Exodus 18

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery.

It’s easy to forget that Moses was a family man, with a wife and two sons. We first met Zipporah when Moses had exiled himself to Midian after killing an Egyptian. There he married Zipporah. However, after Moses was commissioned at the Burning Bush incident, I don’t recall that Zipporah came to Egypt with Moses. Presumably he sent her back to her father, Jethro. We see her again today, coming with her father and Moses’ two sons. Then we don’t hear of her again. However, there is mention later of Moses (second?) marriage: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married… (Numbers 12:1) Scholars disagree as to whether this is a second marriage for Moses or simply a translation issue. One other item of note – in the New Testament we know that Peter was married (Luke 4:38-40), but we never hear of his family. So these two men who are leading God’s people, did they have normal family lives?

Moses’ father-in-law offered good advice, creating a sound judicial system, a pattern that we see in our country even today, with smaller local courts, then district and state courts, then federal courts leading all the way to our Supreme Court. It’s also a pattern in our military, with Armies, brigades, battalions, companies, and squads.

It’s surprising to me that STS has this chapter set off by itself instead of being combined with chapter 17. But, we move on.

Blessings!

Exodus 17

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery.

More grumbling (Ex. 17:2-3), this time for lack of water and them “dying of thirst”. Previous grumblings have been fear of death from Pharaoh’s army (Ex. 14:10-11), bitter water (Ex. 15:24), and hunger (Ex. 16:3). Do we also find so many things to grumble about? The Lord takes care of His people this time by having Moses strike a rock with his staff and water flowed. Many years later, with more grumbling over lack of water, Moses will again strike a rock to bring forth water – but he will strike the rock twice instead of just once, and for that one failure he will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:2-12).

So Moses said to Joshua… (v. 9a) A small observation here. This is the first mention of Joshua. He will go on to become Moses’ right-hand-man, will be one of the two “faithful spies” who surveyed the land of Canaan (Numbers 13-14), and will succeed Moses as leader of the Israelites, leading them into the Promised Land.

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands … (I Timothy 2:8). No doubt Paul had Exodus 17 (Moses, Aaron, and Hur) in mind when he wrote this letter to Timothy. See also Leviticus 9:22; Deuteronomy 32:40; I Kings 8:22, 54; Nehemiah 8:6; and Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 134:2; and other verses. It’s what we do as an Anglican people, both clergy and laity, lifting our hands in prayer and worship.

Blessings!

Exodus 15:22-16:36

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery – for her, for Len, for her medical team, and for her recovery.

Today, wilderness wanderings, grumbling, quail, and manna. Yesterday we saw the first incident of the people grumbling against Moses (Ex. 14:10-11). Today we see two more: So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” (Ex. 15:24) and The sons of Israel said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger!” (Ex. 16:3) We will see more! I couldn’t help but notice the word “grumble” and its derivatives – it appears eight times in eleven verses (Ex. 16:2-12), spoken by the narrator, by Moses and even by the Lord. Moses has the bottom line, that should have shut the people up, “Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.” (Ex. 16:8b)

Quail and manna. Although the Lord provides both quail and manna for the people to eat, it is manna that becomes symbolic as the Lord’s provision for his people. We’ll see it mentioned again in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and even quoted by Jesus in John 6:31 and John 6:49. It shows the peoples’ disobedience when they gather more than necessary and it becomes foul (Ex. 16:20), then it remains edible when it is held over for the Sabbath (Ex. 16:24). It is described in detail (Ex. 16:31), and a jar of it is saved (Ex. 16:33) and later placed into the tabernacle. Even today manna is a common term, well known as a reflection of God’s provision for our needs. Finally I particularly like Paul’s quote referring to Ex. 16:18, “…your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, ‘Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.’” (II Corinthians 8:14-15) Manna, bread from heaven…!

Blessings!

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See also: January 22 (2023) / Exodus 16-18

Exodus 14:1-15:21

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s be in prayer today for Mary G. as she undergoes knee replacement surgery – for her, for Len, for her medical team, and for her recovery.

Today, they’re gone! The Israelites from Pharaoh’s grasp and the Egyptians to the bottom of the Sea! The Lord delivers His people, but not before they lose their faith in Him and in Moses. Here we see the first of the Israelites grumbling against Moses: Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? (Ex. 14:11a) We will see more grumbling as we continue in Exodus! Moses, however, responds confidently, But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! …The LORD will fight for you, while you keep silent.” (Ex. 14:13-14) Unlike John’s posts from last year, I am not so good at applying our Scripture readings to our own lives. Today, however, it struck me: keep silent! How often do we fret and worry and try to fix things, when it might be in our best interests to just pray and wait for the Lord to act. Pray and wait, wait and pray.

So the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. (Ex. 14:22) Thankfully, we have Hollywood movies, so it’s not difficult for us to picture this wall of water on their right and left. But 2.5 million crossing through, together with their flocks and herds… That’s hard to fathom! We’ve all been to concerts and sporting events and have experienced the mass of people moving toward the exits. Now multiply that by multiple thousands and throw in a larger number of cows, sheep and goats! Yes, the Lord parting the waters is a major miracle. But this mass of people passing through – that’s quite a miracle in itself!! GLORY!

Blessings!

Exodus 12:37-13:22

Dear RTB’ers, 

Today, Israel’s departure from Egypt and instructions for celebrating the Passover and for setting aside the firstborn. As far as I know, our reading yesterday and today are the only Biblical instructions for how the Israelites were to celebrate the Passover. By contrast, the setting aside of the firstborn males is a topic covered extensively in Leviticus, where the Lord “takes” the entire tribe of Levi for Himself in place of the firstborn Hebrew males.

Israel’s departure, 600,000 men – possibly 2.5 million people total, including that “mixed multitude” (Ex. 12:37-38) that might have included a number of Egyptians who had come to fear the Lord. A few important verses concerning their departure: When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. … And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. (Ex. 13:17-18a, 21) Here we see God’s protection of His people. The direct route to the Promised Land would have been to go east along the Mediterranean coast. Instead God sent them south (more on that tomorrow), guiding them by those twin pillars, a cloud by day and fire by night.

One interesting little tidbit: Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb… (Ex. 13:13a) Pack animals were important for the Israelites to carry their belongings, so donkey firstborn sacrifices were replaced by lambs. Carol and I saw firsthand how important donkeys are even today when we were in Morocco and in the Balkans – donkeys were loaded down with heavy burdens, often with their owner riding atop! Interesting!

Blessings!

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See also: January 21 (2023) / Exodus 12:37-15:27

Exodus 12:1-36

Dear RTB’ers, 

The Passover. Today we get 28 verses of instruction and preparation, then eight verses of action. And the instruction is given with detail: the tenth day, the fourteenth day, the twenty-first day; year-old male lamb, unblemished, roasted; unleavened bread, bitter herbs; belt, sandals, staff; blood, hyssop, lintel, doorposts. And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. (vv. 27b-28)

Each morning, after reading these passages in two translations and praying and pondering what I might say, I often look back to what I posted in previous years. This morning I looked back to what John wrote last year. I can’t say it any better, so take a look at the January 20, 2023, post.

Blessings!

Exodus 10-11

Dear RTB’ers, 

Exodus 10-11, two plagues today –  the eighth and ninth, locusts and darkness – and the promise of another, the final plague, the death of the Egyptian firstborn.

Two days ago I spoke of Pharaoh wanting to compromise with Moses: So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away.” (Ex. 8:28) Today we see Pharaoh offering Moses two more compromises. First, Pharaoh wants Moses to keep the women and children behind: Moses said, “We shall go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go…” Then he said to them, “So may the LORD be with you, when I let you and your little ones go! … Go now, but only the men among you…” (vv. 10:9-10a, 11a) Second, during the darkness plague Pharaoh demands that the flocks and herds be left behind: Then Pharaoh called for Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be left behind. Even your little ones may go with you.” (v. 10:24) But God does not compromise. His will be done!

Although Pharaoh’s heart has remained hardened, not so with his servants and the Egyptian people: Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” (v. 10:7); plus And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. (v. 11:3)

We close today with Moses warning Pharaoh of the tenth and final plague, the death of the Egyptian firstborn. We’ll see that played out tomorrow.

Blessings!

Exodus 9

Dear RTB’ers, 

Exodus 9, three plagues today – livestock deaths, boils and hail. Again the Lord distinguishes between the Egyptians and the Hebrews, in both the fifth and seventh plagues.

The fifth plague, …behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe plague on your livestock which are in the field… (v. 3) Failing to read carefully, I always wondered how cattle would be killed in the hail of the seventh plague if they had already died in the fifth plague. But those three words, in the field are key. Although Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, it is likely that many Egyptians were now believing in the Hebrew God. With the Lord setting a definite time (tomorrow, v. 5), those Egyptians who now feared the Lord had a chance to save their livestock by bringing them in to safety. Interestingly, Pharaoh sent people to Goshen to check on the Hebrews and learned that their livestock had not died. But still, hard of heart!

For most of the plagues, Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh directly, warning him of what is about to happen. For this sixth plague, however, none of that – when Pharaoh did not relent after the fifth plague, the Lord simply told Moses and Aaron to initiate the plague of boils without their warning Pharaoh. What an unwelcome surprise for Pharaoh!!

Today’s third plague – hail. Evidently, BIG hail!! Again, we see in the field in verses 19 and 21, with specific mention of …whoever feared the word of the LORD… (v. 20) among the Egyptians as those whose livestock would be saved. Pharaoh also has something of a change of heart: Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.” (v. 27) He is acknowledging his sin for the first time; that’s step one. Unfortunately, he does not move further. He continues to harden his heart.

Blessings!

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See also: January 19 (2023) / Exodus 7-9

Exodus 8

Dear RTB’ers, 

Exodus 8, three plagues today – frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharaoh is beginning to see the power of the Lord, possibly swayed by his own magicians. (Ex. 8:19) As a result, he begins to compromise. During the plague of frogs, he seems to relent: Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” (v. 8) However, he reneges and the plague of gnats fills the land. Then Moses and Aaron ask for a three-day journey into the wilderness, and Pharaoh meets them halfway: So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. (v. 28) This is his first compromise offer. We will see more.

The Lord has allowed his people to suffer through the first three plagues along with the Egyptians. But now on the fourth plague (and most of the rest) He sets apart the Israelites so that they do not suffer through the swarms of flies: But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land. I will put a division between My people and your people. (vv. 22-23a) In setting apart His people, the Lord is sending a message to Pharaoh. However, it may also be that He is blessing Moses by preparing His people for Moses’ leadership. That’s an important item, because we’ll see down the road that the Israelites challenging Moses’ leadership will be a continuing pattern. More plagues coming…!

Blessings!

Exodus 6:10-7:25

Dear RTB’ers, 

Good morning, folks. I’m trying to get back on track here. I’m still distracted by other things, but we move on!

The writer of Exodus gives us a small genealogy, covering lightly only Reuben and Simeon before moving on to detail with Levi. His clear intent is that we know who Moses and Aaron are, their descendancy: These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. (vv. 6:26-27)

God has a plan: You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring My hosts, My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. (vv. 7:2-4) And He will carry out His plan as He chooses – in this case through His human agents, Moses and Aaron. And you and me…!

About the plagues… Let me share with you my Study Bible’s note: “The first nine plagues can be divided into three groups of three plagues each…, with the first plagues in each group introduced by a warning delivered to the pharaoh as he went to the Nile.” We can watch for this as we move through these first nine plagues. I recall that these plagues are all related to gods that the Egyptians worshiped. Today’s first plague, the water into blood relates to their god, Hapi, their god of the Nile and its annual flooding. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapi_(Nile_god)#:~:text=Hapi%20(Ancient%20Egyptian%3A%20%E1%B8%A5%EA%9C%A5pj),greatly%20celebrated%20among%20the%20Egyptians.

Blessings!