most riveting scene in the story of Exodus. The six hundred thousand men and their families did not know the significance of the Passover feast on the night before they left Egypt.  The blood of a lamb was smeared on their door posts and the angel of death passed them by. (12:3) Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 19:14)

In chapter 20 the world is given the Ten Commandments; “And God spoke: “ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” 1) You shall have no other gods before Me. 2) You shall not make idols to bow down and worship. 3) You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 4) You shall keep the Sabbath holy as you work six days. 5) Honor your father and mother.6) Do not murder. 7) Do not commit adultery.  8) Do not steal. 9) Do not lie. 10) Do not envy.

This account of mankind’s history shows us that in our sinful nature, without God, we are doomed by the sins of our selfish desires. The law given to Moses is in fact God’s way of protecting us from self-destruction.

Copyright © 2019 by Barbara Alley Hoyle.

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March 10, 2019 – April 20, 2019 “It was Finished”