Feb 2: Exodus 10-12

Feb 2, Exodus 10-12

Exodus 10. Here is the chapter of plagues number eight and nine, locusts and darkness. God has hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Moses and the Israelites can tell their kids and grandkids why God did what He did and the power of Yahweh. Pharaoh did not humble himself before God. Sure, God hardened his heart… but Pharaoh is still responsible. Here is the best way that I can explain it, even though it seems that Pharaoh does not have a choice. I heard part of this explanation from Wayne Grudem in Systematic Theology, that in regards to responsibility in life, the responsibility is 100% man and 100% God. We are responsible for what we do even though it is ordained by God that we do it. Yes, we do have choices in the matter, as we are not robots, but our choices are pre-ordained. If it were not this way, then it would be luck that had everything work out just right all the time and from the studying that we have done so far, you should know by now that there is no such thing as luck. (And even luck, is contributed to a deity, Baal. Like Fortuna was the goddess who is attributed to good fortune. So still we attribute our success to something one) Let me also add, God did harden Pharaohs heart. But Pharaoh also heartened his own heart, in chapter 9:34. It is not like God is making Pharaoh do anything that he isn’t already inclined to do. If that doesn't make sense, email me… Back to Moses - even Pharaoh’s people in court were telling Pharaoh to let the Israelites go and pretty much everything in Egypt was already ruined, even if God was gonna send locusts to do more damage. Pharaoh partially consented to Moses and said that they could leave, but only the men… not good enough! Moses stretches out his hand and God brings a wind which brings the locusts. What the hail didn't destroy, the locusts did. Pharaoh again rescinds, and asks Moses to take them away as he has ‘sinned’ against God and Moses. God listened and removed them all and again, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Let us not forget Pharaoh’s purpose: “But for this purpose I (God) have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth…”

Then God brings the ninth plague - darkness. Darkness that you can feel and nobody leaves their houses for three days. 

Exodus 11 is where God threatens and explains the final plague to Moses and what God expects of His people. Moses was very well respected by Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people - which couldn't hurt his cause. Then God briefly begins to get the Israelites in preparation mode for the ‘pass over’ - which I am sure that you have heard of. If not, it is a feast day to the Lord, for what He did in Egypt. The literal passover did happen and God was getting His people ready for it. 

Exodus 12. The Passover. God sets it up this remembrance day, so that what He is about to do is to be remembered for the generations to come. It would be like a country making plans, before their actual independence, on how to celebrate their Independence Day for every year after that day; like what to eat and what to say, what to wear and where to go. This way, everyone throughout the generations, wouldn’t loose the importance key points of the day specific celebrated. God sets forth some rules for the Passover like what to eat (a perfect one year old male lamb) and unleavened bread (bread made without yeast). Then God instructs the Hebrews to take some of the blood and put it on the door posts of their home, so that when God’s Spirit comes in to take the life of the firstborns, the houses with blood on the door, He will pass over that house.  (future generations wouldn’t have to do this, only those in Egypt) Consequently, those that did not believe in God would not have put blood on their houses in Faith, and therefore would've lost their firstborn.  God instructs them to eat with their jacket on, belt fastened and shoes on - basically eat in haste as a reminder/symbol that they are to be sent out and to be ready. God was going to strike down every firstborn man, beast, and all the gods of Egypt with His judgement. God adds to the Passover celebration another memorial, the feast of unleavened bread as a memorial as well. 

Then Moses got the Elders together and told them what to do and how to select the lambs and what to do with the blood. And even though this was kind of a crazy idea (you know, eat in haste, killing of the firstborn, blood on the house…) the Israelites obeyed. Again, even when it sounds crazy, obey God. God then brings on the destroyer (His Spirit to destroy the disobedient) and the Lord struck down all the firstborn of Egypt. Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron that night and told them to leave with all their people to serve their God… and then he asks them to bless him too! Interesting little tid-bit there (…leave and don't come back, but this powerful God you serve - bless me with that!). God said a while ago that the Israelites would leave with haste; here is God being a Prophet and it shows that God told the future as back in chapter 3, “…each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” And this all just happened as God said it would. Then, going way back to Genesis 15 when God covenanted with Abraham, that they would depart with great possessions and that just happened! So here, God is fulfilling His Word, to the past forefathers. 

The Israelites were in Egypt 430 years and the departed (the Exodus). Then God institutes the Passover for future generations to celebrate every year, to remember this event. The Jews (Sons of the tribe of Judah) today still celebrate this every year. 

For a more in depth study on the relation between the 10 plagues and the gods (especially after todays study) that they represented, please see my wife’s blog on it. She has done a fabulous job researching it and presenting it. 

To sum it all up:

• In regards to responsibility in life, the responsibility is 100% man and 100% God.
• Even when it is crazy, obey God.
• This reading today may seem a bit perplexing as we have been told about this all loving God. Truth is this is an all loving God that will have nothing to do with sin. If we are to be obedient to Him, then we are to do our best to get rid of all the sin in our life and be obedient to what He is calling us to.