Jan.21 - Exodus 11 - 13

God's final assault on Egypt is an attempt to show all men everywhere that He IS God! In Chapter 11, we read of the horrible account of God's wrath against sinful Egypt as He orders the last plague - the death of every first-born animal and child throughout the entire nation. Chapter 11:1-8 is God's announcement to Moses (as he is standing in front of Pharaoh for the last time) that this death will cause a "wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again." It says in verse 8 that Moses then left Pharaoh "with burning anger." For many people, it's hard to believe that a loving God would do such a thing as this. But, you have to keep in mind two very important things: 1) God, above all things, desires us to know that HE IS HOLY! And, 2) He is allowing the sacrifice of these first-borns for the loving purpose of reaching the entire world with the stark reality that He IS God! Both aspects of God's nature and character are seen in this last plague!

While sooooooo much could be taken out of the chapters we read today, here are a few power points to encourage you or even challenge you today!

1) If you want others to respect you, seek God's favor on your life! It's amazing what God did in the hearts of the Egyptians! He totally changed their hatrid into an incredible favor! If you remember past chapters, the Israelites (due to the fact that they are shepherds) are an abomination to the Egyptians. The Egyptians hated the Hebrews! They were both politically, militarilly, and racially motivated to enslave them. But, God miraculously turned that around by showing a "distinction between them and Israel." It says in 11:3 - "Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh's officials and the Egyptian people alike." In fact, as the Israelites left the land of Egypt it says (12:36), "and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!" Isn't it amazing what God can do? Listen...you may have a difficult challenge in your life with no idea of how to change it. Give it to God! Go to Him in prayer, and ask Him to turn things around! Only God can change a person's heart or events that seem like impossible challenges. He did it here with the Egyptians, and He can do it again with you and your circumstances!!!!

2) God will do whatever is necessary to get our attention! It's unfortunate that Pharaoh was as stubborn as he was. It cost him his credibility with his officials, the people of Egypt, their first-born children, their wealth, and eventually his army (as we'll read in a future chapter). This ought to remind us that God will do whatever is necessary to get our attention too! The Bible teaches us two powerful truths: 1) that God is no respecter of persons...which means that ALL OF US are acutely within the reach of God's spankings! And, 2) God will not be mocked! If you're being stubborn about any kind of obedience with God in ANY area of your life, be reminded of this powerful story! God loves you too much to allow you to keep going in a direction opposite of what He knows is ultimately best for you! Make today the day you'll square things with God in your heart!

3) The Lord's Passover is the powerful story of Jesus' death on the cross! In Chapter 12, God gives Moses specific instructions as to how to treat and carry out an event that is to not only shape one of Israel's future festivals, but is to share with the world the future death of its Savior - Jesus Christ! Here are the key points:
- This will re-shape your calendar and be the first month! Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week re-shaped converted Jews to celebrate on the first day of the week instead of on the Sabbath!
- They are to slaughter the lamb at 12 noon! Jesus, the lamb of God, was sacrificed on a cross and died at around 12 noon!
- They are to take a hyssop branch and smear blood across the top and side posts of the door to their homes. This represents the blood shed on the cross, both from his head and his hands! It's interesting to note that the Romans offered up a hyssop filled with vinegar for Jesus to drink while he was on the cross!
- They were to eat with unleavend (without yeast) bread. God commands Moses 5 times in chapter 12 about the use of "bread without yeast." Yeast (or leaven), in the Bible, represents sin. In the New Testament, Jesus often referred to the need for us to avoid "leaven" in our lives.
- They were to eat the Passover Meal with traveling clothes! God wants us to receive Jesus Christ with readiness to serve Him! Many Christians will share their testimony of how wicked or awful their lives were before they received Christ and then how they got saved....as though that's the end of the story! Forget that stuff! Who cares how horrible your life was in the past? What the lost people need to know is what has Christ done in and for you after you received Him! Salvation is NOT the end of the story, it is the beginning!!!

4) God leads us by His Spirit, but it's not always on the main road or the shortest path! As the Israelites leave the land of Egypt, God leads them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night! It must have been an incredible sight! But, what's interesting to note is that God took them through the back country and kept them off the main road. Why? God knew something about Israel they didn't know about themselves, 13:17), "if the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." In our personal lives, I know it seems as though God doesn't always make sense in what He does. But, He does what He does because of what He knows about us! He knows exactly how we'll respond. Therefore, with gentle care, He often takes us through a longer, but safer route. It may not be the route you like, but it's the best of all choices possible.

5) A 1 million person march! Can you imagine that! More than one million people follow Moses on foot through the deserts of Egypt! Wow! In 12:37, it says that the number amounted to some 600,000 MEN, plus all the women and children, PLUS "a rabble of non-Israelites went with them." As a manager, you probably have a lot of respect for Moses! Managing a small group of people is difficult enough. Imagine managing more than 1 million people in a hot, scorpion-infested desert! Only with the help of God can any manage ANY group of people effectively! If you're a manager, you're going to learn some valuable leadership lessons as we read on throughout the book of Exodus!

May God bless you today! And, thank you for reading this post!