Leviticus 9:7 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering וְכַפֵּ֥ר and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people וְכַפֵּ֣ר and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.” We see in the New Testament the Holy Spirit picks up on this and ties it to Christ as our sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 7:26-28 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Not only is Christ better than these Old Testament priests because he doesn’t have to make a sacrifice for his own sins because he never sinned. This is why he can be our sacrifice and become sin for us. The Holy Spirit goes on to explain another aspect of Christ being better than the Old Testament priestly system. Hebrews 9:25-28 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Did you catch that? The priests in the Old Testament brought in blood to sacrifice that was not their own but Christ offers his own blood as the sacrifice for our sins. He died for us in our place. I’ll close with one more use of our word that is part of prophecy that predicted Christ coming to be our cornerstone of salvation. Isaiah 28:16, 18-19 Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ … Then your covenant with death וְכֻפַּ֤ר will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Most of the uses of our word are in the sense of the large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity. Our word is used a lot in reference to the various sacrifices as part of the tabernacle worship. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 7:1-6 This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar. And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of הַכָּבֵ֔ד the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering to the LORD; it is a guilt offering. Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. It is interesting that part of this guilt offering has to do with the inner part of the animal as a sacrifice for guilt. The tabernacle worship was set up so people could connect with God from their inner part. There are many ways our heart can be turned away from God. We see this happen several times in the Bible. This definitely happened to Solomon. 1 Kings 11:2-8 Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. What is interesting is that the man that God used to write the book of Proverbs that warns against such things ends up later in his life falling into them himself. The good news is that the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible so regardless of the sinfulness of the people God used he still used them to record his true and powerful words. Let’s look at this warning from God in Proverbs. Again God’s motive for all his warnings is for us to be connected to him and enjoy all his blessings. I’ll close with this passage that contains our word. Proverbs 7:1, 4-7, 10-11, 13, 17-23 My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live … call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words … I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense … And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward … She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him … I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces כְּֽבֵד֗וֹ its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Our phrase is also used to describe how God protected his people against the Egyptian army. Exodus 14:19-25 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ וְעָנָ֑ן in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

Our phrase is also used to identify God’s visible presence for people to connect with God. This is how our phrase is used twice in our chapter. Exodus 33:9-10 When Moses entered the tent, עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ן the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ןthe pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. A special time of connection with God was Joshua’s commissioning right before Moses death. Deuteronomy 31:14-15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. And the Lord appeared in the tent in a עַמּ֥וּד הֶעָנָ֖ן pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent. 

In the New Testament God’s visible presence is seen in two major ways, Christ and His church. We see both of these emphasized and pointed out as where God is glorified in this great passage that I will close with. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Notice Daniel’s reference to how one seeks God’s favor in prayer. Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not חִלִּ֜ינוּ entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Did you see it? God’s favor comes when we turn from sin. We see this with the church in Corinth. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. God is able to forgive us because of Christ work on the cross. I’ll close with our word used in a messianic prophecy predicting that Jesus would die for our sins. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has הֶֽחֱלִ֔י put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt.

I’ll close with these great pictures of God connecting with his people comparing it to a pleasant-smelling offering. And it compared to the sharing of the good news of salvation in Christ. Ezekiel 20:41 As a בְּרֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹחַ֮ pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

It is used symbolically to describe God covering over our sin through Jesus death in our place where we receive God’s righteousness as a gift. I’ll close with these great passages.  Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the מְעִ֥יל robe of righteousness. Galatians 3:25-27 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the ר֧וּחַ חָכְמָ֣ה Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. In this description we having the spirit resting on this descendant of Jesse. We will look at this idea of the spirit falling on or resting on in the future. It has with it the idea of being equipped for the task that God is sending you or appointing you to accomplish. This is talking about none other than Jesus Christ God’s son who was related to Jesse David’s father. This is similar to Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ The connection to Jesus as related to Jesse and David is in both of these references in the New Testament. Matthew 1:1, 6 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham … Jesse the father of David the king. Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. In Ephesians Jesus is described as a conquering king who not only rescues us from being captive to sin but also calls us into service by equipping us for the task. These are identified as spiritual gifts in the New Testament which we will eventually get to and spend more time on. For today I will close with this great promise from our savior and the one who equips us to serve in his kingdom. Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This reminds us of how God uses this idea of clothing to symbolize holiness and purity. Both ideas of our salvation and transformation use clean or special clothes as a comparison to teach us about Christ work in us. I’ll close with these great passages. Galatians 3:25-27 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. Colossians 3:8-10 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Our phrase is also used to describe one of the main ingredients in making of the anointing oil used to anoint the tent of meeting and the other items of the tabernacle worship. Exodus 30:22-25 The Lord said to Moses, “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of וְשֶׁ֥מֶן זַ֖יִת olive oil. And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. What is interesting with our phrase is both the concepts of holy as an ingredient of the holy anointing oil and the fact that it is the fuel that allows light to continue to stay on. These concepts remind me of Jesus parable of the ten virgins who had lamps that needed to stay lit while they were waiting. Jesus calls us to stay holy as we wait for his return. I’ll close with his parable as a great reminder to be ready and stay ready. Matthew 25:1-13 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Another way our word is used in a figurative way is influence, revelation and enlightenment. 1 Samuel 3:1-3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The וְנֵ֤רlamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 2 Samuel 22:29 For you are נֵירִ֖י my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a נֵ֣ר lamp and the teaching a light. God himself is identified with our word because he is our guide and teacher. 2 Samuel 22:29 For you are נֵירִ֖י my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. Job 29:2-3 God watched over me, when נֵ֭רוֹhis lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness. I’ll close with this great psalm that reminds us that God is the one that shines his light in front of us so we know how to live and walk. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a נֵרlamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Our word is also used in the sense to prompt or incite from the heart to give. This is how our word is used in our chapter today which is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 25:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹheart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. After this instruction from God we find the people carrying this out by freely giving to support the sacrificial system. Exodus 35:21, 29 Everyone who was willing and whose נָדְבָ֨ה רוּח֜וֹ [literally spirit stirred] heart stirred them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments … All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose נָדַ֣ב לִבָּם֮ heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. We talked yesterday about the word contribution and how the sacrificial system that God instructed to be set up was supported by people’s gifts. Today our word emphasizes the heart or spirit that moves one to give. I’ll close with God’s heart for givers that he uses to support the church in sharing the good news of salvation through Christ saving work on the cross. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, 10-12 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work … Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

God’s creation worships him which includes what is contained in the heavens. Psalm 69:34 Let שָׁמַ֣יִם heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. Psalm 96:11-13 Let הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord. Psalm 148:4 Praise him, you שְׁמֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם [literally heaven of heavens which is a way to say the best of all or more likely here the highest of all the heavens that exist] highest heavens, and you waters above הַשָּׁמָֽיִם the heavens!

God not only created everything including what is in heaven but also rules over it as well. Psalm 146:5-6 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made שָׁ֘מַ֤יִם heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
 who keeps faith forever. Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, בַּשָּׁמַ֥יִם in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

Our word is also used in the sense of where God and angels live. Genesis 21:17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Psalm 68:32-33 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides בִּשְׁמֵ֣י in the heavens, the ancient שְׁמֵי heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם heaven for clearness.

Even though God is described as existing in heaven in a certain sense he is not limited to this area because he is everywhere present. This is referred to when David wanted to build a house for God and when Solomon dedicated the temple. I’ll close with this amazing truth about the greatness of our God. 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward הַשָּׁמָֽיִם heaven, and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart … But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּשְׁמֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 

Exodus 24:9-11 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of הַסַּפִּ֔יר sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. We also see Sapphire used to describe God and the place of God in the New Testament. 

Revelation 21:10-11, 19 And showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal … The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second  sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald. The Holy Spirit is showing us how wonderful and beautify God is. I’ll close with this great verse from one of David’s Psalms. Psalm 27:4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
 to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

We will definitely see this as we move into the book of Joshua. This part of God’s character of protecting those he loves was something that both David and Jesus relied on. I’ll close with these Psalms and what they remind us of when we see Jesus trusting in God on the cross while being mocked by his enemies. He truly was in the darkest valley but he trusted God the Father through it. Psalm 23:4-5 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of צֹרְרָ֑יmy enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 42:9-10 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as צוֹרְרָ֑י my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Matthew 27:39-44 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

A good example of this is found in Nehemiah as part of the reforms that God brought about through Nehemiah and Ezra, which I will close with. Nehemiah 8:13-18 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written. So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.

Psalm 26:4 I do not sit with men of שָׁ֑וְא falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. Ezekiel 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see שָׁוְא֮ false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.

I’ll close with a few verse that show God’s generosity to us which is good for us to remember when it’s our time to not delay in giving back to Him. 1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Acts 17:25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Psalm 145:16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Some passages have our word used in both senses of borrowing and lending. Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the לֹ֝וֶ֗ה borrower is slave to the מַלְוֶֽה lender. We will talk more about this idea of borrowing and lending with our words in the next couple of days. But for today I’ll close with this great reminder of how being in debt is a good thing in this one sense. Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 

What amazes me is God’s heart in allowing us to suffer the consequences of our own sin. He loves us and wants us back close to himself. What is interesting with Samson is that even with his own freewill action to sin God still used it to bring glory to himself and accomplish his purpose. We see God using our word to bring his people to repentance. Lamentations 3:31-33 For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring עִנָּה֙ affliction or grief to anyone… Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Nahum 1:12 Though I have אֲעַנֵּ֖ךְ afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. God’s heart is not to afflict us because he loves us but he can use the consequences of our sin to bring us back to him. Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be עֻנֵּ֑יתִיafflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm 119:107 I am severely נַעֲנֵ֥יתִיafflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! I will close with the reason why God is able to bring us back to himself because he sent his own son into the world to save us and pay the price. He was afflicted and mistreated so we could be forgiven. Here is the prediction of Jesus saving work on the cross. Isaiah 53:4, 7 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, וּמְעֻנֶּֽה and afflicted… He was oppressed and נַעֲנֶה֮ afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Our word is most often used in the sense to cause to suffer, whether physically or emotionally. A good example of this is what the Egyptians did to the Hebrew people which our word is used and is referenced 5 times in the Old Testament. Exodus 3:9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen הַלַּ֔חַץ the oppression with which the Egyptians לֹחֲצִ֥ים oppress them. Exodus 23:9 Do not תִלְחָ֑ץ oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 22:21 You shall not wrong a sojourner or תִלְחָצֶ֑נּוּ oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Did you catch the reason God gives for not behaving this way? Like we saw yesterday with our word for wrong the same is true with our word for today. Because the people were in Egypt where they were not only wronged by them but they were also oppressed. They were oppressed in their slavery to Egypt so they should not act that way to others who are currently sojourners. We will look at more reasons not to do this with our word for tomorrow. But for today I’ll close with the good news of God’s grace and power to help us when we are being oppressed. Psalm 56:1-4 Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they יִלְחָצֵֽנִי press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Did you also notice in Leviticus the insight that it defiles a person? This is also similar to what the Holy Spirit says in the New Testament through Paul writing to the Corinthian churches. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. There is something about sexual sin that really destroys a person’s inner being their soul. The command to run away is the best course of action. As we saw earlier Joseph ran away from the temptation as should we. Because Jesus thought that we were worth dying for we need also to see our value and offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. I’ll close with that great reminder. Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The wicked are described as those who do not make restoration. Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrow and do not יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם repay, but the righteous give generously. When we strive to make others whole for anything we might have done to cause them harm we are acting like God himself. God loves people and wants us to be made whole to be complete. This is at the heart of the good news of Jesus Christ. He came not just to save us from sin but to make us whole and restore us. I’ll close with this great passage about the work that God is doing in us through Christ. Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Exodus 21:12-15, 18-20, 26-27 מַכֵּ֥ה Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. וּמַכֵּ֥ה “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death…When men quarrel and one וְהִכָּהstrikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he הַמַּכֶּ֑הwho struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed. “When a man יַכֶּה֩strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged…When a man יַכֶּ֨ה strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth. Did you notice again that the slaves have rights to be avenged or to be compensated just like if a person is not a slave. God shows himself in his laws and rules to be loving and protective of his people. I’ll close with some of these great passages from the Psalms that show God’s protective love in destroying the enemies of his people. Psalm 135:8 He שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּהstruck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of people and animals. Psalm 136:10, 17 לְמַכֵּ֣ה to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
 His love endures forever… לְ֭מַכֵּהto him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.

The sense our word is used today has to do with earthly masters. Let’s look at how it is used in our chapter. Exodus 21:4-6 If אֲדֹנָיו֙his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall לַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָbe her master's, and he shall go out alone. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love אֲדֹנִ֔יmy master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then אֲדֹנָיו֙his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And אֲדֹנָ֤יוhis master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever. As we saw yesterday with slaves being set free these rules are repeated in Deuteronomy. This section is a great example of the good use of authority. Deuteronomy 15:12-18 If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant. Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. This section shows what good authority looks like. It also gives masters reasons why they should act in these ways that benefit their slaves. The first reason is in verse 15 because they were slaves in Egypt as God as their master set them free from their service to the Egyptians. The other reason God gives is in verse 18, because He will bless them in everything they do. Did you also notice in our chapter Exodus 21 and the repeated rules in Deuteronomy 15, the scenario that God describes as a slave actually saying that he loves his master? That is interesting to me because this is how God identifies himself to us as our master and also one who loves us first inviting us to love him back. 1 John 4:10, 19 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…We love because he first loved us. I’ll close with these words from Peter. When Jesus asks his disciples if they wanted to leave him as well because the crowds were leaving over his hard teaching. Peter knew how good they had it being with Jesus. John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

God is always about giving us more choices to live freer. It is the evil one who takes away and limits our choices. He does this through deception. Jesus calls him the father of lies for a reason. And he calls out his purpose which is diametrically opposed to his. Jesus said in John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. So full life of freedom or having that freedom taken away from us and being destroyed that is quite the contrast. No wonder Jesus also calls the evil one Satan which means enemy. Because only an enemy would want to kill, steal and destroy you. Jesus calls the effects of sin being a slave to sin. The Holy Spirit spells this out through Paul to the Roman Christians. Romans 6:12, 16-18 You are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin...You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I’ll close with this great description of what Jesus came to earth to do for us. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Acts 13:39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

We see this a lot throughout the rest of the Old Testament. Here are those identified as building an altar to the LORD YHWH: Moses (Exodus 17:15), Joshua (Joshua 8:30), the tribes of Reuben and Manasseh (Joshua 22:10), Gideon (Judges 6:24), Samuel (1 Samuel 7:17), Saul builds an altar (1 Samuel 14:35), David (2 Samuel 24:25), Solomon (1 Kings 9:25), Elijah (1 Kings 18:32), Uriah the priest (2 Kings 16:11), Zerubbabel and priests (Ezra 3:2). Our word is used the most in the book of Leviticus, 87 times, since it is mainly an instruction manual for the priest for the sacrifices of worship. Let’s look at how our word is used in our chapter. Exodus 20:24-26 An מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲדָמָה֮ altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. If you make me an מִזְבַּ֤ח אֲבָנִים֙ altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to מִזְבְּחִ֑י my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’ What I find interesting in looking at this contrast between gods of silver and gold verses an altar of earth or stone is this idea of our effort instead of God’s. When you make idols or gods of silver and gold it takes a lot of work. So people are working hard to make something for God. This would also be the case if we were to use a tool to make God a really nice stone altar. But God commands the people of that time to do neither of these. Instead he wants something that he has already provided. No work of gold or silver or tools on the stone. Just stones that are already stones. This could be emphasizing the fact that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love and obligation for saving us. He has already done the work of saving us and he already loves us more than we will ever know. I’ll close with this thought said well in this passage. Ephesians 3:17-19 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Most of the uses of our word have fearing the LORD or YHWH used 23 times. Here is a good example reminding us where true wisdom comes from. Proverbs 1:7 The יִרְאַ֣תfear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. This is true wisdom because we know to respect the great I AM reality God. Because his name reminds us that whatever God decides to do becomes reality. This is the one a wise person fears, respects and follows. The good news is that this is the best thing for us because God also loves us and has our best interest in mind. I’ll close with this great passage about having God’s respect in our hearts and his desire to always do good for us. Jeremiah 32:40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the יִרְאָתִי֙ fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 

A big part of growing closer to God or maturing in our faith is understanding how God allows what we desire or covet to be taken from us. Psalm 39:11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their חֲמוּד֑וֹ [literally what is dear to them or what they desire] wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath. God does this because it gets in the way of our relationship with him. We see this in Proverbs where the Holy Spirit through Solomon refers to people stuck in loving something or someone more than God as simple ones who need to grow up. Proverbs 1:22-23 How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers חָמְד֣וּ delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. The good news is that because of Jesus saving work on the cross and our accepting it through faith we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. God is greater than our own desires to covet anything or anyone in this life other than God himself. I’ll close with this Messianic Prophecy that reminds us of what Jesus was going to come and save us from. We find our word in this great passage. Isaiah 53:2-6 He had no beauty or majesty to וְנֶחְמְדֵֽהוּ attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Exodus 20:15 You shall not תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב steal. We find the exact same wording in both Leviticus 19:11 and Deuteronomy 5:19. History has proven that this commandment is essential to the foundation of any nation because when people engage in it their nation crumbles. It definitely has an attraction to it that must be recognized and rejected. The Holy Spirit speaking through Solomon plainly points this out showing how the voice of lady folly leads many astray. Proverbs 9:16-18 To those who have no sense she says, גְּנוּבִ֥ים “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. 

Our word also identifies the underlying attraction of wealth and its dangers. Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor וְגָנַ֑בְתִּי and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Did you see the connection between how wealth can affect our relationship with God negatively? Jesus spends almost a third of his teaching on worldly resources and warns us of the dangers that are there. He warns us against relying on money and the things money can buy because it can be used by the evil one to disconnect us from God. I’ll close with this great reminder from Jesus. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Our word is used in the sense of having sexual intercourse with someone other than a spouse, as a married or betrothed person. God warns of the dangers of this action. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who נֹאֵ֣ף commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. Leviticus 20:10 If a man יִנְאַף֙ commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. Someone who engages in this sin becomes hardened to it being something that is wrong and destructive. Proverbs 30:20 This is the way מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. 

This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:14 You shall not תִּֿנְאָ֑ף commit adultery. This commandment is repeated exactly in Deuteronomy 5:18. I find it interesting at the end of the book of Jeremiah when the nation is being taken away to exile to Babylon our word is used. It is used to describe one of the reasons why God is allowing this punishment on his people. Jeremiah 29:23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have וַיְנַֽאֲפוּ֙ committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the Lord. This is a great example why these ten commandments are so important for any nation to follow because they act as a foundation for its future existence and prosperity. I’ll close with how God describes the church which is now the foundation of all nations in the world for their future and prosperity. 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Notice how honoring one’s parents includes obeying them which is what we have seen in our word. We value them enough to listen to their instruction and their will and follow it. And did you catch that the Holy Spirit interprets this command as having the promise of enjoying a long life. For God’s people who were living when Exodus was written it was specific to the land that God was going to soon give them. The promised land. For us New Testament people notice the word has been changed to earth instead of land. This is because now there is no geographical center for God’s people today. We are spiritually connected to God through Christ anywhere we live on this earth. We enjoy our life by being connected to God through Christ and having his Spirit living inside of us. I’ll close with this passage where God uses our word to describe his value for his people. Isaiah 43:4-5 Since you are precious and נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּ honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

But overwhelmingly it is used 11 times specifically contrasting the days of work with the day of rest. Here is a great example. Exodus 23:12 שֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed. Not only is the Sabbath a faith thing in that God is teaching us to trust him but it is also for our benefit. Work is a good thing so we work for six days but rest is also a good thing so that we and those we work with are able to rest and be refreshed. I find it interesting that in the New Testament we find a reference to Jesus going up on a mountain like Moses did after six days this time Jesus is transfigured to show his glory as God. Matthew 17:1-3 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

That is not how our word is used in our chapter today. Let’s look at it. Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the עֲוֺ֨ן iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Our word is used in our chapter in the sense that my family has to deal with the effects of my sin. This is referred to as generational sin and in today’s language we would use the terms of addiction and family trauma. We see this idea developed in the New Testament. When instructing children God commands fathers. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Did you notice the contrast between frustrating or embittering your children over against training and instruction of the Lord. It does matter how we teach and connect with our kids because the evil one can use it to put a wedge between them and God. God calls us loved kids who are easily drawn toward worshiping idols instead of God (1 John 5:21). Idol worship can be used by the devil to not only corrupt my life but cause effects on my family for generations. This is because those closest to us pick up and imitate both our good and bad habits. The good news is that no matter how much the evil one will use the sinful nature of our earthly father against us to steal, kill, and destroy our lives. God is our perfect father that sent his son so that we can have life and have it abundantly. We can break the generational sin through the Holy Spirit working in us. This is what Peter is referring to in not continuing to follow the empty way of life we received from our family but instead to let God redeem us through Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. I’ll close with this great passage that reminds us that God can break any sin, addiction or pattern by his power when we confess them to him. Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the עֲוֺ֖ןguilt of my sin.

I find it interesting how God defines himself with this specific  phrase אָֽנֹכִ֞י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל I  YWHW God is a god. Did you catch that? Previously God has focused on the fact that the kind of god he is compared to all other so-called gods is that he is reality the great I Am. In other words when God does something it becomes reality. It is a good thing that God makes this point over and over again in the Bible because we like to take anything and serve and worship it making it a god to us even though there is only one true reality God YWHW the great I AM. But what is interesting here is that God is saying what makes me unique in all of the other things or idols people trust in is that I am jealous. We might think haven’t I read somewhere where other nations described their gods as jealous so why does God call himself unique in this. That is because YHWH is the only true God. All other so-called gods aren’t real since they can’t do anything they also can’t be jealous. Because YWHW is reality the true God who can act on his jealous he describes later in the same verse how specifically this action comes about. God will act on his jealousy for us with either visiting iniquity which as we have seen with previous words is a way to say judging or punishing it or showing unfailing love. So, what determines which one a person receives. I like how the Holy Spirit answers this in Romans. Romans 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. So whether or not we accept God’s grace through Jesus makes all the difference in the world. If we reject the salvation that is in Christ then God will look at us through the window of law and give us what we deserve which is to be treated sternly. This is where God’s protective jealousy comes in he will allow the consequences of our sin to catch up to us so that we will accept his salvation and turn away from our life of sin. This is where the window of grace comes in. If we don’t want God’s sternness, then we accept the salvation that God offers us through Jesus death in our place and then God looks at us through the window of grace and sees his perfect son’s life instead of our sinful one and we get grace. But it doesn’t stop when we accept Christ God calls us to be like him in holiness as we have looked at a few days ago. Even as Christians God in his jealously will allow consequences into our lives from our sin. He wants us to grow up and make the choice to leave sin behind and let him save, heal and continue to transform us into the image of his son. I’ll close with these two Scriptures where God even names himself with our word. Exodus 34:14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. This is fascinating how our word is used in this phrase יְהוָה֙ קַנָּ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ אֵ֥ל קַנָּ֖א הֽוּא we literally have YWHW jealous name of this god jealously is. So we have again what we looked at earlier god is the kind of God who is jealous because he is real so he even names himself jealous. Notice how intense God’s love is expressed. Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a קַנָּֽא jealous God.

This is the danger of bowing down, worshiping and serving idols they not only can’t do anything good for us they actually are used by the evil one to destroy us. The Holy Spirit makes this case through Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian Churches. 1 Corinthians 8:4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. This is why God commands us not to worship idols or serve them put them before the true living God. Because idol worship is an opportunity for the evil one to use to influence people. Remember Jesus word’s when he contrasts his motives for people with that of the evil one. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. So let’s think about the devil’s motive as the thief and Jesus motive as our good shepherd that has our very best interests in mind. Bring these thoughts into this great description of Idol worship from Isaiah which we will close with. Notice what he does with a tree something that God created. He projects on to this tree something that is not there which is how the evil one uses idols to deceive us. Isaiah 44:15-17 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

This activity is condemned by God. Notice God calls this acting corruptly in Deuteronomy 4:15-18 Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves פֶּ֖סֶלan idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. And a few verses later this is identified as being forbidden by God Deuteronomy 4:23 Do not make for yourselves an פֶּ֙סֶל֙ idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden.

This is the exact sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:4 You shall not make for yourself a פֶ֣֙סֶל֙carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. I love the contrast between YHWH the LORD or the reality God made with idols. Psalm 97:1-7 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in פֶ֗סֶל idols— worship him, all you gods! Did you catch that idols are worthless in that they can’t do anything? Whereas the true reality, I AM YWHW God reigns and is described with all of these amazing things listed in the Psalm. Idols lead to being put to shame as we also see in Isaiah 42:17 But those who trust בַּפָּ֑סֶל in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame. Not only do idols lead to shame but they are also described as nothing. Isaiah 44:9-10 All who make פֶ֤סֶל idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god וּפֶ֣סֶל and casts an idol, which can profit nothing? If find it interesting that Jeremiah repeats himself verbatim at the beginning of his book and then again toward the end. I’ll close with this great summary of how ridiculous idols are. Here is the same words in both Jeremiah 10:14 and 51:17 Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame מִפָּ֑סֶל by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.

This sense of being in front of one’s face is also translated as in one’s sight or presence. Jeremiah 7:15 I will thrust you מֵעַ֣ל פָּנָ֑י from my sight, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim. Jeremiah 23:39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and מֵעַ֥ל פָּנָֽי cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. This sense of being in front of one’s face is also translated as being before or in front of everything else. This is how it is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods עַל־פָּנָֽ֗יַ before me. We see this repeated in Deuteronomy 5:7. When we look at the other ways our phrase is used it helps us better understand the depth of its meaning. So to have other gods before YHWH or the reality God is to have something in front of God himself in that you are looking at, focused on it instead of the true YHWY reality God. What reason does God give for this command? The verse before it tells us. Exodus 20:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. So notice two things from this. God was the one who actually accomplished this deliverance from slavery it wasn’t any other so called gods who are not real. Also we the word LORD in all capitals which we have looked at several times is YHWH or the reality God because whatever YHWH decides to do it becomes reality. We will see as we go throughout the Bible that every other so called god is just an idol that is not alive and can’t do anything. Psalm 115:3-7 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

Not only are idols not alive and unable to do anything for us. They also will make us dead in the sense that we won’t be able to connect with the true God anymore because we will become hardened by the sin of worshiping idols. This is why God commands us not to. We will talk more about idols as we get further along in our chapter 20 of Exodus. I’ll close with this reminder from the New Testament to the churches. The Holy Spirit speaking through John contrasts the true God with idols and ends his book this with challenging instruction. 1 John 5:20-21 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Our word is used to describe God’s anger because of sin being experienced in an intense and fatal way. 2 Samuel 6:6-8 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because פָּרַ֧ץ יְהוָ֛ה the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called פֶּ֣רֶץ Perez Uzzah. So the translators help us understand how the word is used here by supplying the word wrath, which I agree with because this is why God is bursting forth because he is angry that Uzzah did not respect him. This is how our word is used in our passage today. Exodus 19:22-24 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, פֶּן־יִפְרֹ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה lest  the Lord break out against them.” And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה to the Lord, פֶּן־יִפְרָץ־בָּֽם lest he break out against them.” God is wanting to make sure that the people know what is expected of them ahead of time. We don’t always understand the dangers of sin which is why God goes out of his way to make himself and his will known to us. When sin is punished in a fatal way it can seem harsh to us like with Uzzah touching the cart. It looked like he was just trying to help in keeping the ark from falling off the cart. But he knew better that it was so holy that no one was suppose to touch it. Because he was familiar with the ark he forgot how special and separate it was from everything else. We also see this happen in the New Testament. Barnabas gave a large gift so that people who came to Jerusalem for a short trip could stay longer than they had planned. A couple noticed that Barnabas got a lot of recognition for doing this so they devised a plan to make themselves look good before the church. Acts 5:1-11 Ananias...also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. …Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. We don’t always know why God choses to act in these ways because only he knows a person’s heart. This is why the greatest commandment is so important for our benefit (Matthew 22:37-38).

God requires that we make changes before he acts or makes himself know to us. We see this over and over throughout the Bible. The reason why people complain that they can’t see God or that God doesn’t’ even exist is because of the effect that sin has on us. Sin affects our ability to see what is really going on and our desire to connect with God. Romans 1:18...who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. The rest of the chapter makes the case that God has made himself know to us but we suppressed this truth wanting other alternatives to God. This continues to make us unable to see God and want to connect with him. The good news is that God acted first to save us before we made any decision towards him (Romans 5:8). This doesn’t mean that God’s salvation is automatic it requires our desire to accept it. This is also true of our becoming like God. The idea of holiness. God is the one who does the work of transforming us into his image our work is to open our hearts to let him do this work. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. Notice that becoming like Christ does involve my action of walking in the light and as I do this it is Jesus who cleanses me and makes me more like himself. 1 Peter 1:14-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.

So in what ways were God’s people in the Old Testament a holy nation? Some interesting ideas would be this idea of the temple being not just for God’s people but a house of prayer for all the nations (Isaiah 56:7). Also the very fact that God himself has a special relationship with his people which we have already looked at over the last few days with the idea of covenant (Deuteronomy 4:7). We know that in the Old Testament God’s people were holy in the sense that they were set apart from other nations in two specific ways. When we let the Holy Spirit interpret the Old Testament for us we can be confident this is the sense that God means Holy Nation. So the Spirit speaking through Paul says this about God’s people being different or special apart from all other nations. Romans 3:2 The Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. Matthew 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. Did you catch that? God used his people in the Old Testament as a holy nation in the sense that he entrusted the Bible to them and he brought his son the chosen Christ into the world through them. That is really amazing and special. We also see the Holy Spirit drawing this conclusion through Peter. God takes what is said here in our chapter today and applies it to the work of the church. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Believers in Christ are to be used by God as a royal priesthood which is another way to say a kingdom of priests to help people connect to God through Christ. And we are a holy nation in that God has made us like him and given us his spirit that is more powerful than our own sinful desires so we can be more like him. And so we can be an example to those around us who are still in the kingdom of darkness. We can show them how to come into the kingdom of light that God has delivered us from. I’ll close with this great passage that ties a lot of this together. Colossians 1:12-14 Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Then he sends his own son into the world to prove to us he loves us and wants us back close to him. I’ll close with these great passages Romans 8:31-32, 35 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

Genesis 17:9-10 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֑ר keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. This agreement that is made with Abraham involves circumcision. This was one of the ways God made a distinction between his people apart from all the other people groups in the world at that time. It was to show holiness and obedience to God for his people at that time. Today we have the New Covenant through Christ death in our place.

The good news is that God always keeps his agreement with us regardless of what we do. He always holds up his end of the deal. Leviticus 26:9 I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, וַהֲקִימֹתִ֥י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתְּכֶֽם and I will keep my covenant with you. Daniel 9:4-6 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who שֹׁמֵ֤ר הַבְּרִית֙ keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Notice that before he lays out the sins of the people he appeals to God’s faithfulness to his agreement identified with his character of grace and mercy. This is at the heart of the new covenant in that we couldn’t keep our end of the agreement to follow God’s will, his laws so Jesus had to come and do that for us and then die in our place. I’ll close with this great verse that reminds us that yes we are not perfect so in that sense we are faithless but as long as we hold on to our relationship with God he will be faithful in his love and salvation for us. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 

Genesis 22:16-18 I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ בְּקֹלִֽי you have obeyed me. Did you catch that? It was because Abraham obeyed God that God then made these promises to him. This is how conditional agreements work. Here is an example of what happens when one does not fulfill what is required of the condition that God has set up. Numbers 14:20-23 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּקוֹלִֽי [literally not obeyed my voice] disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. In earlier verses Moses was praying asking God to forgive the people which he does. But notice that there is an earthly consequence the people have to face because they failed to meet the condition which was to listen and obey God’s voice. Because they didn’t God will not let them go into the promised land. Also notice that what might seem trivial to us is a big deal to God. He takes sin personally he calls this disobedience “treated me with contempt”. Another good example of this is the exile of God’s people which is why our phrase is used the most in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 22:21-22 I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’...you have not שָׁמַ֖עַתְּ בְּקוֹלִֽי obeyed my voice. The wind will drive all your shepherds away, and your allies will go into exile. Then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all your wickedness. The good news is that in Christ we can be forgiven when we have failed to listen to God’s voice and turn away from our rebellion and sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I’ll close with this great passage that shows David asking God to listen his prayer of repentance. Psalm 130:2-4 Lord, שִׁמְעָ֪ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Our word is used in the sense of God protecting like an Eagle would protect its young. Deuteronomy 32:9-12 For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its כְּנָפָיו֙ wings to catch them and carries them aloft. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him. Ruth 2:11-12 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose כְּנָפָֽיו wings you have come to take refuge.” 

This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' כַּנְפֵ֣י wings and brought you to myself. Did you catch God’s motive? He wants to bring his people to himself. We find this imagery of parental love ascribed to God throughout the Bible. Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ your wings. Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ your wings. Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of כְּנָפֶ֥יךָ your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 61:4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ your wings. I’ll close with this great passage of God’s love seen in the prediction of sending Jesus to heal us from our sins that separated us from him. Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its בִּכְנָפֶ֑יהָ wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

Our phrase is used to describe being set back to rest. This is the idea of being safe again from danger. Saul’s grandson uses this idea twice when referring to King David’s return from Absalom’s taking his throne through conspiracy. 2 Samuel 19:25, 30 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned בָּ֥א בְשָׁלֽוֹם safely… Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home בְּשָׁל֖וֹם safely.” It is used the same way by Ahab King of Israel. 1 Kings 22:27 This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return בֹּאִ֥י בְשָׁלֽוֹם safely. This is the sense of how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 18:23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also יָבֹ֥א בְשָׁלֽוֹם will go to their place in peace.” If we remember the context both the people and Moses were going to wear themselves out because Moses was trying to solve everyone’s dispute alone. Instead the people will be able to have their conflicts with each other resolved in a way that would make them whole and satisfy them. Which is the idea of peace that we have seen when we looked at it previously. That everything would be set back the way it needed to be at rest or at peace. God is the only one who can accomplish this completely. Psalm 29:10-11 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people בַשָּׁלֽוֹם with peace.

I’ll close with this great passage that talks about how God and his word brings us this wholeness of setting things right being able to go in peace. Isaiah 55:11-12 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth וּבְשָׁל֖וֹם in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Our word is then used to describe continuing to stand or exist in the sense of persistence. God’s eternal existing is contrasted against everything and everyone else. Job 14:1-2 Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not יַעֲמֽוֹד endure. Psalm 102:26 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you תַ֫עֲמֹ֥ד remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. This is the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 18:23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to עֲמֹ֑ד endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace. This first benefit is that Moses would be able to continue to lead because he would not wear himself out and be able to endure the challenges of leadership. As we saw a few days ago this only happens because of developing some of the people around you to lead with you. Exodus 18:22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. Leadership is a long term sort of thing. It takes a long time for people to trust you so you have to be in it for the long game. And we will not be able to exist in any long term effective way if we try to do it without developing and sharing the heavy load of leadership. We see this in the New Testament with the idea of a plurality of Elders so that no one person is leading the church. This reminds me of Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We have to remember that church leaders are also sheep. Yes, they are shepherds whose primary role is to shepherd but they are also sheep themselves who need the encouragement and accountability of the other Shepherds around them. Paul understood this as he shares with the church in Rome. Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. And we all need God’s love and forgiveness. I’ll close with this reminder of God’s grace in that without Jesus death in our place for our sin none of us would be able to be accepted by God. I like how the writer of the Psalm says it. Psalm 130:1-4 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could יַעֲמֹֽד stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Then we also see it used to describe exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger especially in battle. 1 Samuel 31:11-12 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their חַיִל֮ valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh. 2 Samuel 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a חַי valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

These two senses of army and courage lend toward this idea of being qualified in the sense of having the ability to be counted on to accomplish a task in a way that brings goodness to those relying on the good that is needed. When Pharaoh was settling Joseph’s family into Egypt he asked for these kind of men so that he and his people would benefit. Genesis 47:5-6 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any חַ֔יִל able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” This is how our word is used in our chapter today.

Exodus 18:21, 25-26 Moreover, look for חַ֜יִל able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens…Moses chose חַ֙יִל֙ able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Did you catch how these qualified or able men are identified? They hate brides and are trustworthy. If a man is not able to be corrupted, then he is reliable in that everyone benefits from his service not just the few who are offering the brides. 

In the New Testament the leaders of the local churches are also to have this idea of courage and bravery that makes one qualified to serve so that everyone in the church benefits. In the list of qualifications for Church leaders found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 this same description we have already seen that of not being corruptible with dishonest gain and loving money. This again makes them reliable because bribes won’t work on them so the benefits of their service are not limited to just the handful of people bribing them. This is emphasized in the very first statement about Elders, Overseers, and Pastors three titles for the same one job. 1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. It is a noble task that benefits everyone. I’ll close with these great proverbs that remind us what happens when we don’t set up qualified men to lead. Instead of benefiting everyone a lot of people get hurt. Proverbs 26:6,10 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison…Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

Exodus 18:22-26 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. I find it interesting that God came up with this idea earlier of sharing the burden with other leaders by looking for and training other leaders. But Moses didn’t seem to remember this until Jethro shared it with him again in our chapter. We see God directing the apostles in the same way in the New Testament with the new church that was growing. Acts 6:1-4 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

The reason behind the need to spread out leadership was to make sure that there was a group focused on the word of God and prayer. This is what New Testament Elders are to focus on which is why God set them apart to serve in this way in the local church. I’ll close with this great wise saying that makes this concept in a succinct way. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We also see our phrase used to describe an immoral or bad action. From a person’s perspective. 1 Samuel 2:23-24 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is לֽוֹא־טוֹבָ֤ה not good. 1 Samuel 26:15-16 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is לֹא־ט֞וֹב not good. We also see God making this distinction. Isaiah 65:2-3 All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways לֹא־ט֔וֹב not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me to my very face.

Our phrase is also used in the sense of not approving. 1 Samuel 29:6-7 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers לֹֽא־ט֥וֹב don’t approve of you. Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 18:17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is לֹא־טוֹב֙ not good. Jethro does not approve because of the reason he gives in the very next verse. Exodus 18:18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Then what I find interesting is the new convert from being a Midian Priest to now following the true God gives Moses some advice. Exodus 18:19-21 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. Now Moses could have said wait a minute I’ve been following the true God a lot longer than you have. You just started so who are you to give me direction. But Moses doesn’t do that he listens to this newbie because it is wise instruction. Moses is a great example of humility in that we can learn from almost anyone regardless of who they are. If we are humble enough to let others speak into our lives. We always test things by God’s revealed word, but we also need to recognize that God can get our attention in a lot of different ways, even through a father-in-law newbie. This reminds me of this great proverb that I’ll close with. Proverbs 9:8-9 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

We also find our phrase used by God describing his reasoning for his actions with his people. God deals with the sin of his people. Isaiah 5:4-5 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? וְעַתָּה֙ אוֹדִֽיעָה Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. So based on the information of the sin of his people God acts in judgment. God responds to Abraham’s faith and love in action toward Him using our phrase. Genesis 22:12 Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. What I find interesting is that this was for Abraham because God already knows everything that is going to happen. He knew Abraham would pass this test so the test was for Abraham to know that he trusted God and loves God more than anyone or anything. This leads us to the way our phrase is used in our chapter today that is with this idea of conversion away from the things against God and toward him in real faith. Exodus 18:11 עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people. Did you catch that? Jethro who as we saw the last two days is described as a priest of Midian is converting toward the true God. Because he now knows based on what Moses shared with him all that God had done. This conversion also leads him to joy. Exodus 18:9-10 Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians. 

I will close with how David uses our phrase to make this great declaration of faith in the true God Psalm 20:6-7 עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 96:4-6 For גָ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Did you catch that? Our God the true God, YWHW or reality God is to be feared above all other god’s because all the so called god’s are not real they are just idols. This is why God is most worthy of praise and to be feared because He is real, He is YWHW, He is reality. The next use of our word is 1 Chronicles 16:25. It is quoting this Psalm 96 we just looked at.

Psalm 135:5-7 I know that the Lord is great, that our גָד֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה Lord is greater מִכָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. The reason given here that God is greater than all other gods is because he alone rules over his creation. He alone is sovereign. This is why my favorite understanding of YWHW is reality. He is reality or as the psalm says he does whatever he pleases. The psalm goes on to describe the events we looked at earlier in Exodus. These are given as more examples of God being reality or doing whatever he pleases. Psalm 135:8-9 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of people and animals. He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.

I’ll close with two uses without the contrast to other so called Gods. These two Psalms simply state in worship the truth that YWHW is great. Psalm 48:1-2 גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Psalm 145:3-5 גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty.

The only time our word is not qualified with כָּל “all” it still has the sense of many hardships because the context is when Jeremiah is lamenting over the city after the exile to Babylon because of the people’s sins. Also notice the qualifier engulfed or surrounded with. Lamentations 3:5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness וּתְלָאָֽה and hardship. The good news is that even when God has to punish because of sin there is still hope because of his great love for us. I’ll close with this great reminder.  Lamentations 3:22-25 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him.

Our word is used to touch with the lips or press the lips as an expression of love or greeting. We find it used as an expression of intimate love between a man and a woman. Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. Proverbs 7:13, 18 She took hold of him וְנָ֣שְׁקָהand kissed him and with a brazen face she said… Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! Song of Solomon 1:2 Let him יִשָּׁקֵ֙נִי֙kiss me with the מִנְּשִׁיק֣וֹתkisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine. Most of the time our word used to show affection toward family members. Genesis 27:26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, וַיִּשַּׁק and kiss me.” Genesis 45:15 וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. We also find our word is used to describe what one does as part of a greeting. Exodus 4:27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God וַיִּשַּׁק and kissed him. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down וַיִּשַּׁק and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. We find this tradition carried into the New Testament as part of a greeting with another word accompanying it. Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. 1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. I think this reinforces how God describes his church as a close family. I’ll close with this great example of the affection that Paul shows his brothers and sisters in Christ. Philippians 1:7-8 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

God’s power to rule is described with our word. Psalm 47:7-8 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy כִּסֵּ֬א throne. One of the way’s kings rule with power is to destroy evil. Proverbs 20:8 When a king sits on his כִּסֵּא throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. God is also described in this same way. In both of these senses ruling by destroying evil and God being described as seating on a throne are seen in how our chapter uses our word. Exodus 17:14-16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the כֵּ֣סthrone of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” This idea of YHWH or God of reality, siting on his throne to judge is seen throughout the Bible. Psalm 11:4-6 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.

I’ll close with this great Psalm where David is praising God for being just and defending his cause. Psalm 9:2-10 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting לְ֝כִסֵּ֗אenthroned as the righteous judge. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. The Lord reigns forever; he has established his כִּסְאֽוֹthrone for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Most of the time our word is used as banner in the sense of an ornamental piece of cloth that typically relates identification to those in the vicinity of the banner. Isaiah 5:26 He lifts up a נֵ֤ס banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! Psalm 60:4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a נֵּ֭ס banner to be unfurled against the bow.

Under this signal idea we see a rallying point that excites and energizes those who you are going into a fight with. Jeremiah 4:21 How long must I see the נֵּ֑ס battle standard and hear the sound of the trumpet? Jeremiah 50:2 Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a נֵ֔ס banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, “Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.” Jeremiah 51:12, 27 Lift up a נֵ֗ס banner against the walls of Babylon! Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen, prepare an ambush! The Lord will carry out his purpose, his decree against the people of Babylon… Lift up a נֵ֣ס banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations for battle against her.

This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 17:14-16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is נִסִּֽי My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” It is YWHW the ever existing one or reality himself that is their banner, their rallying point against their enemies the Amalekites.

I’ll close with the messianic prophecy or prediction of Christ coming to earth. He is described as the banner our rallying point that excites and energizes us who are in the spiritual battle with him. Isaiah 11:10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a לְנֵ֣ס banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. Jesus is our rally point he is our banner.

Our word is also used when followers are extremely angry with their leaders. 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of לְסָקְל֔וֹ stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 17:3-4 The people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to וּסְקָלֻֽנִי stone me.” God acted so that Moses was not stoned to death by the very people he was serving as God’s leader. In the New Testament we find two people who were stoned for serving God. Acts 14:5-7, 19-20 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled...to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel…But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city. We’re not sure if God spared Paul’s life in a miraculous way or simply a natural way in that he didn’t die from the stoning. Earlier however God choses not to spare Stephen’s physical life. Acts 7:57-58 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. What is interesting is that even though God doesn’t spare Stephen’s physical life he uses it to make an impression on Saul’s life who was there helping the religious leaders kill him because of his teaching about Jesus. And not only that but earlier we see this beautiful picture of Stephen’s welcome into his heavenly home. I’ll close with this amazing vision that reminds us that what God has planned for us is so much better than anything here on this earth. Acts 7:55-56 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Here is an example of both verb and noun forms used in the same passage. Right after Samson killed a thousand Philistines with just a jawbone of a donkey he was dehydrated. Judges 15:18 Because he was very וַיִּצְמָא֮ thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of בַּצָּמָ֔א thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Let’s look at how both are used in our chapter today. Exodus 17:3 But the people וַיִּצְמָ֨א thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock בַּצָּמָֽא with thirst?” This as we have already looked at is what unbelief looks like. We will see many more examples of this as we go through the Bible. Unbelief fails to take into account God’s character which lends us to trust him because he cares for us more than we can even comprehend. 

Isaiah predicts this future kingdom where Christ will meet all of our needs that includes thirst. Isaiah 49:10 They will neither hunger nor יִצְמָ֔אוּ thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. Jesus identifies himself as being the one who is the water of life to the woman at the well. John 4:13-15 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Then Jesus goes on and shares with her the good news that he came to accomplish which was to bring everyone back to God the father’s side through his death on the cross. I’ll close with these Psalms about our need for God as one thirsts for water and how God alone satisfies us. Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul צָמְאָ֬ה thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 63:1-5 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; צָמְאָ֬ה I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

We also see our word used of people fighting against God. Now logically this makes no sense because there is no way you would win. You will only end up hurting yourself. Which is the consistent theme throughout the Bible. 1 Samuel 2:9-10 It is not by strength that one prevails; those who מְרִיבוֹ oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him who רָ֚ב strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Jeremiah 2:29 Why do you תָרִ֖יבוּ contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the Lord. This absurdity is also the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 17:1-2 There was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people וַיָּ֤רֶב quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you תְּרִיבוּן֙ quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 

Instead of fighting and striving against God. God himself has a better idea for us. We need to let God fight for us when we join him and come over to his side. We do this when we turn from our sin, let him make us like him, and follow him. There is a lot of challenges in this broken corrupted place so we need God to fight for us. Lamentations 3:58 רַ֧בְתָּ You have taken up רִיבֵ֥י my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life. Isaiah 49:25 For thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for יְרִיבֵךְ֙ I will contend with those who אָרִ֔יב contend with you, and I will save your children.” Psalm 35:1 רִיבָ֣ה Contend, O Lord, with those who יְרִיבַ֑י contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! I’ll close with this great passage. Romans 8:31, 33-34 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?...Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

Our word is used of water. Genesis 24:14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה drink,’ and she says, שְׁתֵ֔ה ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” Sometimes water becomes contaminated in some way so that it is not safe for consumption. Exodus 7:21, 24 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt… And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not לִשְׁתּ֑וֹת drink the water of the river. Exodus 15:23-24 When they came to Marah, they could not לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah,) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to נִּשְׁתֶּֽה drink?”

This is the sense our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 17:1-2, 6 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to וְנִשְׁתֶּ֑ה drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”…Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will וְשָׁתָ֣ה drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Our word is used in the sense of experiencing God’s judgment against from sin. Job 21:20 Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them יִשְׁתֶּֽה drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty. Isaiah 51:17 Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have שָׁתִ֛ית drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, you who have שָׁתִ֖ית drained to its dregs the goblet that makes people stagger. The idea of this figure of speech is just as one experiences the effects of the alcohol when it is drunk so one experiences the effects or consequences of God’s wrath when sinning against him.

In the New Testament Jesus takes this concept of drinking and applies it to himself in both ways it is used in the Old Testament. When he makes reference to the cup in his prayer at Gethsemane he is using the alcohol metaphor of experiencing God’s judgment. Luke 22:41-42 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” At the cross Jesus drinks the cup that God makes him drink that is he experiences the punishment for our sins instead of us getting what we deserved. The other way Jesus uses the idea of drinking is identifying himself as the living water of life. I’ll close with the good news that because Jesus has died in our place and taken our wrath we are not only forgiven but have this living water inside of us when we are in Christ. John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

We also see our word used in the sense of recognizing God’s presence in an activity or place. Genesis 10:9 He was a mighty hunter לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה before the Lord.” Genesis 4:16 So Cain went out מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Genesis 18:22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה before the Lord. 

This idea of God’s presence in a particular place is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 16:33-34 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it לִפְנֵ֥י before הָעֵדֻ֖ת the testimony to be kept. Notice how our phrase for today is compared with this other phrase. God is making both of these words the LORD and testimony synonymous here. God’s presence is his testimony which speaks to my favorite way to translate LORD, YHWH which is reality. God’s reality is his testimony in that we speak of God because what he desires become reality at the right time. And the whole concept of keeping these items is for the next generation to know God who is reality, to know his presence and be able to speak about his greatness. I’ll close with a great example of God’s presence in how he set up Aaron who as priest would go before God’s special presence in the tent of meeting. Exodus 28:29-30 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָ֖ה before the Lord. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה before the Lord regularly. Did you catch how God wants Aaron to wear the breastplate which has the names of God’s people on it so that it would be close to his heart. God is all about being close to his heart and his people’s hearts being close to him. There is a lot more to this idea of God’s presence which we will look at as we go through the Bible. I’ll close keeping with this idea of the heart as it relates to God’s presence. Psalm 19:15 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  

Most of the time we find our word used in people’s relationship with God. Before taking the life of Pharaoh’s son God warned him of this consequence if he did not let his people go and worship him. Exodus 4:22-23 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’” We find our word connected with humility that is needed to obey God. Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you מֵאַ֔נְתָּ refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. Our word is connected to disobedience of God and his will. Nehemiah 9:17 וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. Psalm 78:10-12 They did not keep God’s covenant and מֵאֲנ֥וּ refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt. Jeremiah 5:3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they מֵאֲנ֖וּ refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and מֵאֲנ֖וּ refused to repent. This is the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 16:28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you מֵֽאַנְתֶּ֔ם refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?

One of the dynamics of disobedience that we fail to see is how it also affects God. Because God loves us and wants to save us so that he can bring us close to his side. It hurts him when we refuse this close relationship with him. Jeremiah 9:6 Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they מֵאֲנ֥וּ refuse to know me, declares the Lord. Did you catch that disobedience is really refusing to know God? It is rejecting having a close personal relationship with him. I’ll close with two passages that shows us God’s heart for us when Jesus was looking out over the city. Luke 19:41-42 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. Matthew 23:37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Jesus had to correct the religious leaders misunderstanding of the sabbath. The sabbath had become a way for the leaders to control the people. And when Jesus started his public ministries they tried to use it as a way to discredit him instead of what God had originally created it for. Mark 2:23-24, 27-28 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”… Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Jesus flips the current understanding on its head. God’s purpose for his people is to benefit them and their families. Not to create another day of religious work that would keep them distracted from reconnecting with God and their families. Once Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday the church shifted its day of worship and remembrance from Saturday to Sunday.

Later on this sabbath rest day would also include special sabbath celebrations that would include trumpets. Leviticus 23:23-24 The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day שַׁבָּת֔וֹן of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’” Not only do people need the rest but also the land itself. Leviticus 25:4-5 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year שַׁבָּתוֹן֙of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year שַׁבָּת֖וֹןof rest.

What were the people to do during this sabbath rest? We will look at that tomorrow when we look at the other word for sabbath. For today I’ll close with this great picture of rest seen in the New Testament book of Hebrews. Before we do I should contrast this with the penalty God commanded for those who disobeyed God and worked on the sabbath. Exodus 31:15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day שַׁבָּת֛וֹן of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. This may seem harsh to us but it is a reminder that sin has consequences. The good news is that Jesus has taken the punishment for our sins and has become our sabbath rest. Hebrews 4:9-11 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

This food was given by God in a miraculous way. Exodus 16:4, 13-14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you…In the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. Numbers 11:9 When the dew settled on the camp at night, הַמָּ֖ן the manna also came down. Exodus 16:35 The people of Israel ate הַמָּן֙ the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. Joshua 5:11-12 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. הַמָּ֜ן The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any מָ֑ןmanna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. Psalm 78:23-25 Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down מָ֣ן manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. Because of its miraculous nature Moses ordered a small amount of it kept along with other items of God’s miracles for future generations. Exodus 16:33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of מָ֑ן manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.”

I find the name of this bread from heaven humorously interesting. Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called its name מָ֑ן manna. Why did they name it with this name? Because of their initial reaction to it when they first saw it. Exodus 16:15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, מַה־ה֑וּא “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. So מָ֑ן manna sounds like the Hebrew phrase מַה־ה֑וּא “what is it?”

The purpose behind God feeding his people in this miraculous way was to both humble them, test them and ultimately bring them goodness. Deuteronomy 8:3, 16 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with הַמָּן֙manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord…who fed you in the wilderness with מָן֙ manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Throughout the Bible we find God testing us through challenges so that we might grow our dependence on him. I’ll close with a couple great passages of this very thing. James1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

When the time comes when God’s patience wears out and he needs to judge people, He lets them have their own way. “So He gave them what they asked for, but He sent a plague along with it” This is later expanded and explained in Psalm 106. Psalm 106:14-15 In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them. God’s people began to devour the meat, happy that their craving was being satisfied; but then God’s judgment struck and many of them died. We see this same thing throughout the Bible into the new testament. Romans 1:24, 26-28 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another…Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts…Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. God reminds us to learn from the examples in the Bible pointing to the event in Numbers of how quail was used to judge his people. 1 Corinthians 10:6, 10 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did…And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 

Thankfully in Christ we can be saved from the desires of our sinful nature. I’ll close with the optimism that God has for us writing through Paul to the Christians in Corinth reminding them that they were lost people who had lived lives of passions that kept them from God but now have been forgiven and set free from these by the power of Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

God hears the complaining of his people. Numbers 11:1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. This is the context of how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 16:9-12 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔עthe Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. And the Lord said to Moses, שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי“I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” Throughout the Bible we will see where God’s people really try God’s patience with their complaining. As we can all relate to. We will get more into this in the coming days as it will come up several times. For today we can be grateful that God is both patient and gracious to us. I’ll close with these two great passages for the Psalms. Psalm 28:6-7 Praise be to יְהוָ֑ה כִּי־שָׁ֝מַע the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, for יִשְׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֑ה he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 

This true historical event God will use to teach about our spiritual and relational connection with God in the future. One of those happens relatively soon in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on הַלֶּ֤חֶם bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Over a thousand years later Jesus quotes this passage when tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:3-4 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jesus is a great example to all of us on how to practically apply God’s word to our lives. Jesus also used this real historical event to teach this very principal of relying on God’s word for strength and nourishment in our relationship with God like you would physical bread for physical strength and nourishment. John 6:32-35 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. I’ll close with how this even is identified in Psalms. Think about just how amazing this miracle God provided to his people as I read it. Psalm 78:23-25 Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Human beings ate the לֶ֣חֶם bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.

I’ll close with this great reminder of the many benefits we have from our relationship with God. Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who הָ֝רֹפֵ֗א heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are נִרְפָּא healed.

Most of the time it is God doing the testing. God tested Abraham to see if he loved his son more than God. Genesis 22:1-2, 12 Some time later God נִסָּ֖ה tested Abraham…Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you…Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” God tested to see if his people would follow him even with other influences living close to them. Judges 2:21-22; 3:4 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to נַסּ֥וֹת test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did…They were left לְנַסּ֥וֹת to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses. Deuteronomy 13:3 The Lord your God is מְנַסֶּ֞ה testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 15:23-26 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he נִסָּֽהוּ tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” God knows that most of the time he has to let us experience what he is trying to teach us. So he allowed his people to be in a situation where they faced not having any water to drink that was drinkable. Then God showed up to remind them that he could be trusted and would be there to meet their needs. Then he gives them this test to see if they will trust him the next time they run into challenges that they needed God if they would trust him instead of grumbling or other sins as a response of unbelief. I’ll close with this great passage from Psalm 26 that reminds us of our need to be always ready to trust God. Psalm 26:1-3 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. וְנַסֵּ֑נִי Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

Jesus gives us a good reminder to trust him and God the father when we run into the difficult challenges of this life. I close with this great words. John 14:1-3 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Matthew 6:31-34 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What I think is great about our phrase is that it is the very last words of this song of worship in our chapter for today. Then the next verses we have the explanation and context for the song. Exodus 15:19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. Think about just experiencing this first hand then singing this song in worship with the last phrase of the song ringing out, Exodus 15:18 יְהוָ֥ה יִמְלֹ֖ךְ “The Lord will reign forever and ever.” This reminds me of the song those of us in Christ will be singing in heaven. Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Also notice in our chapter that God leads his people with this loyal love. The Holy Spirit writes through David about God’s leadership using our word. Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. This opening is amazing enough especially the part about God leading us in the right paths. But it gets better because when things get dark, painful, and unbearable God continues to lead us with his loyal love. Psalm 23:4-6 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness וָחֶ֣סֶדand love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Wow that’s loyal love. He will always be with me and lead me all the way into my eternal home with him.

There is a wonderful description of Jesus when he sees hurting people around him that he sees that they are like sheep without a shepherd. They need God to lead them because the evil of the world has torn them open and thrown them away. We see this picture in Matthew chapter 9. The answer is to follow God because he leads with loyal love. Jesus himself is identified as not only the good shepherd, and chief shepherd but also as the great shepherd. I’ll close with this great description of how God leads us through Jesus with his loyal love. Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Throughout the Bible we see God’s character as a holy God who cannot be in the presence of sin and must punish it. But we also see God’s character as a gracious and loving God who wants to forgive sin. Psalm 85 is a good example of God’s desire to forgive. Psalm 85:2-5 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned מֵחֲר֥וֹן from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? We see God’s promise to save his people if they turn from their sin. Deuteronomy 13:17 Then the Lord will turn מֵחֲר֣וֹן from his fierce anger, will show you mercy, and will have compassion on you. He will increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your ancestors Notice the reference to God turning away from his fury of anger and instead show mercy. This is what Jesus has done for us. 1 John 2:1-2 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. The word propitiation means to turn away wrath which is intense anger. Some versions translate this word as sacrifice of atonement. But the word simply means to turn away wrath. We also see Jesus as our sacrifice that turns away wrath in Romans. Romans 3:23-25 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. Instead of you and I getting what we deserve which is God’s anger full force experienced as his wrath or fury Jesus steps in front of us and absorbs or turns God’s anger and wrath on to himself. This is one of the ways God describes the salvation that he accomplished through Christ. 

We find our word used to describe God’s greatness. Job 37:4-5 After it his voice roars; he thunders with his גְּאוֹנ֑וֹmajestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. God’s greatness is seen in his power to judge and punish sin. Isaiah 2:9-10, 19 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of גְּאֹנֽוֹ his majesty…And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of גְּאוֹנ֔וֹ his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. God is worshiped for his greatness. Isaiah 24:14-16 They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; בִּגְא֣וֹן over the majesty of the Lord they shout from the west. Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One.

Our second word is אָדַר glorious, make or prove glorious, wide, great, high, noble, majestic, inspiring awe or reverence in the beholder. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament, 2 times in our chapter. We find our word used to describe the greatness of God’s word. Isaiah 42:21 It pleased the Lord for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and וְיַאְדִּֽיר glorious. The other two are in our chapter. Let’s look at how both of our words are used together in our chapter. Exodus 15:6-7, 11 Your right hand, O Lord, נֶאְדָּרִ֖י glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble…Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, נֶאְדָּ֣רmajestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

I’ll close with this prediction of Jesus or messianic prophecy that uses one of our words for today. Micah 5:2-5 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, בִּגְא֕וֹן in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.

In our chapter God’s power is turned against the enemy of God’s people. The sense of the word is to destroy completely as a brittle object is shattered completely. Exodus 15:6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, תִּרְעַ֥ץ shatters the enemy. This reminds me of how Psalm 29 portrays God’s awesome power. Psalm 29:5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. Can you just picture an enormous tree that is so big you can’t even put your arms around half of it? And then God shatters this massive tree with just his voice. That’s power. The Holy Spirit identifies God’s power that is made available to us from our being in Christ. Ephesians 1:19-21 His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And these amazing passage emphasizing God’s power in us. Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. We just can’t lose being in Christ. I’ll close with this great reminder of just how good we have it. Ephesians1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Both our words help us understand just how powerfully God threw his people’s enemies into the sea. We understand this figuratively because they were literally already as far down into the sea as you could be because God had used wind to dry the land so his people could cross. Then he closed the enormous walls of water he was holding back over them. So in a sense he threw them into the Red sea where they sank. God is showing himself as powerful the almighty I am reality God. This we can take great comfort in because no outside enemy can take us out of God’s loving care. Jesus also says this in John. John 10:27-30 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” I’ll close with how God makes a play on one of our words in this Psalm 64. It is a great reminder that even when it doesn’t look like God is going to save us and our enemy is going to defeat us God turns everything around. His people literally had their backs against the Red Sea and God turned it completely around and threw the biggest army in the world at that time into the deepest part of the Red Sea. In this Psalm our word is used to show how God turns everything around when it looks like the enemy is going to close in. Psalm 64:4-7 לִיר֣וֹת They shoot from ambush at the innocent; יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ they shoot suddenly, without fear. They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?” They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the human mind and heart are cunning. But God וַיֹּרֵ֗ם will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.

God himself is called by our phrase. Isaiah 42:13 The Lord will march out like a champion, like a כְּאִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמ֖וֹת warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה man of war; the Lord is his name. If we think about this LORD again is YWHW the ever existing one or the eternal one, I AM or my favorite reality. So Reality is a man of war; reality is his name. That has a different sound to it. YWHW or the LORD is reality because whatever God decides to do is reality. This makes the name man of war even more intimidating. God is to be respected and feared in a healthy way. Like Jesus said once we know who to fear God himself the only that has real reality power. Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. That is real power. The good news is that once we know to fear God there is nothing anyone else can really do to us. Because they may try to scare us pretending to be the true reality it’s all pretend because only God is the great I Am reality man of war. The good news gets even better because right after Jesus words he reminds us of how valuable we are to God in the next few verses. Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. So we can’t lose being in Christ being connected to God through Christ. We have God’s unlimited power and love for us on our side to benefit us in every way.

The good news is that through the salvation that Jesus accomplished for us we also can be reconnected to God our father. We see the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul to the Christians in Ephesus referring not only to God as the father of Jesus but also as our father as well. Ephesians 1:2-3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Jesus even called us brothers making this connection stronger that we have a heavenly father who has saved us and loves us and brings us to his side. Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. I’ll close with the model prayer that Jesus taught his followers to pray usually called the Lord’s prayer. Notice how it starts. Matthew 5:9-13 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

We also see singing used in worship that is more a spontaneous response to God working in a powerful way. Jeremiah 20:13 שִׁ֚ירוּSing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. This is how it is used in our chapter today. Exodus 15:1-2 Then Moses and the people of Israel יָשִֽׁיר sang this הַשִּׁירָ֤ה song to the Lord, saying, אָשִׁ֤ירָה “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and וְזִמְרָת֙ [this is another word for song or melody] my song, and he has become my salvation.

This is one of the purposes of singing it strengthens us in our relationship with God. He is our strength and our song. The collection of Psalms is written for us for this same purpose they were used in worship for over a thousand years. And into the New Testament church. The references in the New Testament of singing worship are referring to the Psalms. Right after Jesus institutes the Lord’s supper at the end of the Passover meal they sing a psalm in worship. Matthew 26:30 When they had sung a psalm, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

I’ll close with these great psalms of worship. Psalm 68:4 שִׁ֤ירוּ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. Psalm 89:1 אָשִׁ֑ירָה I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 96:1-2 שִׁ֣ירוּ Sing to the Lord a new שִׁ֣יר song; שִׁ֥ירוּ sing to the Lord, all the earth. שִׁ֣ירוּ Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

After God spoke through the prophet Jahaziel to king Jehoshaphat he encouraged his people with our phrase. 2 Chronicles 20:20 Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! הַאֲמִ֜ינוּ בַּיהוָ֤ה Believe in the Lord your God, וְתֵ֣אָמֵ֔נוּ and you  will be established; הַאֲמִ֥ינוּ believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” Our phrase is used to identify Israel’s sin of not unbelief. 2 Kings 17:14-15 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not הֶאֱמִ֔ינוּ בַּֽיהוָ֖ה believe in the Lord their God. They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. What is interesting about this example of unbelief is that it reminds me of this prediction of Jesus where our word from our phrase for today is used. Isaiah 28:16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ Notice Psalm 118:11 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Jesus ties this idea of the precious cornerstone and the stone the builders rejected to himself and everyone’s choice to either trust in him or fail to believe in him. We see this in Matthew 21:42-43 then he says this in verse 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed. When Peter was standing before the Jewish leaders the Holy Spirit speaking through him ties this together in this way. Acts 4:11-12 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” We can either trip over Jesus and fall because of our choice of unbelief or we can let Jesus be our firm foundation to build our life on. 

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only תַּחֲרִישֽׁוּן to be silent.” We don’t know if God uses our word to emphasize that God will do all the work or if he is responding to all the complaining the people were doing earlier in the chapter about their situation. My guess is that they were interfering or interjecting themselves into the situation by grumbling and being negative. Which the Bible calls unbelief. This throughout all the Bible effects how God chooses to work in our lives and the events in them. If you remember yesterday, we looked at how God fights for us because he is for us on our side. This works only if we trust him and not get in the way but keep our peace and be still or silent so that he can show up in a powerful way to accomplish what only God can do. Sometimes the best thing we can do is not say anything or inject ourselves into a situation that only God can solve. This is a huge part of what wisdom from God is all about. Proverbs 17:28 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise מַ֭חֲרִישׁ if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. I’ll close with this great Psalm. Psalm 62:1-2 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken… My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Let’s look at the other uses. Joshua 10:12-14 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies…The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely יְהוָ֖ה יִלָּחֵ֣ם the Lord was fighting for Israel! Zechariah 14:2-3 Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then יְהוָ֖ה יִלָּחֵ֣ם the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. The great news about God’s character is that he not only loves us and saves us but he is also for us. He is on our side wanting the best for us. Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Did you catch that. Christ is head over everything for the benefit of the church. God is on our side he is for us. Romans 8:31-32 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? God is for us he is on our side. He fights for us. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is this very thing of God being for us on our side, fighting for us. All of this is happening as close as God can get to us as Jesus predicted and Paul speaks about after it becomes a reality in the church up to this present time. I’ll close with both of these passages. John 14:15-18 If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

God instructs us not to allow the influence of others around us to change our relationship with God. Jeremiah 10:5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. God working to protect us with his great power is the reason given why we don’t have to fear. Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Nehemiah 4:14 אַל־תִּירָא֙Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. This is the sense our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. I’ll close with a few verses from this great chapter in Isaiah. Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14 אַל־תִּירָא֙ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not fear; I will help you. אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 

We also see our phrase used to describe the change of attitude that God brought about of the Egyptians toward the Hebrew people after Joseph died. Psalm 105:24-25 The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, הָפַ֣ךְ לִ֭בָּם whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. God either caused or allowed this to set up the circumstances of growing a vast nation and showing his power to rescue his people from slavery. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 14:5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, וַ֠יֵּהָפֵךְ לְבַ֨ב the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” What helps us understand our phrase better especially how it is used here is to look at how our word הָפַךְ in our phrase is sometimes used. הָפַךְ turn, over turn, to be changed. It is used 94 times in the Old Testament. If we look at how the word is used earlier in Exodus, it helps us better understand the meaning with Pharaoh’s heart. Exodus 7:17, 20 With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּ and it will be changed into blood…Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water וַיֵּהָֽפְכ֛וּ was changed into blood. Here the word is used in the sense of changing from one thing water to another. So in our chapter we could say Pharaoh’s heart was for letting the people go but then it changed into something else it became why did we let them go. God is doing this to bring about his glory and so that everyone will know that God is really the true I Am who is reality. I’ll close with these great verses of worship to the true God of reality our sovereign almighty God. Romans 16:27 To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Each time in our chapter the phrase has the word Egypt inserted into it. Exodus 14:4, 18 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. Throughout the Bible we see the purpose behind God saving us from our enemies so that He can be with us. A good example of this is how our phrase is used in the book of Jeremiah which I will close with. We know God is the LORD the I Am the ever existing reality by the new heart he gives us. And knowing God is the very best thing in all of life. Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart לָדַ֣עַת אֹתִ֗י כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה to know me, that I am the Lord.

Exodus 14:1-4, 15-18 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp...by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so…The Lord said to Moses...Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground...The Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when בְּהִכָּבְדִ֣י I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” The miraculous showing of God’s power in this event of parting the red sea is probably the second greatest to that of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. We will look at this more in the days to come. This event designed to glorify God by baiting Pharaoh into a trap reminds me of Proverb 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. We have already looked at the whole God hardening Pharaoh’s heart thing with several of our words. For today I find it interesting that the greatest power on earth at that time Egypt under their King is led into a trap and destroyed. This happened all because Pharaoh was thinking like a man that is he was not relying on God’s wisdom actually far from it. Instead of blessing God’s people he cursed them and made life difficult for them. So God finally took him completely out. Throughout the Bible we see that God knows how to rescue his people from evil and destroy those who are against him and his people. This is said well in Psalm 50:14-15 Sacrifice thank offerings to God...call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you וּֽתְכַבְּדֵֽנִי will glorify me. I’ll close with a couple more uses from Psalm 86. Psalm 86:9-12 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will וִֽיכַבְּד֣וּ bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; וַאֲכַבְּדָ֖ה I will glorify your name forever.

Exodus 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will פָּקֹ֨ד יִפְקֹ֤ד surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” We have our word used twice right next to each other in the infinitive and verb forms. So it is literally to visit you he will visit you. This also acts as an emphatic to stress emphasis of Joseph’s strong belief that this was definitely going to happen. God visits in the sense of showing up to fulfill what he had previously promised. That is he delivered his people out of slavery. Joseph again is a great example for us as we have seen many times with the words wee have looked at. He was convinced that God would do what he said and deliver his people out of Egypt so he made the people who were there at his death not to leave his bones in Egypt but to instead take his remains with them. Why would he do this? I don’t know but I think it was more for the people who would remember this promise during the 430 years of slavery. And what an example of God’s faithfulness to keep his promises when the people who didn’t know Joseph personally because everyone who did would now be long dead. What an encouragement that would be for the people to take his bones with them as a reminder of God doing what he said he would do. I’ll close with these great words from Hebrews of what faith in God looks like lived out. Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. This is a great example of the very definition of faith seen earlier in Hebrews chapter eleven. Hebrews 11:1, 6 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see…And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Exodus 13:17-18, 21-22 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not נָחָ֣ם 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 וַיַּסֵּ֨בled the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle…And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud לַנְחֹתָ֣םto 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. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Our other word translated lead means to go in a circle which is what is used to reference his leading them the wilderness route. So God didn’t lead them in a straight line shortest route but instead he took the long way around. He explains why because he didn’t want them to have to face war right away. Instead they needed to see another miracle that God is setting the stage for because he will be the one fighting for them which we will see in the days to come. 

It is interesting how our word is used by the Levites later on in their prayer of public repentance of the people they reference this event in our chapter. Nehemiah 9:12, 19 By day you הִנְחִיתָ֖ם led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take…Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail לְהַנְחֹתָ֣ם to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. Did you catch that they are interpreting the event in our chapter as God showing his great compassion to not abandon his people but to lead them. This is seen throughout the Bible. We deserve separation from God but instead God offers to deliver us from sin and danger and lead us to his goodness. He does this because of his compassion and love for us.

Today God guides us through his word the Bible in the same way light helps us see where we need to go. Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. This is why Jesus is called both the word and the light of the world. Because he is God’s revelation or making known who God is and his will. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I’ll close with this great Psalm. Psalm 43:3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them יַנְח֑וּנִי lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Third, notice how there is no option for not redeeming a man who is the first born. As we have seen the practice of children sacrifice was abhorrent to God. He never asks this of his people. In fact, God says it this way in Jeremiah 19:5 They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind. What is interesting is that what God never would think to ask of us he is willing to do himself in offering up his own son as the sacrifice to take our place for our sins. And lastly, did you catch how the donkey could be redeemed with a lamb. Now that is interesting. It reminds us of what we looked a few days ago that John records so well. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” I’ll close with this great psalm which God’s people would sing in worship, which by the way is one of the reasons psalms were written for worship. Psalm 107:1-2 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. I like how the ESV translates verse 2. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.

Exodus 13:9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֖הlaw of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. Like with the other phrases we looked at yesterday the people’s focus is on what God has done for them in his power. With our phrase it is very specific to God’s word being what comes out of their mouth. Jesus talked about what we say shows what we have been thinking and connecting with emotionally, that is letting it in our hearts. Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. This is why the greatest of all the commandments or laws or torahs if you will Jesus says is this one. Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

God wants his laws to be in our mouths that is in our hearts so deep that it comes out. This is what David meant when he talked about meditating on God’s law. Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. I’ll close with this great Psalm about how amazing God’s word or law is. Psalm 19:7-8 The תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣הlaw of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The elements and rituals of the feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover are to be like a sign or mark on their hand and a memorial between their eyes. All of this is basically saying these feasts will be right in front of you. God wants his people to slow down and focus on what is right in front of them. These feasts would take a lot to set up and prepare it would become their focus. So they would slow down and focus on what remembering again that God saved them delivered them out of slavery with his strong hand. This reminds me of Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. God knows that we need to slow down stop and rest in his love for us. We need to let God restore our soul. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment from God was he quotes from Deuteronomy where in the original context contains our phrase for today. Deuteronomy 6:4-8 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָsign on your hand, and they shall be as לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָfrontlets between your eyes. So you could say what God wants us to focus on is his love for us and our love for him.

As New Testament people we are no longer required to follow statutes regarding the feasts that God put on the Hebrew, Israelite, and Jewish people who lived back in that time period. Because Christ has fulfilled the law for us and we follow Him. What Christ has set up as a memorial for us to remember does have roots in Passover. I’m talking about the Lord’s supper or communion. Jesus said do this in remembrance of me. The backdrop of Passover was that the Israelites were slaves for over 430 years with no way out that is until God saved them out of slavery with his strong hand. As sinners we are enslaved to sin with no way out until Jesus came and rescued us out of our sin. This is why we remember Jesus body that was broken and his blood that was poured out for the forgiveness of sins. God has real elements for us to touch and taste just like he had set up with the Passover so the experience would be more memorable. Jesus set up this statute if you will so that we would not forget how much God loves us and how he has saved us. I’ll close with this great verse. Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And our other word עָבַר pull along, move through, pass from one side to the other, set apart. It is used 541 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of offering as a sacrifice conceived as passing it over to another. The nations where the Israelites were headed practiced the detestable worship of sacrificing their own children to Molech to pay for their own sins or gain favor from this demonic false god. God made it clear not to follow this abhorrent practice. Leviticus 18:21 Do not give any of your children לְהַעֲבִ֣יר to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who מַעֲבִ֥יר sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.

This is why I think God sets up his practice of setting apart the first born so He can redeem it with the sacrifice of an animal instead. He wanted to show the people his loving kindness in providing a substitute to redeem the people pay the ransom to set them free and show them value before they could be corrupted into the bloodthirstiness of the false gods of the people around them. Let’s look at how our words are used in our chapter today.

Exodus 13:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, קַדֶּשׁ “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.” Exodus 13:11-12 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall וְלַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. Both of our words are talking about the same idea of setting apart from the rest those who are firstborn to be given to the Lord. We will look more into this idea of God providing the sacrifice as a substitution to redeem us later in the chapter but for today let’s think about God’s love for us. We have a God who has provided a sacrifice so we can escape his wrath unlike all the false demonically influenced false gods who are bloodthirsty and want to destroy. I’ll close with this great reminder of God’s grace and love to rescue us. John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

In our chapter we find our word used in both senses of an amazingly large number of people and the very power of God to do what he did in one day. Exodus 12:51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their צִבְאֹתָֽם hosts. We can’t forget how long the Israelites waited. Exodus 12:40-41 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the צִבְא֥וֹת hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. And our first reference in our chapter we see in the context of God setting up the feast of unleavened bread. Exodus 12:17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your צִבְאוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. God sets up reminders for us because we usually forget when our waiting on God to act seems to take way to long. As we have seen with several of our words in this chapter that even though it seems like a long time for God to act when he does watch out because it will happen all at once. Let this sink in 430 years of waiting then everything changed in one day. Just one day. God can change everything in just one day. So it is very important for us to remember while we are waiting that God loves us and is all powerful. As New Testament people we have communion or the Lord’s supper to remind us of both of these things. Jesus knew what he was doing when he set up the Lord’s supper in the context of the Passover meal because he was the lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world. And our word today is used over and over and over again in this way יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת the LORD or YWHW God of army camps. Again YHWH is I AM or the ever existing one, or my favorite I am reality. So let me encourage you as we close with these great psalms as we think about the God of reality with all of his army camps behind and beside him. Psalm 84:1-3, 8, 10-12 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord צְבָאֽוֹת of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord צְבָא֑וֹת of hosts, my King and my God… O Lord God צְ֭בָאוֹת of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!... For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord צְבָא֑וֹת of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Psalm 89:8 O יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?

This reminds me of Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. God does this by orchestrating events toward making even the enemies of his people open to acting in ways that benefit them even when they had never done so before nor do they necessarily desire to out of pure motives. This is clearly seen by how the Egyptians said “We shall all be dead” (Exodus 12:33). God can make alternatives worse so that his enemies act in ways that benefit his people. We see this later in God setting up the nation of Israel. God’s promise of success if they obeyed God and followed his instructions. How God was going to do it was to put fear into their enemies. Deuteronomy 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you. Today God makes a similar promise to his church in that he does everything for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. I’ll close with this great reminder. Romans 8:31-32 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

We find in the New Testament that yeast is used to make a comparison for the influence of ideas or perspectives that tend to start small and then spread. Jesus uses it to show how the Kingdom of God has this dynamic to it. Matthew 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” On the other side of things Jesus compares yeast to the destructive influence of sin. Matthew 16:6, 11-12 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”…How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Holy Spirit then ties this idea of bread without yeast to show the need to remove the influence of sin from the church body. Galatians 5:4, 7-9 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace…You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” The Holy Spirit also ties this same thinking into our event in our chapter which I will close with. 1 Corinthians 5:5-8 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Throughout the Bible we find God moving slower than people would like him. We also see that God is doing this because he is making sure everything is set and ready to go before he acts because he wants to bring the most good out of his actions for the people he loves. He is truly our loving father with our best interests in mind. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. We also see throughout the Bible that because God seems slow in acting that not everyone is ready when God moves. Matthew 25:1-13 The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Luke 12:39-40 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. And we also see throughout the Bible that when God does move things happen all at once. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

This is how our word is used in our chapter. Exodus 12:5-6 Your lamb shall be תָמִ֛ים without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. Why is this sacrifice necessary? Because of our sins. We find in Leviticus 22:19-22 If it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male תָּמִ֣ים without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must תָּמִ֤ים be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the Lord or give them to the Lord as a food offering on the altar. This shows that in order for God to accept a sacrifice it had to be perfect. This is why Jesus had to die for us because we were not perfect and therefore deserved to be separated from God because God cannot look at sin or allow it to be in his presence. This is why any substitute that would take our place and take the punishment for our sins had to be a perfect sacrifice otherwise the offering would simply die for its own sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. This is why we see the worship in the book of revelation referring to Jesus our lamb being worthy. I’ll close with this wonderful concept. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:12-13 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

God like he always does is setting up the way to bring good out of evil. He sets up the Passover feast to show us our need for our sins to be paid for by none other than God himself. This is a foreshadowing of what God was going to do over a thousand years later. We have already seen an earlier foreshadowing with Abraham and Isaac. Genesis 22:7-8 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the הַשֶּׂ֖ה lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the הַשֶּׂ֛ה lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. Instead of Isaac being sacrificed God provided a lamb instead of or in place of Isaac. In our chapter God is redeeming his people which we saw earlier he referred to as his son by having his people kill a lamb the very night of the last plague of the killing of the firstborn of Egypt. We see in the New Testament that Jesus fulfills this unique role of the lamb offered in sacrifice. John 1:29, 36 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Acts 8:32, 34-35 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth… The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Revelation 5:12-13 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

I’ll close with this wonderful prophecy made 700 years beforehand of what Jesus did for us. Isaiah 53:6-7 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
 he was led like a כַּשֶּׂה֙ lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

This is an amazing thing to reset someone’s entire calendar system. The people were slaves that God was going to form a nation out of them. This new nation would have a different way to mark time than what they knew being in Egypt. This whole system started at the Passover event which was the last of the plagues that God judged Egypt with that moved Pharaoh to let his people go. This reminds me of that massive shift of the day God’s people would gather to worship together. Before it was always the sabbath on Saturday. But it moved to Sunday. This would have to be a huge event to get people who were engrained with the tradition and direction of God to follow the Sabbath. It was the most miraculous event in all of history. None other than the resurrection of Jesus Christ God’s son from the dead which happened on the first day of the week, Sunday. Matthew 28:1, 5-6 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week…The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. We see this practice of the church in the book of Acts. Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

This is how our word is used in our chapter. Exodus 11:8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in בָּחֳרִי־אָֽף hot anger. This anger for God’s righteousness reminds me of Jesus. John 2:13-17 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” It would be easy for me to go into a whole justification for righteous anger which when I was younger I would have easily gone there. But at this point in my life I’m paying more attention to the truth that anger is something that God alone can handle. People like me and you need to quickly take this feeling to God and let him turn it into passion. Because it can get us into trouble really quick. The Holy Spirit reminds us through Paul Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Give your anger to God right away because you don’t want the devil to get a foothold in our life. In our chapter today we see Moses hot with anger which in and of itself is not wrong it is an emotion that we need to allow ourselves to feel it by trusting God with this emotion. We find later in Moses life he held on to anger too long and he sinned which cost him the opportunity to enter the promise land he was leading the people into. I’ll close with the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul at the end of the book of Romans. These are great words to remember when we are fighting evil and feeling anger towards injustice as Moses was facing in our chapter. Romans 16:19-20 I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

This is an amazing thing to say to a king that their people will bow down to you instead of their own king. This just didn’t happen because simply standing before a king could get you killed because one didn’t always know what mood the king was in. We see this reality in the Bible. Proverbs 19:12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. Esther 4:11 All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. Not only is Moses standing before Pharaoh king of Egypt but he is telling him that his own servants would bow down to Moses. It takes a lot of courage to step out and trust God. I’ll close with this great passage that encourages us to be courageous. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 

Notice the qualifier of this already intense word for grief גְדֹלָ֖ה great yelling. Then look at the contrast which shows just how bad this was. not a dog will growl this would be something that happens all the time dogs growl and make noise. That is what they do. But not this day it was amazingly quite compared to the intense great yelling that was happening in Egypt over the deaths of all their firstborn sons. And one more descriptor that this intense grief will be so bad that it has never happened before or will it ever happen again. This is quite a description of what will happen. This might seem unfair but we also have to think about those 430 years of God’s people crying out to him for help on the other side of things. These things are just too big for us to realistically be in a position to even attempt any kind of fair judgment on things because our perspective is just too narrow. This reminds me of Job’s struggle to understand why God allows things to happen or seems to take too long to act. After Job lays out his challenges to God and his friends who came to comfort him. God shows up and asks him a lot of questions. In fact he asks question after question that fill up four whole chapters. Questions like this one. Job 38:4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. The obvious answer is that Job was not there when God was taking care of the countless things that have to happen to run the physical universe. So since God knows what he is doing in running the physical life we can trust him to know what he is doing in the spiritual and relational world that we can’t see. One thing is for sure only God can bring good out of evil in this messed up fallen corrupted place. Once God makes his case we have Job’s conclusion which I will close with. Job 42:1-6 Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

It is interesting that God identifies his people collectively as his first born son. Exodus 4:22-23 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my בְכֹרִ֖י firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your בְּכֹרֶֽךָ firstborn son.’” God is showing Pharaoh that his people are valuable to him like a father’s firstborn son is valuable to him. After warning Pharaoh what would happen if he did not let his people go. He carries out his promise. Exodus 13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the בְּכ֣וֹר firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my בְּכ֥וֹר firstborn sons. God is setting up this idea of redemption which we have looked at this word previously as the idea of showing the value of someone or something. This is seen in the price paid to set one free or bring them back to oneself. In the sacrificial system God set up he is showing the serious consequences of sin that it separates us from God who is holy and separate from sin. And also shows us that God loves us so much he is willing to allow a substitute to take our place so we can be redeemed. Numbers 18:15 The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every בְּכ֣וֹר firstborn son and every בְּכֽוֹר firstborn male of unclean animals. Jesus is identified with both of the concepts of firstborn and redemption. Colossians 1:15-16, 19-20 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Jesus who is also God the son as the firstborn reconcile us to God by making peace through his death on the cross for our sins. I’ll close with this great passage that identifies Christ as our redeemer who paid the price to save us from our sins. 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

It is also used in the sense of having the favor of people that God gives. Genesis 39:4-5, 20-23 Joseph found חֵ֛ןfavor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph…Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him חִנּ֔וֹ favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 11:2-3 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” And the Lord gave the people חֵ֥ן 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. We often see the phrase “in the sight of” with our word or as another way to say having favor. It goes to one’s perspective being favorable toward someone which we have seen and also see throughout the Bible as something that God gives or orchestrates. God is setting up the Egyptians to be predisposed to give them silver and gold as they leave. This reminds me of this great proverb that I will close with. Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

We also see our word used of God driving out the enemies of his people. Joshua 24:16-18 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the Lord וַיְגָ֨רֶשׁ drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.” I’ll close with this great passage about God’s protective love for his people. Deuteronomy 33:26-28 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will וַיְגָ֧רֶשׁ drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’ So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. 

The Piel tense in Hebrew shows both intensity and causation. Pharaoh is the one causing the state of the people being let go or not let go. Throughout this whole dialogue between Moses and Pharaoh God has a head of time predicted what was going to happen. We see the phrase just as the Lord said 6 times. Exodus 7:13, 22; 8:15, 19; 9:12, 35 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said… But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said… But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said…But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said…But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses… So Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses. So how did God know this was going to happen the way it happened. The best explanation of this is in Acts when God describes how he sent his Son into the world knowing ahead of time what would happen while at the same time allowing people to have their freewill actions. Acts 2:23-24 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. God declares something will happen based on his foreknowledge of that event happening in the future. Just like we can look back and know something happened in the past God can do the same with the future. Because he sees it happening he can declare ahead of time that it will. This doesn’t make God the cause of these evil events but rather the only one who can take these sinful actions of individuals and bring goodness out of them. In the case of Jesus our salvation from our sins. In the case of Pharaoh making his name known throughout the earth from the miraculous acts of judgment against Egypt. This whole concept of God freeing us from slavery to everything that can trap us and keep us from him is seen throughout the Bible. I’ll close with this beautiful picture of God’s desire to free his people from the evil that others oppress them with. Ezekiel 13:20-23 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי֙[Piel] set free the people that you ensnare like birds. I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Pharaoh wanted a guarantee that the people would come back this is why he didn’t want to let everyone and everything go. He was probably thinking that if something stayed back they would have to come back to at least get it. Sort of like collateral. Moses explanation to Pharaoh why everyone and everything had to be allowed to go I find very interesting. Moses shares that God hadn’t let they know exactly what the plan was just that they all needed to go. Wow this is quite telling about how trust, belief, and faith work. Trust is not belief without evidence because as we have already seen God had given Moses plenty of evidence the he could trust that God was who he said he was and would do what he said he would do. And God had also already given Pharaoh evidence he was who he said he was by all the miraculous acts of judgment he was experiencing. Trust or faith is also not having all the details you want ahead of time. We tend to want a guarantee that what God asks of us will be comfortable. This is kind of funny because throughout the Bible faith always involves some level of being uncomfortable. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul says this well. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. God knows this is how we grow in our faith. We trust in God’s goodness in the heartbreak of life as we experience God showing up in our struggles. No wonder Abraham was called the father of our faith because there was no one before him for God to say remember the promise I made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob like he was able to do after all of these people experienced God showing up in their lives. No it was just Abraham and God. In a sense that is true of us. It does all come down to just you and God. If you are open he will show himself to you in ways you can only experience during the challenges and struggles of this corrupted place. The good news is that God loves us and is there for us. I’ll contrast our phrase for today in that we don’t know all the details of what God will ask of us but we can trust him because of what we do know. Romans 8:18, 26, 28 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans…And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Because we know God is for us and loves us and is working everything out for our good we can trust him with not knowing all the details. I’ll close with the other time our phrase is used in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 20:12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֤א נֵדַע֙ We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

The ultimate consequence of evil is described with our word. 1 Samuel 2:9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ place of darkness. Proverbs 20:20 If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch חֹֽשֶׁךְ darkness. We find both the literal and figurative uses of our word today in our chapter. Exodus 10:21-23 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be חֹ֖שֶׁךְ darkness over the land of Egypt, a וְיָמֵ֖שׁ חֹֽשֶׁךְ darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch חֹֽשֶׁךְ darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Our word is used in a literal sense in that it really was dark in that Egypt was unilluminated whereas Israel had sunlight so they could see. But because of the way our word is qualified with ְיָמֵ֖שׁ the meaning shows a deeper understanding of this literal reality that was also happening. This darkness had an emotional impact on the Egyptians they could feel it the sense is the idea of groping around in the darkness. This bring on depression and despair. We also see this same picture in Job of what happens to leaders of nations who do not know God and the wisdom or light he gives. Job 12:25 They grope in חֹ֥שֶׁךְ darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.

The good news of God’s salvation through Jesus work is described repeatedly as taking us out of the darkness of evil which would also include depression and despair that comes as a consequence of it. Jesus first coming and ministry was predicted using our word. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 The people walking in חֹ֥שֶׁךְdarkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. God has always been about bringing his people out of darkness. 2 Samuel 22:29 You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my חָשְׁכִּֽי darkness into light. Psalm 18:28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my חָשְׁכִּֽי darkness into light. Psalm 107:14 He brought them out of מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.

You have to love the play on words. We have Pharaoh asking for God to lift up or forgive his sins from him in verse 17 and God then lifts up or carries away the locust in verse 19. We have both ideas of removing the penalty of sin not holding the offense against the other but letting it go. And removing the consequence of the sin in that God carried or lifted away the locust from Pharaoh. This doesn’t mean that damage had not already been done because of Pharaoh’s sin. This is true of sin it destroys this is why God hates it because it hurts people he loves. But we can recognize throughout the Bible and in our own lives how God does remove some of the consequences from our sin. He does this because he is merciful. This quality of God’s character is seen throughout the Bible. Numbers 14:18 The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and נֹשֵׂ֥א forgiving sin and rebellion. Psalm 85:2 You נָ֭שָׂאתָ forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Psalm 99:8 Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a נֹ֭שֵׂא forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and נֹשֵׂ֤א forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. God’s mercy and forgiveness draw us towards him. I like how John reminds us that God made the first move. He didn’t wait for us to love him first. 1 John 4:10, 19 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…We love because he first loved us. I’ll close with this great verse about responding to God’s lifting up our sins away from us. Job 22:26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will וְתִשָּׂ֖א lift up your face to God.

God and his people are also referred to in this way. Isaiah 8:13-14 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a וּלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ snare. This is the sense our word is used in our chapter.

Exodus 10:7 Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”

Even though God is holy, just and right he has been identified as one who snares or sets traps. The context is always to trip up, disrupt or trap evil doers in their consequences. God does this out of love wanting us to recognize the error of our way and turn away from sin and to him and his holiness. Jesus himself was identified in this way. 1 Peter 2:7-8 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message.  God takes or allows these drastic measures because the consequences of sin is that dangerous. The seriousness of our word is seen in its association with death. 2 Samuel 22:6 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the מֹֽקְשֵׁי snares of death confronted me. Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the מִמֹּ֥קְשֵׁי snares of death. Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the מִמֹּ֥קְשֵׁי snares of death. This is why God warns us throughout the Bible not to trust people but rather instead to trust him. I’ll close with this great reminder. Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a מוֹקֵ֑שׁ snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

It was so bad Pharaoh referred to it this way in verse 17, “remove this death from me.” We see this event referenced in Psalms. Psalm 78:43, 46 the day he displayed his signs in Egypt… He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the לָאַרְבֶּֽה locust. Psalm 105:34-35 He spoke, and the אַרְבֶּ֑ה locusts came, grasshoppers without number; they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil. The message from Psalms and other references to the Exodus in the Bible is to remember God’s power and ability to save his people. This in itself is a great and wonderful thing which we have and will see as we continue looking at God’s words from his word together. What is also just as amazing and wonderful is what God wants to do when we have experienced his judgment because of our sin. As we saw earlier in the book of Joel how God judged his people with the locust because of their sin. We see later in the same book this great promise that I will close with. Joel 2:13-14, 23-26 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing…Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. “I will repay you for the years the הָֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you. 

I find it interesting that our word used to describe what Pharaoh should be doing is the same word used to describe what the Hebrew slaves were experiencing throughout all their years of slavery. Genesis 15:13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and וְעִנּ֣וּ mistreated there. Exodus 1:11-12 So they put slave masters over them to עַנֹּת֖וֹ oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were יְעַנּ֣וּ oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. We find this idea of God turning the tables on people and situations throughout the Bible. Luke 1:52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. This is why Jesus taught that we should humble ourselves or else God will have to humble us himself. Matthew 23:11-12 The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 14:7-11 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” I’ll close with this great reminder. 1 Peter 5:5-6 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

This idea of sharing with our children and grandchildren the great things God has and is doing we see throughout the Bible. And we also see how God defeats his enemies that have harmed us or threaten to do so. We also see this aspect throughout the Bible. Our greatest enemy is the devil and his angels or demons who are busy at working trying to keep people separated from God. The good news is because of Christ he has been defeated and the Holy Spirit that lives inside of believers is greater than the evil one who is in the world. This victory that God has accomplished is seen in celebratory ways in the New Testament. Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. I’ll close with this great encouraging passage. Romans 8:31, 34-35, 37-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?... Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Pharaoh’s confession was motivated by having enough of God’s thunder and hail. Pharaoh calls it God’s because he knows and believes what Moses said earlier that God would do this. And this is the first time he said I will let you go. We know that his confession was only motived by the hail because once it stopped Pharaoh would not let the people go. Notice Pharaoh’s sin is called hardening his heart. He is making the choice to harden his heart. God is not making him do this here but rather using it. God is not the author of sin as the Bible is very clear about. James 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. So God is not responsible for Pharaoh’s sin the consequences of Pharaoh’s sin belongs to Pharaoh. Now right after this event with the hail. God does harden Pharaoh’s heart as it clearly says in the very next verse. Exodus 10:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants. This contrast right next to each other of Pharaoh hardening his heart and then God hardening Pharaoh’s heart is significant because I think it shows that there is a point when God has had enough and we have gone too far and now our free will choices will be limited. My guess on this is because God knows that we have loved and welcomed sin into our life so much that we just don’t want to change. And since God knows this he uses it to glorify himself. Either way God uses Pharaoh’s hardened heart this way as it specifically says in the rest of verse one and verse two (Exodus 10:1-2). I will close with this warning to us all that we don’t want to see how much sin we can get away with because it damages our ability to connect with God. Jesus gave us a parable of cleaning the house and applied it to the reality of the spiritual battle we all face every day between good and evil and who we are becoming more like. Matthew 12:43-45 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Exodus 9:20-21 Then whoever feared אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to אֶל־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field. Notice this great understanding of how people responded to God’s word. Their inaction showed that they did not fear God whereas their action in taking the livestock into safety showed what was in their heart. The translation payed attention is literally שָׂ֛ם לִבּ֖וֹ אֶל־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה put or laid on their heart God’s word. They allowed it to sink into their heart so that they acted on it. The heart is vital to our connecting with God and following his instructions. Jesus had a lot to say about this. Luke 6:43-45 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. I’ll close with Jesus answer to the question about what the greatest commandment is. Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment...All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Exodus 9:17 You are still מִסְתּוֹלֵ֣לexalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. This reminds me of a few passages about rejecting humility and going to pride instead. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 1 Peter 5:5 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” We can see that God is wanting Pharaoh to move toward humility from what he says in our chapter right before our word in verse 17. Exodus 9:15-16 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. God is letting him know I could have just wiped you out immediately but I haven’t done that. We also see that God is using Pharaoh’s pride to make himself known throughout the earth. God always brings good out of evil regardless of what we choose. As we will see because Pharaoh did not humble himself but instead exalted himself God will humble him and he and Egypt will fall. Instead of lifting ourselves up let’s lift up something else identified in this Psalm that I will close with. Psalm 68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; סֹ֡לּוּ lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!

Exodus 9:8-12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of פִּ֖יחַsoot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become לִשְׁחִ֥יןboils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” So they took פִּ֣יחַsoot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became שְׁחִין֙boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the הַשְּׁחִ֑יןboils, for the הַשְּׁחִ֔יןboils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

We find our word used as a warning an example of disobedience. Deuteronomy 28:27, 35 The Lord will afflict you with the בִּשְׁחִ֤ין boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured… The Lord will afflict your knees and legs with painful בִּשְׁחִ֣ין boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head. I find it interesting that when God gave Satan permission to go after Job our word is used. Job 2:4-7 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful בִּשְׁחִ֣ין sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

While we may struggle to always understand why God allows the evil one to do what he does on this fallen messed up corrupted place. We need to always remember that sickness is not what God originally wanted for us. That comes from evil not the goodness of God. But our God is so great and loving that he can even use evil to bring good out of it. I’ll close with this great Psalm about God’s love for us and desire to heal us. Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

We have already looked at these words separately so let’s have a quick review. עִבְרִי Hebrew, Eberite or descendant of Eber, region on the other side, situated across a stream, or the sea. So it’s origin was probably referring to people who were foreigners to those who named them. Abraham was the foreigner to the people living there. So they called him the one from the other side. So Eber or Hebrew became the way people described the people group or ethnicity. אֱלֹהֵ֣י or God is the generic title like deity. The focus is on the power of God in that ability to do only things God can do. We find the word in creation and miracles. Then יְהוָה֙ LORD, YHWH, or I AM which we find used as the relational God who makes agreements with his people. And this idea from the root of the word of ever existing, eternal, reality. I find this interesting that God uses this phrase for Moses to address Pharaoh with most of the time. Two times Israel is used instead of Hebrews and the times that this phrase is not used the LORD or YHWH is always used. With all of these names the LORD or YHWH or I AM is the one that is always used I think for emphasis. When Pharaoh has finally had enough and wants them to go he refers to God as the LORD the person that he said he didn’t know he now refers to him as the reality or eternal ever existing reality God. Remember at the beginning when Pharaoh correctly stated that he didn’t know the LORD and would not let the people go. People who do not know God think worship is a waste of our time and theirs. But after so many of these plagues Pharaoh is getting acquainted with God through these experiences. God himself identifies what Pharaoh should be learning about him that he should humble himself and follow his instruction. God has been filling in the meaning of these names through these experiences he is making Pharaoh have with him. Notice that God didn’t make Pharaoh do what he wanted but he does control the consequences that Pharaoh is now forced to face because of his freewill actions. Pharaoh has learned firsthand that God is reality because whatever God desires becomes reality. The question for Pharaoh and us is are we going to join God and experience the right side of reality which is the one that benefits us or resist God and miss out on God’s blessings. I’ll close with God’s question to Pharaoh. Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

But God also kept His promise and protected the livestock that belonged to the Jews living in the land of Goshen. When Jacob and his family came to Egypt during the time of Joseph, they brought their flocks and herds with them (Genesis 45:10; 47:1; 50:8). During their time of bondage, the Hebrews were allowed to keep livestock, for at the Exodus, they took their flocks and herds with them (Exodus 12:37–38).

How did Pharaoh respond to this terrible plague? He hardened his heart and resisted the authority of the Lord. Proverbs 28:14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. The opposite of a hard heart is a heart that fears God, and that fear of reverence motivates us to obey the Lord’s commands. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. The hardhearted person is ignorant of God and His truth. I’ll close with this warning Ephesians 4:17-19 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 

I will close with this amazing passage where Moses and God are talking about what distinguishes God’s people from all other people is the very presence of God with his people. This also happens to be the fifth use of our word in the Old Testament. Exodus 33:16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will וְנִפְלֵ֙ינוּ֙ distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” This is one of the main roles of the Holy Spirit that God gives us to be with us forever through Jesus Christ work on the cross.

Ezra 7:6, 27-28 Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the כְּיַד־יְהוָ֤ה hand of the Lord his God was on him… Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the כְּיַד־יְהוָ֤ה hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

We also find our phrase used to identify God himself is the one who is behind miraculous activity and prophecy. 1 Kings 18:46 The וְיַד־יְהוָ֗ה power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest…by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the יַד־יְהוָֽה hand of the Lord was on him.

Ezekiel 37:1-3 The יַד־יְהוָה֒ hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” 

We see our phrase used in the sense of God being against someone or nation brining judgment. This is because of sinful actions of which this Psalm is a great example. Psalm 75:9 In the בְּֽיַד־יְהוָ֡ה hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs. Judges 2:15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the יַד־יְהוָה֙ hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress. 1 Samuel 7:13 Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the יַד־יְהוָה֙ hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 1 Samuel 12:15 But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his יַד־יְהוָ֛ה hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 9:2-3 For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, the יַד־יְהוָ֜ה hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. David makes an interesting insight about God’s character in that even when God has to bring judgment against sin he does so in a merciful way. 2 Samuel 24:14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the בְיַד־יְהוָה֙ hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” Our word is used to describe God’s work of salvation and restoration. Isaiah 62:2-4 The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the בְּיַד־יְהוָ֑ה Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted…for the Lord will take delight in you. I’ll close with this great passage. Isaiah 66:14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the יַד־יְהוָה֙ hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes.

What is interesting about this attack on Egypt from God was that it was the first plague that only the Egyptians would experience. This points our attention to the reality that God’s people had to suffer through the previous plagues of the water turned to blood, the frogs, and the gnats along with the Egyptians. Life was worse instead of better at the beginning. And then they had to suffer along with the Egyptians these first three plagues. Up to this point doing what God wanted them to do made things worse for them. But now that they have got this far things were going to start to get better. These last seven plagues would only be done to the Egyptians while God’s people would escape the plague completely. Think about it. Only God could control the flight pattern of tiny flies and keep them from entering the land of Goshen where the Hebrews lived. We see God’s providential care of his people as they escape each one of these remaining plagues. This also shows God’s credibility in that he predicted he would do this in a very specific way by separating his people from the Egyptians who would only experience the plague. Have you noticed how Pharaoh is staring to try and bargain with God. Pharaoh will offer up four compromises to God’s request to let his people go. We see the first two in our chapter with the flies. Exodus 8:25, 28. When God gives us clear direction it is absurd for us to try and change it. The very idea of the almighty all powerful God asking a mere human creature for permission is absurd but yet there it is. This reminds us he does the same with us. As God’s creation you and I are not only given free will but allowed to make decisions freely in this life. There are a lot of alternatives to God as we see identified in the Bible and from just experiencing life around us. God does not make us know him and follow him. Instead he asks us to. The choice is up to us like it was with Pharaoh. We can try to negotiate what God is asking us to do, flat out disobey it, or actually do what he says. As we will see Pharaoh disobeyed after trying to change God’s direction and the whole nation was destroyed. God loves us and knows what’s best for us. When he asks us to obey him it is in our very best interest to do it. It really comes down to love. What or who do we love? I’ll close with these simple words of Jesus. John 14:15, 21 If you love me, keep my commands…Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

In the New Testament we find Jesus using this phrase with the Greek words that the New Testament is written in translated into our phrase. Luke 11:20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the prince of demons which doesn’t make any sense which Jesus was pointing out. Then he talks about how he has come to destroy the power of the devil and demons. So we have God in the flesh proving who he was by doing only things God could do. And it gets better because this same God wants to make himself known to me and you. This is why Jesus was called the word in the gospel of John he was here as God himself to make himself and his father God known to us. And send his spirit to do all kinds of amazing things one of which is to produce the written word the Bible. Scripture is the technical term for God’s written word and what a wonderful gift. There is no doubt that God produced His word the bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed. I’ll close with a great reminder of the Bible written for us to know him, his love, salvation, and power for us. Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart...They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

The two times our word is used in the Old Testament we find it in the sense of the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced. Both times we see prayer being answered with the result of our word. Lamentations 3:55-57 I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for לְרַוְחָתִ֖י relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” Jeremiah acknowledges God and responds favorably toward him for answering his prayer but in our chapter today we don’t see this same response from Pharaoh. Exodus 8:13-15 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was a הָֽרְוָחָ֔ה respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

What is going on inside of Pharaoh’s heart reminds me of what God said to the Corinthians Christians through Paul. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. This is where Pharaoh was at. He wanted relief from the frogs. He was not interested in doing God’s will. Another good example of this is the rich young ruler that Jesus talked to. Matthew 19:20-22 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus knew that what was keeping him from God was that he loved money more than God which is why he was sad because he was unwilling to do what God was asking him to do. The purpose of the challenge is to stop and refocus our relationship with God. God loves us so much that he wants us to turn around away from anything and everything that would keep us away from him. So he allows and causes all kinds of difficulty so that we will come back to him and grow closer to him. This is why James tells us in chapter 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I’ll close with this great reminder of God’s desire to grow us up and closer to himself. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I find it interesting how bold Moses is letting Pharaoh decide what time he would like the frogs taken away so that when he prays he can ask God to do it at that specific time. And Moses tells Pharaoh the reason why he is doing it this way. Exodus 8:10-11 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” This reminds me of the boldness and confidence Jesus had in his prayers. Here is a great example. John 11:41-44 Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” In case we think that God only hears Jesus the Son of God let’s not forget what the Bible says in several places. Jesus himself said this. John 14:12-14 Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these...And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. And this great reminder. James 5:16-18 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. I love this truth that people like Elijah and us, created beings, our prayers are powerful and effective because of God who answers them. Did you notice how completely effective Moses prayer was in our chapter when he prayed for Pharaoh who asked for him to plead that they be taken away. Exodus 8:31 And the Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. That’s awesome from swarms of flies to not a single fly left.

When we know God’s will revealed to us in the Bible we can bolding pray and show others how God is answering our prayers to glorify himself. I’ll close with this amazing encouragement from God. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Job 33:26 that person can יֶעְתַּ֤ר pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.

So our word עָבַד for serve and the word זָבַח for sacrifice have something in common. I think the connection is that one of the ways that we serve God involves sacrifice. A great example of this is in Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and spiritual worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. This passage has the Greek words, which is what the New Testament was written in, both words sacrifice and the word for spiritual worship is also translated spiritual service. How we serve God is to offer our lives up as living sacrifices to God we put to death our flesh or sinful nature which is repeated over and over again in the Bible. A good example of this is when Jesus says not my will but yours be done when facing the terrifying separation from God his father for the first time on the cross for our sins. We also see this in 1 Peter 2:5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We offer spiritual sacrifices to God that he accepts when we grow up in our salvation as verse 2 says in 1 Peter chapter 2. Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Because of what God has done for us through Jesus we can serve him by giving him ourselves as a sacrifice that pleases him. This is not a burden but a joy when we remember all that God has done for us. I’ll close with this great passage. 1 John 5:3-4 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Rivers are essential for life. Water in rivers are running that is they are not stagnant but flowing another way to describe running water is living water because it is not polluted by stagnation. Because the Nile river brought life to the people of Egypt in a literal way they began to worship it as one of their many gods. YHWH the I AM ever existing eternal reality true God is attacking the Egyptians main false god that they worshiped. Blood is associated with death so the true God is turning the false god of the Nile associated with life into death by turning its life giving resource into blood a symbol of death. It is interesting that in Psalm 78 we find this event referenced. Psalms were songs that God’s people, including the early church, would use to worship God. So part of their worship was this phrase. Psalm 78:44 He turned their יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם river into blood; they could not drink from their streams.

The very fact that God would attack our idols shows that he loves us and wants us to let go of what cannot give us life. God attacked what the Egyptians were putting their trust in to give them life will only end in death. The Nile was not the source of life it was God the true God himself that gave the river to the Egyptians to provide for them. He alone is to be worshiped. The good news is that God himself is the one who not only is the true source of life but he is eager to give it to us. This is why Jesus called himself the living water. John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 7:37-38 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 

We also see our word used to contrast the counsel from “wise” people with God’s counsel which is far better. Isaiah 29:14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the חָכְמַ֣ת wisdom of the חֲכָמָ֔יו wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. Isaiah 44:25 Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the חֲכָמִ֛ים wise and turns it into nonsense. Jeremiah 8:9 The חֲכָמִ֔ים wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of וְחָכְמַֽת wisdom do they have? Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the חַכְמֵ֧יwise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. As we will see these so called “wise men” who Pharaoh surrounded himself with did not help him make good decisions. This is a good reminder that the people who are close to us do have an effect on where we will end up in the future. So let’s surround ourselves with godly people so that we can become more like Christ. I’ll close with this great passage about what true wisdom really is which is the kind of people that we need close to us speaking into our lives. Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the חָכָם֙ wise boast of their בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Why all the emphasis on God’s miracles surrounding the exodus from Egypt? Well because only God could free millions of people from the most powerful nation at that time on earth. Only the true living God could do such a thing. This sense of several marvelous events that could only be done by the supernatural work of God is how our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 7:8-10 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a מוֹפֵ֑ת  miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. As we will see Pharaoh is not convinced this is from God because his people can reproduce them. We will look at how they were able to do this when we look at our word secret arts tomorrow. But for today we will focus on miraculous activity that only God can do.

It should not surprise us then when the other amazing event in the Bible is also surrounded by the most miraculous events. We are talking about Jesus coming to earth in a miraculous way, preforming miracles, and rising from the dead. Both events the exodus from Egypt and the work of Jesus Christ are described with the same words salvation and redemption. Which we have looked at recently. What makes all of these miracles important is that they point to God being real and true which is why they are also referred to as signs. And when people experience them they are amazed and overwhelmed which is why miracles are also referred to as wonders. I’ll close with this great example of one Jesus miracles that had this effect on those with him. Mark 4:37-41 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

He wants proof that this so called God is actually real. We have seen before that Pharaoh was mocking God saying I don’t know the LORD or YHWH or reality nor will I let you go. As we have seen earlier that those who don’t know God think worship is a waste of your time and theirs. I like how the prayer in Nehemiah summarizes what will be happening very soon. Pharaoh wants to see some action and he gets more than he bargained for. Nehemiah 9:9-11 You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. You וַ֠תִּתֵּן sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You have got to love how God calls himself I Am or Reality. I’m the one that makes my will reality. Pharaoh will be humbled because God shows up in a huge way and silences his mocking. We see this theme of people demanding proof or a miracle set in front of them but they come at God with unbelief already in their heart. They don’t really want evidence they just want to mock God and God’s people. The religious leaders also come to Jesus already with unbelief in their hearts. Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” We see the same thing when Jesus is before King Herod. Luke 23:6-11. 

To these and the many other unbelievers Jesus gives them no miracle because they don’t want evidence they have already made up their mind because they love something other than God that is blinding them to the evidence God has already given them. Jesus spells this out very clearly in John. John 3:18-21 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. The good news is that if we come to God with belief seeing the evidence he has already put around us every day God will draw us to himself. I’ll close with this great passage of the power of the good news of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

God calls himself the almighty in verse three but Moses is not focused on God but rather his lack of ability to speak. I think the reason why God writes about Moses and Aarons family here in our chapter is because he wants to point out that Moses is like any other person. He has a family and is just a man like everyone else. God is getting ready to make himself known in a way that he hasn’t ever done before through miraculous acts of judgment. He even says this contrasting his names almighty and I AM. Exodus 6:2-3 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. God’s name Almighty is impressive but YHWH or I AM or the ever existing reality is something new. God is about to change their reality because he is reality the one who has always eternally existed and will bring about his purposes that are good, pleasing and perfect. This is going to be such a big deal that God wants to again emphasize that Moses is just a man it is God who is about to do this. Notice the emphasis in our chapter. Exodus 6:26 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. Did you catch that? This Moses and this Aaron who have a family and origin and are just people. Again God doesn’t want us to miss that it is he who will be doing this. So Moses argument that he is not good at speaking is not the point because it is God who will be accomplishing the work all Moses has to do is show up. Remember how God explains this to Moses earlier in this way. Exodus 4:10-12 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” So those who spoke to Pharaoh Moses and Aaron are just human like us it was God who was going to do this through them. This reminds me of how God encourages us through the book of James that we as well can experience God just like people he did in the past. James 5:16-17 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. This is exciting to me for several reasons. Not only is God the great I AM the reality who changes things according to his will. Not only is his will good pleasing and perfect. And also because it is not all up to our own abilities because he uses ordinary people like Moses and Elijah we can be greatly encouraged when we find ourselves trying to lead people who don’t listen. Because of all of this we can use our lips like David does in this Psalm I will close with. Psalm 63:2-5 Because your love is better than life, my שְׂפָתַ֥י lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live...with singing וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י lips my mouth will praise you. 

We see this repeated throughout the Bible of God challenging leaders to lead even when it doesn’t seem to be working and no one wants to follow them. God challenges the people through Moses and Joshua. Joshua 1:7, 9 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant צִוְּךָ֙ commanded you… Have I not צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. God challenges Elijah when he assumed that everyone would now follow him but instead his life was threatened. 1 Kings 19:1-18 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

I’ll close with this great passage where Paul challenges Timothy as a young leader in the church. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 

I’ll close with this great story of how God heard Hannah’s prayer out of the hard situation she was facing and gave her a son who would become a great leader of His people. 1 Samuel 1:10-17 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is קְשַׁת־ר֙וּחַ֙ [literally hardened spirit] deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

The good news is that even when we come short in our spirit because our current circumstances are overwhelming us God is able to accomplish his good and perfect purposes for us. He never comes up short. Isaiah 50:2 When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too קָצְרָ֤ה short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too קָצְרָ֥ה short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. I’ll close with this great encouragement that even when we are too beaten down to even pray the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

These and other passages from Ezekiel show God’s punishment on his people because of their refusal to repent of their sin. God is absolutely slow to anger and full of mercy. But as we have seen there is a point where God’s patience runs out and all that is left is his anger and punishment for sin. This is where God is with Egypt in our chapter today. After 430 years of patiently waiting for Egypt to bless His people God had had enough. So we see our word used to describe how he freed his people from the Egyptians namely by punishing their oppressors. Exodus 6:6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖ים acts of judgment. Exodus 7:4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty בִּשְׁפָטִ֖ים acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. Exodus 12:12 On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will שְׁפָטִ֖ים bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. Numbers 33:3-4 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had שְׁפָטִֽים brought judgment on their gods.

I’ll close with this warning so that we don’t try God’s patience but rather continue to stay close to him through the access that we have through Jesus our savior. Hebrews 10:26-31, 39 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God… But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

I’ll close with the great application that God makes with what he did for his people and how we can also respond to what God has done in our lives in the past and our need to teach our children. Deuteronomy 11:1-3 Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his וּזְרֹע֖וֹ הַנְּטוּיָֽה outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country.

This is how our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 6:6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will וְגָאַלְתִּ֤י redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. Throughout the Bible we see God acting as the one who loves us so much and thinks we are so valuable that he redeems us. Isaiah 60:16 You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Isaiah 63:9, 16 In his love and mercy he גְאָלָ֑ם redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old… you, Lord, are our Father, our גֹּאֲלֵ֥נוּ Redeemer from of old is your name. Jeremiah 50:34 Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. 

I’ll close with this great Psalm showing how God brings us safely to himself because we are so valuable to Him. Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems הַגּוֹאֵ֣ל your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

I’ll close with the Messianic prophecy that predicted Jesus death on the cross where people mocked him for trusting in God who is not saving him but instead letting him die the horrible death of crucifixion. God didn’t save Jesus from the cross so he could deliver us from the slavery of sin. Psalm 22:7-8 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him יַ֝צִּילֵ֗הוּdeliver him, since he delights in him.”

I’ll close with this great promise from Jesus’ words about being weighed down with the challenges of life. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

In other words, you will see just how motivated Pharaoh will be to get the people out. He will do it with a strong hand and he will drive them out. You will also see what I will do. God says watch and see what I am going to do to Pharaoh. God then says he will do three things bring his people out of the burdens of the Egyptians, deliver them from slavery, and redeem them. So just when it seems like we can’t see God doing anything. He shows up in a big way. In fact, this way is so big that it hasn’t been done before to this scale up to this point. We will see that as we go through the Bible these miraculous acts of judgment will be referred to throughout the Bible at various times in history as evidence that God is in control and will accomplish good for his people at the right time.

I’ll close with this great encouragement for us Moses example of choosing to see things the way God sees them and follow God even when it takes a long time and is not easy. Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

This reminds me of Jesus disciples who only wanted to hear happy part of what Jesus was saying not the dying and leaving them part. Matthew 16:21-23 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter...began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me.” It is hard for us to hear that God would be a part of allowing us to go through pain and suffering. But the reality is sin has consequences that have to be dealt with if we truly want things to get better. God’s people had to struggle with the challenge of having a more difficult time for a while, bricks without straw, for them to grow in their trust of what God was doing even when things were more difficult because they were doing what God had asked them to do. Not only do the people not understand this but Moses himself doesn’t as well. God allows leaders to struggle with trusting Him along with the people who are with them in the struggle. Jesus disciples struggled as did Jesus himself as their leader. While Jesus was praying the night before his death on the cross, he said this. Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” I’ll close with this Messianic prophecy that predicted that Jesus would be put to death on the cross surrounded by evil doers. This is a great reminder that when things were getting worse God turned everything around. God accomplished our salvation and eternal life with him forever in the without corruption place. Psalm 22:16 For dogs encompass me; a company of מְ֭רֵעִים evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

Earlier we saw that the people believed Moses when he told them that God had sent him to deliver them and he confirmed what he said with the miraculous signs. So they’re hopes were high. So much so that they bowed down and worshiped because they heard that the LORD was concerned about them. They’re expectation was that it would happen right away and be easy. Which to be fair was also Moses’ expectation which we will talk about tomorrow. This is a great example of the old saying that whenever you change something things get worse before they get better. Now it was still true that God was concerned about them and did send Moses to deliver them from slavery. They were just surprised and disappointed that it didn’t happen when they wanted it to and that things were not better but rather worse. They went from being slaves who had to make bricks to still being slaves who had to make bricks but now they also had the added work of going out to find their own straw to make the same amount of bricks with. I think we forget that we live in a fallen messed up world or if you will the corrupted place. Things are usually harder than we realize and take more time than we realize. All because of the sin that we have to deal with here on this earth. The good news is that God is still working to redeem this messed up place and promises that one day we will be with him in the without corruption place. We all need reminders that we can enjoy this without corruption place while we are still here in the corrupted place because in Christ we live in two places at once. Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. God also reminds us that if we are going to do his will it will not always seem like things are better but actually worse. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. So it is important that as we are experiencing persecution and or things being worse before they get better during a time of change that we remember to live also in the without corruption place. I’ll close with this great challenge. Colossians 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

We also see our word used in the sense to be disinclined to work or exertion. Proverbs 18:9 One who is מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. This is the same sense our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 5:7-9, 17-18 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are נִרְפִּ֣ים idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”…But he said, “You are נִרְפִּ֥ים idle, you are נִרְפִּ֑ים idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” As we have already looked at a few days ago because Pharaoh does not know the LORD or YHWH he not only won’t let them go and worship but he mocks and accuses them of being lazy. People who don’t know our God think worship is a waste of their time and our time. The good news is that even if they accuse us of something we are not their assessment has no value compared to God’s estimation. Romans 8:33-35, 37 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. I’ll close with this great section that encourages us to see and embrace God’s wisdom instead of the worlds. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

This same sense of organizing workers is how we see our word used in our chapter today. These officials were fellow Hebrews appointed by Pharaoh’s taskmasters to organize and be responsible for the people getting the work done. Exodus 5:6-7, 10-19 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their שֹׁטְרָ֖יו foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves…So the taskmasters and the וְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” And the שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?” Then the שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” The שֹֽׁטְרֵ֧י foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” God allows us to get in over our head where we realize that we are in trouble because there seems like no way out of an impossible situation. This reminds me of another time someone was in over their head. Peter started to drown. Why? Because he did what Jesus asked him to do and step out of the boat and come to him on the water. Just like these foreman who were also fellow Hebrews who listened to Moses who said that God would deliver them from slavery. But instead they are in over their head. The good news is that Jesus was there to catch Peter when he started to drown and we will see how God is there to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt in the days to come.

I’ll close with this passage that reminds us that Jesus was oppressed for us because of our sins. Isaiah 53:7 He was נִגַּ֨שׂ oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Acts 8:34-36 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?

This is the idea that all sin has consequences to it. There is a consequence to not obeying God. The reason for the request is to avoid this consequence of not going and worshiping God. The people are saying we don’t want the result that would come from not going and worshiping God. We might be tempted to think that God is trying to manipulate the people into worshiping him or else. But this is not the case. God knows what is best for us. He loves us and is for us. Romans 8:31-32 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

So Moses and the people are ready to obey God and go and worship Him. But Pharaoh is not and he will find out what the consequences are of not obeying God. It took 430 years but God brought about justice on Egypt who failed to bless God’s people and therefore received a curse instead of God’s blessing. I’ll close with this great reminder that Jesus was the one that came and paid the price for our sins. He was not only harassed but also put to death in our place as the consequence of our sin. Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has הִפְגִּ֣יעַ laid on him the iniquity of us all.

There is an element to slaughter for sacrifice that is offensive. The very idea that an animal’s life has to be taken for the sacrifice to be effective is a tragedy. My guess is that God is trying to get us to understand just how serious sin is. It is deathly serious. We either die for our own sins or someone or something else has to be put to death in our place. These sacrifices are by design to be offensive. They are to give us pause about our own sin and our need for God’s salvation. The sacrifices in the Old Testament did not take away sin but instead put them off until Jesus would come and once and for all pay the price for our sins. Hebrews 10:3-4, 10-12, 14 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. I’ll close with this encouragement of how we respond to Christ sacrifice for us. Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Today we celebrate every Sunday because Jesus Christ was risen from the dead on the first day of the week. We also celebrate by remembering the Lord’s death and resurrection together when we meet until he comes back again. Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. 1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. I think sometimes we forget just how wonderful and amazing God’s love and power are for us. We are his kids and God rejoices over us and celebrates us. Of course there are times when we need to mourn over our sin but we can’t forget to also celebrate God and enjoy him. He commanded his people to stop and do so in the Old Testament. How much more do we have reason being forgiven in Christ. I’ll close with David who is a great example of this attitude of celebration of our God. Psalm 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the חוֹגֵֽג festive throng.

It may seem like a long time and it was but when it is God’s time to show up with power and take care of an enemy of his people He does it decisively. This reminds me of another enemy that was getting in the way of God and his people. Saul of Tarsus was terrorizing God’s people. And God took care of that problem in a huge way (Acts 9:1-4). God not only stopped the biggest enemy of the church at that time but transformed him into one of his effective servants. I’ll close with this great passage about God working in the most powerful way that no one else could do. Galatians 1:23-24 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. 

Ezekiel 16:12 I put a ring on your אַפֵּ֔ךְ nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Amos 4:10 I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord. Most of the time our word is translated anger because of how our nose or nostrils change when we are angry. And the phrase burning or becoming hot is often connected to our word for anger. Job 42:7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am אַפִּ֤י angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. This is how our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 4:12-14 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֨ף anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. This is literally became hot his nose or nostril. When we see a person’s nostrils flaring open we know they are angry. God is describing himself in human terms so we can better understand him. The good news is said well in Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to אַפַּ֣יִם anger, abounding in love. And in Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to אַפַּ֙יִם֙ anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. What is interesting is that God’s slow to anger and mercy was the excuse another reluctant servant gave for not wanting for God to send them. Jonah 4:2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to אַפַּ֙יִם֙ anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah didn’t think the Ninevites deserved God’s forgiveness so he didn’t want to go because he knew God’s character that he would save them if they repented. I’m glad God is slow to anger and turns his anger away from us because of what Christ has done on the cross. Instead of burning his anger out against us because of our sin he turns it away from us and directs it toward Jesus. This is why the cross was necessary. I’ll close with these great passages. 1 John 2:2 He is the turning away wrath for our sins...1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice that turned away wrath for our sins. 

Exodus 4:10-16 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not אִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים eloquent, either in the past or since you have דַּבֶּרְךָ֖ spoken to your servant, but I am כְבַד־פֶּ֛ה slow of speech (slow of mouth) and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall תְּדַבֵּֽר speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can כִּֽי־דַבֵּ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ speak to him and put the הַדְּבָרִ֖ים words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall וְדִבֶּר speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

I think Moses was lying when he gave God this excuse of not being a man of words or heavy mouth and tongue because of what God says in Acts. Acts 7:22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. God gave Moses the opportunity to have probably the best education available at that time. So he was very capable of what God called him to do. He simply didn’t want to do it. It is amazing how gracious God is with us when we don’t want to do what he is calling us to do. God was able to eventually get Moses to do what he was created to do. I think God knew that Moses was thinking I already tried this once and it was a terrible failure. We know what Moses was thinking before he had to flee for his life from Acts 7. Acts 7:25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. So Moses was probably reluctant because he didn’t want to experience failure again. We as people tend to be risk averse especially when we have already failed at something. But the good news is that God is the one that accomplishes his work through us if we are willing and available. And God will accomplish what he has said he will. Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the Lord’s good הַדָּבָ֣ר promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. I’ll close with these encouraging words. Colossians 1:28-29 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

God still does this allowing what we really are trusting in to be shaken so that we will let go of it because it doesn’t work anymore. This is because he loves us and wants us to worship and trust in him alone. This is what is best for us and our loved ones. I’ll close with this challenge to us. Hebrews 12:25-29 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Sometimes in this life we forget that God has always been and always will be about destroying evil. Because we see it around us. As David and many others cry out to God that the evil people prosper while those who are trusting in God seem to suffer. And God seems not to care or do anything about it. God knows how to put down evil. When the devil and the other angels who followed him sinned against God. God immediately threw him out of heaven. Because God is always about destroying evil. Jesus said in Luke 10:18 I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Jesus also said this is why he came to earth. 1 John 3:8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. The good news is that I don’t have to be destroyed along with the devil and those who have sinned against God if I am in Christ. Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Did you catch that? I don’t have to just give into my flesh or sinful nature and then be destroyed along with the rest of the world outside of Christ. If I let the Holy Spirit put to death the evil that is inside of me then I will live. So either way God is all about destroying evil because it is that bad. It will hurt me and those around me if it is not put to death. I’ll close with this great promise that one day when Christ comes back we will be saved from the presence of evil in this life and in our life. Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

The good news is that we have these same promises of God being with us and being successful for our mission as believers in Christ. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Isaiah 55:11 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. And yes we will become discouraged but God will provide his people to encourage us if we are open to being a part of his church and his mission. I’ll close with this inspiring truth. Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Not only do all of us have to deal with the consequences of our own sin but simply by being alive the corruption of this life affects us. The Holy Spirit speaking through Solomon makes an honest assessment of life here in this broken world because of sin that has corrupted it. And our word is used in this description. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and מַכְאֹבִ֗ים pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 1:17-18 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more מַכְאֽוֹב grief. This is sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 3:7-8 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their מַכְאֹבָֽיו sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So God has a plan to rescue his people out of their sufferings. And we will see this plan as we journey through the words of the Bible together. The good news is that Jesus is the ultimate plan of God to solve our sufferings once and for all when he returns a second time. Revelation 21:3-5 “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them...‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” But for now we rely on God who can be trusted to bring this about. We can trust God because of how he has always been faithful to do what he said he would do. He brought his son into the world the first time who suffered for us as we can see from this prediction made 700 years before hand. Isaiah 53:3-4 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of מַכְאֹב֖וֹת suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our וּמַכְאֹבֵ֖ינוּ suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. Jesus the man of sorrows has truly carried our sorrows. I’ll close with this encouraging passage of God’s faithfulness and love. Psalm 32:10 Many are the מַכְאוֹבִ֗ים sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

God certainly has interesting ways to get our attention and calling us into his service. Acts 22:6-8 About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’...‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. God doesn’t always have to get our attention in these dramatic ways. I’ll close with how he got Elijah’s attention. The most important thing is to be ready for God’s leading and serve him in his local church while you’re waiting for his direction. Because like with Moses God is watching to see if we are paying attention to what he is already doing before he shows us more of himself and his purposes. 1 Kings 19:11-13 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

When this fallen, messed up, broken, corrupted place knocks the wind out of us. We can be encouraged because God is at work even interpreting our prayers when we are so hurt we can only groan. That is an amazing truth about being in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I’ll close with this amazing promise that reminds us we can’t lose being in Christ. Romans 8:22-23, 26-27 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies… In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Moses must have still looked like an Egyptian. We know he grew up and was trained in the Egyptian culture. Acts 7:20-23 For three months he was cared for by his family. When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. So he only had 3 months with his family and 40 years with Pharaoh. Because all that Moses knew was from an Egyptian perspective, he saw the problem of his people being oppressed as something that could be solved with force. We see this in the next verses. Acts 7:24-29 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them...But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian. As we have already seen Moses couldn’t stop being Moses in that God created him to rescue people around him. But a big part of who Moses was at that time was Egyptian. And Egyptian’s were about power and using force. It has been said that God brought the people out of Egypt but then God had to get Egypt out of the people. This same thing is true of Moses. We see our word used to identify one of the nations that God’s people were to separate themselves from because of the nation’s corrupting influence with their relationship with God. Ezra 9:1 The people of Israel...have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the... הַמִּצְרִ֖י Egyptians and Amorites. So just as God had to get Egypt out of the people he also had to get Egypt out of Moses. Yes, he was called by God to accomplish a specific task of leading his people out of slavery. But God also cares about how we do it. He is always about transforming our character. Now God did use Moses experience being raised as an Egyptian in that God used his skill to write the first part of the Bible. But God also had to get a lot of the negative influence out of Moses that was inside of him from being raised as an Egyptian. God needed to humble Moses so he would not only do what God wanted but also be the person who does things God’s way. In other words, not just the what but also how we do things. We will see in the upcoming days how God transforms Moses’ character so that he is ready to lead. I’ll close with Jesus prayer that we as God’s people would be in the world but not of the world. John 17:14-19 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Another form of our word is used in a messianic prophecy that predicts Christ first and second comings. God will eventually establish Jesus as our true ruler and king. When this happens we will truly be free from all oppression and harsh leadership so typical of governments in this life. Isaiah 9:4, 6-7 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that סֻבֳּל֗וֹ burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. I’ll close with Jesus words that contrast the work he and God the father has for us that is completely the opposite of the kind Pharaoh and many like him try to oppress us with. Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Moses is also a type of Christ that people were looking forward to his coming. John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” This type is also emphasized when Jesus is transfigured on the mountain when both Moses and Elijah appear with him and were talking to him, Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4. Moses is a type of Christ in the he represents the law that Jesus came to fulfill and save us from. Jesus himself even acknowledges that he is predicted to come as a type of Moses. John 3:14. John 5:46. I’ll close with the prophecy predicting Jesus would come as a type of Moses. Acts 3:19-20, 22; Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus…For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 

When Jerusalem was finally taken into exile because of the sins of the people were so great. God reminds them and us of his great compassion and patience trying to get us to repent and come back to him before it is too late. God doesn’t just feel an emotion to help us but he acted on it sending people to offer this rescue countless times. 2 Chronicles 36:15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he חָמַ֥ל had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. God is still a God who has compassion and takes pity on us. I’ll close with this reminder that we need to be ready for Jesus to come back and encourage others also to be ready because at some point even though God is patient there will be a time when it will be too late. 2 Peter 3:9-12. 

This concept is called the law of the greater good. If the good one is trying to see accomplished is better than the good accomplished by following an already established law, then it is a good thing to break the lesser rule or law in order to accomplish the greater good. This can be used to cover up evil and has been throughout history. A good example of this is when Saul decides to offer the burnt offering sacrifice on the altar instead of waiting for Samuel the priest. 1 Samuel 13:11-13  Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” So in Saul’s mind he was justified in disobeying God’s law. Here is the difference Saul was the one making the determination if it was the greater good instead of relying on what God has already said about what the most important things are in his instruction. Telling the truth is important but when we already know that an evil person is going to murder someone else then by telling them the truth we are helping the evil person carryout the evil act of murder. So the midwives are rewarded by God because they let God define what the greater good was instead of Pharaoh. And what was Pharaoh’s justification for murdering the babies. He was afraid the people were becoming too numerous and might rebel against his rule. Instead of blessing God’s people so he and Egypt could receive a blessing as God has promised in Genesis 12:3. Instead of blessing God’s people they instead enslaved them and treated them harshly and now wanted to murder the baby boys to slow down their population. A good example of letting God define what the greater good this is in the New Testament when we see the apostles put in jail for sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. Acts 5:27-29 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! I’ll close with Jesus’ words that sum this up succinctly. Jesus tells us like it is but then reminds us how valuable we are to God and that we can trust him to take care of us especially in an eternal way. Matthew 10:28-31. 

This is not easy for us when we struggle with such painful challenges in this life. One of my favorite Pastors would say that death is the most confusing and meaningless time there is. I would say that would also be true of very painful challenges of all kinds. What do we do when we struggle with why God is allowing these things to happen to us? We trust God with our painful emotions as we have looked at previously. The evil one wants to get us to either act on our emotions or avoid them but God wants us to trust Him with them through prayer allowing ourselves to feel them. We see David throughout the Psalms doing this. He allows himself to feel his pain and disappointment with why God isn’t doing something to stop his challenges. Here is a great example of David doing just this with our word. 1 Samuel 30:3-6 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was מָ֙רָה֙ bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. I’ll close with this great passage found in Nehemiah 8:10. Right after the people heard God’s word read to them they started to grieve and rightly so because they had not been living the way God wanted them to. So they were trusting God with their emotions. Then Nehemiah says this, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” God is the one who heals us and gives us strength to trust him with the painful emotions that are a part of this life. And the good news is that God will lead us to gladness.

Ephesians 6:7-9 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Did you catch what God just said right here? Both masters and slaves are to serve wholeheartedly just like you were serving the Lord. This is revolutionary it turns everything on its head. Instead of attacking slavery head on he goes to the heart of it and says we should serve each other like we were serving the Lord. In other words, like we were both servants of God or we were like brothers in Christ instead of master and slave. God does the same thing when speaking through Paul in his letter to Philemon. Philemon 8-16 I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul...a prisoner of Christ Jesus...I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains... no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother...a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. Instead of hitting slavery head on again Paul talks about making his appeal out of love instead of commanding him to do it from his position as an Apostle of Christ. He instead appeals to him as a brother and encourages him to also see Onesimus not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. This approach is what changed slavery in the first century. It was the church transforming society through loving each other regardless of roles and titles. God has always been against forcing someone into slavery against their will. We see this clear teaching in 1 Timothy 1:9-11 For slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. So we see that slaver traders or other versions say man stealers in the list of what is against the gospel, against God’s will. 

Pharaoh’s efforts were having the opposite effect on the people. This was because God had already declared that he would bless his people. So regardless of what others might do to try and stop God’s plan it would not succeed. Here are some great verses that remind us of this theme we find repeated throughout the Bible. Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. A good example of this is in the New Testament when the Pharisee Gamaliel speaks to the Sanhedrin during a discussion about what to do with Peter and the other apostles preaching about Jesus. Acts 5:38-39 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. I’ll close with one of my favorite Proverbs about this very thing. Proverbs 21:30-31 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. 

One of the most consistent themes throughout the Bible is the benefits of becoming wise from God’s perspective. Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making מַחְכִּ֥ימַת wise the simple. The key to wisdom is understanding where it starts because we can become wise in our own understanding. Proverbs 3:7 Do not be חָכָ֣םwise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This is what we see Pharaoh doing in our chapter today. His wisdom was not from God nor did it start with his fearing God. Exodus 1:9-10 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖הshrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” I’ll close with this warning of not understanding wisdom from God’s perspective. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

This concept of knowing from experience is foundational to life because God created us as relational beings who need to connect with Him and others. Everyone God created needs to have someone to tell their stories to and experience life with. Jesus points to knowing and being known as the highest priority in one’s life with these words. John 17:2-3 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The new Pharaoh didn’t know God nor did he know God’s people and how much God used Joseph to bless the nation of Egypt. The next generation after Joshua did not know how much God blessed them through Joshua. Without having our own personal experience with God and his people we are in a lot of trouble. We see Jesus warning against not having this personal experience or relationship with God and his people. Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! I’ll close with a couple of passages one where David is encouraging his son Solomon to know God and a Psalm of David who delights in not only knowing God but in the overwhelming reality that God knows us. 1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, my son Solomon, דַּע֩ know the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Psalm 139:1-6 You have searched me, Lord, and youוַתֵּדָֽע  know me. You יָ֭דַעְתָּ know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, יָדַ֥עְתָּ know it completely...Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 49:19-20 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept לְהַחֲיֹ֥ת alive, as they are today. As we saw yesterday God turned the evil that his brothers had planned for him and brought good out of it. The good was the saving of many lives. Joseph is a good example for us of how to trust God with what he has called us to do when evil is done to us by others. This is what Joseph said earlier in chapter 45. Genesis 45:5-8 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to לְמִֽחְיָ֔ה preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to וּלְהַחֲי֣וֹת preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. This is a great picture of Christ who trusted God when he was put to death by the hands of evil people, which by the way includes you and me. 1 Peter 2:21-25 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Jesus endured the evil done to him so that he could save us and bring good out of evil. Which is one of God’s specialties. 

One of the things God does best is brining good out of bad. The best example of this is Jesus death and resurrection. Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. I’ll close with this great passage that contrasts the plans of wicked men against God’s plan to save us. Acts 2:22-24 Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

You would expect Jacob to say more to and about his youngest son Benjamin, the “son of his right hand,” but his words were few and puzzling. Why compare Benjamin to a “ravenous wolf”? The men of Benjamin were brave and helped defeat Sisera (Judges 5:14), but when you read Benjamin’s tribal history in Judges 19 and 20, you see the ravenous wolf in action. Saul, the first king of Israel, was from Benjamin. During his career, he more than once tried to kill David (1 Samuel 19:10), and he ruthlessly murdered everybody in the priestly city of Nob (1 Samuel 22:6ff). Other Benjamites known for their ferocity were Abner (2 Samuel 2:23), Sheba (2 Samuel 20), Shimei (2 Samuel 16:5–14) and Saul of Tarsus (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5). It’s remarkable that Moses’ words about Benjamin say nothing about the ferocious behavior of an animal (Deuteronomy 33:12). Instead, Moses called him “the beloved of the Lord” and promised him constant protection from God. In fact, Benjamin shall “rest between His shoulders”, which suggests either being carried on his back or over his heart. When the nation divided after Solomon’s death, the tribe of Benjamin remained faithful to the Davidic line and stayed with Judah. Together they formed the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

This reminds us that because God has us close to his heart he still cares about us even when we are acting like a wild wolf that wants to tear and destroy. I’ll close with these verse about Saul of Tarsus from this ravenous wolf tribe of Israel. When he was acting like a wild animal, when he persecuted the church and tracked down Christians to imprison them, God stepped in and changed him. Acts 26:9-18 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities… At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Jacob used the word “bless” at least six times in his speech to and about Joseph. He compared Joseph to a fruitful vine, drawing water from a spring and growing over the wall. It was Joseph who was taken from home and lived in Egypt, and the word “fruitful” points to his son Ephraim (Genesis 41:52), founder of a tribe that grew greatly and expanded its territory (Joshua 17:14–18). Neither Joseph nor his sons could be hemmed in! Jacob used the image of “archers” to describe the suffering that Joseph experienced at the hands of his brothers and his master in Egypt. In Scripture, shooting arrows is sometimes an image of telling lies and speaking hateful words (Psalm 57:4; 64:3–4; Proverbs 25:18; 26:18–19; Jeremiah 9:8). Joseph’s brothers couldn’t speak to him in a civil manner (Genesis 37:4), and they lied about him to their father; and Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph and helped put him into prison. Indeed, the archers shot mercilessly at the innocent young man. But Joseph didn’t shoot back! God strengthened him so that his words were always true, and it was this integrity that eventually led to his release from prison and his elevation to being second ruler of the land. Ephraim and Manasseh were important tribes in Israel. In fact, the Northern Kingdom was frequently called “Ephraim” (Isaiah 7:1–2; Hosea 13:1). God had blessed Abraham richly (Gen. 13:6), and Abraham had shared his wealth with Isaac (25:5), who in turn gave it to Jacob. But Jacob’s hard work had generated even more wealth. Thus, from generation to generation, the wealth increased because of the blessing of the Lord, like filling the land up to the very mountains. 

I’ll close with these passages that show God’s blessing that brings over abundant fruitfulness into the New Testament and into the new heavens and the new earth. Genesis 22:17-18 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Revelation 7:9-10 There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

This tribe’s location was north of Zebulun and Isaachar and contained the Sea of Galilee. Zebulun and Naphtali were a part of the district called “Galilee of the Gentiles,” which was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1–2) and where Jesus ministered (Matthew 4:12–16). Zebulun and Naphtali were distinguished for their bravery in battle (Judges 5:18). The image of “a doe let loose” suggests a free-spirited people, not bound to tradition. The tribe was located in the hill country. So this image was chosen wisely. Moses said they were “abounding with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 33:23). The last clause of Genesis 49:21 “that gives beautiful words” —suggests that they were a poetic people who could express themselves well. Possessing the abilities to run like does and speak beautiful words, the people of Naphtali would make ideal messengers. Naphtali has no judgment against it. When the Assyrians invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Naphtali was one of the first tribes to be taken and deported (2 Kings 15:29). Naphtali reminds us of the beauty of the good news. Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Romans 10:13-15 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Genesis 49:20 Asher's food shall be שְׁמֵנָ֣הrich, and he shall yield royal delicacies. The name means “blessed” or “happy”. Genesis 30:13 Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher. Since the tribe of Asher wasn’t able to drive out the inhabitants of their territory (Judges 1:31–32), they settled down to be an agricultural people, taking advantage of the fertile land God gave them (Joshua 19:24–30). Moses said that Asher was “most blessed,” referring to its wealth of olive oil and the security of its cities (Deuteronomy 33:24–25). Asher’s food was definitely rich, and the tribe even provided special delicacies “fit for a king.” Asher reminds me of a couple of verses relating to this idea of luxury. God has not only a different idea about what a life of luxury is but an even better one. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Matthew 6:28-33 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Genesis 49:19 גְּד֣וּד Raiders shall יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּraid גָּ֖דGad, but he shall יָגֻ֥דraid at their heels. Gad can mean both “good fortune” and “a troop.” We see this when Leah named him at his birth in Genesis 30:11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad. The idea is this is good luck because a troop or army is coming to help. We might say today the Calvary is coming. Because of the tribe’s location on the east side of the Jordan, enemy troops could easily invade their territory. Jacob assured the Gadites that no conquest would be final, but that they would eventually conquer their enemies. This verse literally reads, “Troop [Gad], a troop will troop upon him, but he will troop on their heels.” An old man on his deathbed, Jacob could still make a clever wordplay out of his son’s name. The Gadites were great warriors (Joshua 22:1–6). Moses compared them to a brave lion that could rend the arms and heads of its enemies. Deuteronomy 33:20 About וּלְגָ֣ד Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges גָּ֖ד Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. This reminds me of the prediction God the Father made about God the son Jesus who was also from the tribe of Judah who was identified also as a lion. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Genesis 49:16-18 דָּ֖ן Dan shall יָדִ֣ין judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. דָן֙ Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward. I wait for your salvation, O Lord. The name Dan is the noun form of the verb with the same root word “to judge”, and his tribe produced one of the most famous judges, Samson (Judges 13–16). The tribe of Dan was given a fertile land bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Philistine territory (Joshua 19:40–48), but they weren’t able to drive out the Philistines. In order to gain more land, they moved north and conquered the people of Laish and took their land (Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:1–29). By associating Dan with the serpent, Jacob revealed his crafty nature and his habit of making sudden attacks on his enemies. The tribe’s conquest of the defenseless people of Laish is an example of their subtle tactics, and their setting up an image in their territory shows that they weren’t wholly devoted to the Lord (v. 20). Two centuries later, King Jeroboam set up one of his idolatrous golden calves in Dan (1 Kings 12:28–30).

Jesus identifies himself as the Judge in the parable of the sheep and the goats. Matthew 25:31-32 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. We know that Jesus as God will judge correctly. In the parable the basis of God’s judgement is on their faith in action meeting the needs of others. The good news is that if we are in Christ we pass from judgement into life because of Jesus death in our place for our sins. Our faith in Christ is what God considers or counts as righteousness because on our own good works we would be separated from God. But faith in Christ is active it not theoretical or ideological. It meets the needs of others. I’ll close with Jesus own words on being saved from Judgement because of our relationship with him through faith. John 5:24-27 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

We see it used in a literal sense of physical bones. Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a גָּֽרֶם bone. Job 40:15, 18 Look at Behemoth… Its bones עֲ֭צָמָיו are tubes of bronze, its גְּ֝רָמָ֗יו limbs like rods of iron. Since have the different Hebrew word here for bones our word in context makes the most sense to be translated limbs. This is understandable because a big part of your limbs would be your arm bone. What is interesting is God’s bringing up the Behemoth as an example of strength which is how it is used in our chapter today.

Genesis 49:14-15 Issachar is a גָּ֑רֶם strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor. Isaachar was situated at the eastern end of the fertile Jezreel Valley (Joshua 19:17–22), sandwiched between Zebulun and the Jordan River. The judge Tola was from Isaachar (Judges 10:1–2); the men of Isaachar fought against Sisera (Judges 5:15); and David had soldiers from that tribe who understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). Many of the men of this tribe were valiant in battle (7:5). We today think of a donkey as an ignoble beast of burden, but in Old Testament times, kings rode on donkeys (1 Kings 1:38ff). The image in Genesis 49:14–15 is that of a strong people who weren’t afraid to carry burdens. The people of Isaachar were hard working and devoted to the soil. They were content with their lot and made the most of it. This tribe produced no great heroes, but their everyday labor was a help to others. After all, not everybody in Israel was called to be a Judah or a Joseph!

We have already looked at God’s creative and dynamic overwhelming power with past words. Even though our word for today is not specifically used to address God the concept certainly fits. God is also a power that works consistently in the background to get the job done. Jesus describes He and the father in this way. John 5:16-17 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” This is very comforting that God is on the job taking care of things. A because he doesn’t need sleep like we do he is always on call and in charge. I’ll close with this great Psalm 121:1-8 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

What is interesting is that in our verse today we see both senses of our word used a literal shore and a figurative expression of a shelter. Jacob is still addressing his sons before he dies. Genesis 49:13 Zebulun shall dwell at the לְח֥וֹף shore of the sea; he shall become a לְח֣וֹף haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon. Zebulun was located on an important route that carried merchandise from the coast to the Sea of Galilee and to Damascus. Moses said, “For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas” (Deuteronomy 33:19). For the most part, the Jews weren’t a seafaring people, but the tribe of Zebulun did business with the Phoenicians east of them and provided imported goods to the people west of them. However, they were also a brave people whose warriors had excellent reputations (1 Chronicles 12:33). Deborah and Barak praised the men of Zebulun for rallying to the cause and fighting Sisera (Judges 5:14–18). Elon, one of the judges, was from this tribe (Judges 12:11–12).

I like how God is described as our shelter in Psalm 91:1-2 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” God allows storms in this life that can be fierce and God gives us hope in the storms becoming our shelter. But not only this life but more importantly for the next. For both storms here and when Christ comes back we have hope in God our shelter and safe haven. I’ll close with these encouraging words from the New Testament book of Hebrews. Hebrews 12:26-29 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 6:17-20 We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

This is exactly how our word is used today in our chapter. As we see Jacob continuing to address his family before he dies. Genesis 49:8-12 יְהוּדָ֗ה Judah, your brothers shall יוֹד֣וּךָ praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

Jacob had paraded the sins of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, but he said nothing about Judah’s suggestion that the brothers sell Joseph as a slave. Jacob realized now that what Judah did at least saved Joseph’s life and got him to Egypt, where God had a work for him to do. Jacob also said nothing about Judah’s sin with Tamar. Jacob’s estimation of Judah had gradually risen higher, especially since Judah had offered himself as a pledge for Benjamin, and surely Joseph had told Jacob about Judah’s compassionate plea on behalf of his youngest brother. When Jacob and the family moved to Egypt, it was Judah whom Jacob sent ahead to make things ready. Judah had made some mistakes, but he had also made some things right with his father and his family; and that was the difference between him and his three older brothers.

Since God appointed Judah to be the royal tribe, it was logical to associate the tribe with the lion, the king of the beasts. Jacob compared Judah to a lion’s cub, a lion, and a lioness. Who would dare rouse a lion when he’s resting after feeding on the kill, or a lioness while she’s guarding her cubs? The description in verses 11–12 certainly goes beyond Judah’s time and speaks of the blessings of the return of Christ. This is the language of hyperbole. It describes a land so wealthy and a people so prosperous that they can do these outrageous things and not have to worry about the consequences. When Christ returns people will enjoy health and beauty, because the devastating enemies of human life will have been removed. I’ll close with this amazing picture of everyone praising God. Psalm 67:1-5 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples יוֹד֖וּךָ praise you, O God; let all the peoples י֝וֹד֗וּךָ praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples יוֹד֖וּךָ praise you, O God; let all the peoples י֝וֹד֗וּךָ praise you!

This very serious corrupting influence of our word is seen in our chapter today. Jacob is addressing his family before he dies and is now speaking to both Simeon and Levi together. Genesis 49:5-7 Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of חָמָ֖ס violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Simeon and Levi were guilty of anger and violence in their unrestrained massacre of the Shechemites (Gen. 34:25–31). It was right to avenge the raping of their sister Dinah, but it wasn’t necessary to wipe out innocent people just to gratify their own desire for revenge. Since it was dangerous to be “in their assembly,” God arranged that the two tribes would not be able to assemble or do anything together. The tribe of Simeon was eventually absorbed into the tribe of Judah (Joshua 19:1, 9), and the tribe of Levi was given forty-eight towns to live in, scattered throughout the land (Joshua 21). Indeed, the brothers were “divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel.”

Simeon and Levi failed to trust God with their anger. God wants to take our anger and lead us into passion. Passion about being like God and serving him. Instead, they acted on their anger and let it turn into violence. Anger is one of the ways the evil one uses to get a place in our life and begin to destroy it this is why God warns us to deal with it immediately. Ephesians 4:26, 31-32 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil…Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. I’ll close with this great reminder of how God desires us to respond and relate to each other. James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

This heavy consequence of profane or defile is also seen in our chapter today with Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son. Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you חִלַּ֖לְתָּ defiled it—he went up to my couch!

Jacob spoke directly to Reuben, his eldest son, but what he had to say wasn’t very complimentary. An old sin he’d committed finally caught up with Reuben Genesis 35:22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it. Because of Reuben’s sin he lost his privileges as the firstborn son. Jacob gave that blessing to Joseph and his two sons which we see in 1 Chronicles 5:1–2: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he וּֽבְחַלְּלוֹ֙ defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph).

As Jacob’s firstborn son, Reuben should have been a strong man with dignity, who brought honor to his father and family, but he turned out to be a weak man, who disgraced his family by defiling his father’s bed. “Unstable as water” speaks of both turbulence and weakness. Reuben’s arrogant attitude and reckless way of life weren’t fitting for a firstborn son. Water is certainly weak in itself, but turbulent water can be very destructive. Dathan and Abiram were Reubenites who gave leadership in the rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16:1), which led to the deaths of thousands of people.

The good news is that Christ can save us from this any all of our sins. Acts 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. This is amazing but we also have to remember that Christ died to not just save us from the consequences of our sin, separation from God in hell, but also to make us holy like him. Hebrews 13:12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. I’ll close with the warning God gives us writing through Peter. 2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 

When Jacob was running away from Esau who wanted to kill him our word is used in his dream to point out significant things to encourage him. Genesis 28:12-15 And he dreamed, and וְהִנֵּ֤ה behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And וְהִנֵּה֙ behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And וְהִנֵּ֨ה behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. וְהִנֵּ֨ה Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Today in our chapter we see Jacob using our word to focus on the best relationship of all. Genesis 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, הִנֵּ֥ה “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. This is amazing. The most important gift we can leave our loved ones is giving them the confidence in God. Jacob is encouraging Joseph’s relationship with God not just with these words he draws attention to with our word behold. But also living a life of trust in God. When our loved ones know where we are going after death to be with God it encourages them to continue to live and serve God with the end goal of being together again. David also understood this when his child died that he would one day go to be where the child was now with God. 2 Samuel 12:22-23 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” I’ll close with Jesus words that not only challenge us with our purpose but also encourage us because God will be with us. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

This same idea of value we see in our chapter as part of the blessing Jacob is giving to his grandsons. Genesis 48:15-16 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has הַגֹּאֵ֨ל redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” It is refreshing to see the focus Jacob has looking back on his life when he is at the end. He is not thinking about getting his favorite food like his father Isaac or talking about all of his accomplishments. Instead he shares about God being his shepherd like we looked at yesterday and how God has redeemed him from all evil. It is one of the most beautiful things in all of life that our God sees value in us and brings value back into our lives. He is our redeemer. I’ll close with these two great verses in Psalms as David is praising God for this very thing. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my וְגֹאֲלִֽי redeemer. Psalm 107:1-2 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the גְּאוּלֵ֣י redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has גְּ֝אָלָ֗ם redeemed from trouble.

We also see it used in the sense of someone who rules conceived of as a shepherd. In the book of Ezekiel the word is used to describe the leaders of Israel that were failing to fulfill their roles. Ezekiel 34:1-10 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the רוֹעֵ֣י shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the לָרֹעִ֜ים shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, רֹעִ֣ים shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not הָרֹעִֽים shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no רֹעֶ֑ה shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts...Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the הָרֹעִ֜ים shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their מֵרְע֣וֹת feeding the sheep. No longer shall the הָרֹעִ֖ים shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

After God points out this leadership failure he identifies the true leader that he will send to solve all of this mess. Ezekiel 34:23 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one רֹעֶ֤ה shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their לְרֹעֶֽה shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. Ezekiel 37:24-25 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one וְרוֹעֶ֥ה shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 

This is a messianic prophecy predicting Jesus who will come and be not only the good shepherd but the great one. It is this idea of God himself being our leader that we find it used in our chapter today. We see our word in our chapter used as part of Jacob’s blessing to Joseph’s sons Genesis 48:15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my הָרֹעֶ֣ה shepherd all my life to this day. 

I’ll close with these great verse that describe Jesus being our true leader and shepherd. John 10:11-15  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 48:8-11 When Israel וַיַּ֥רְא saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.” Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly לִרְא֑וֹת see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to רְאֹ֥ה see your face again, and now God has הֶרְאָ֥ה allowed me to see your children too.” The fourth time our word is used here in our chapter is in the Hif’il voice which means the subject of the verb is causative. So Jacob is saying that God was behind this which makes “allowed” a good way to translate the root word for see. God caused it, brought it about, allowed it. Jacob is giving God credit for all of this to take place.

This is amazing! Jacob didn’t think he would ever see his son’s face again and now not only is he experiencing the impossible he is even seeing his own grandchildren he didn’t even know he had. This is a great example of how God gives us more than we think is even possible. Jesus talked about this. Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul to the Christians in Ephesus says this. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. If it’s in God’s will and brings attention to God in all of his power, majesty and love it will happen regardless of how unlikely from our limited perspective. Now that is good news! 

The phrase יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֣חַת יְרֵכִ֑י is used three times in the Old Testament. Genesis 24:1-4, 9 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֣חַת יְרֵכִ֑י hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”…So the servant put his יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

The third time is in our chapter today. Genesis 47:29-31 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֣חַת יְרֵכִ֑י put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.       

We see Jacob’s faith that God will do what he promised and that would include the promised land. So he wanted to be buried there. I think this is what the Holy Spirit is saying in the New Testament book of Hebrews. Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. Even though Jacob was dying and no longer be on this earth he was looking forward to his future with God that he could not see with his physical eyes. I like how Hebrews describes this. Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

This is also how it is used in our chapter today. Genesis 47:16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” What is interesting is that even though the word is only used this one time in our chapter the ESV translates “exchange” two other places because it is implied by the context. So even though the word is not there the concept is. Joseph allowed the people to exchange what they had for food on three different occasions. This reminds me of the best deal we will ever get on this earth. Just like the people who had no food they had no other options. They either starved to death or worked out a deal with Joseph for what they desperately needed. God himself is willing to trade with us even when we are in a similar desperate situation. We are dead in our sin and transgressions against God. The good news is that at just the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Because God loves us he wants to reason with us though our sin is like scarlet he wants to wash it white as snow. God gives the life of his only son on the cross in place of my life and yours. 2 Corinthians says it best. I’ll close with this amazing offer God allows us to exchange our sin for Jesus perfect life applied to our sinful life. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We also see it used to refer to something that is of small importance or not important. Genesis 30:15 But she said to her, “Is it a הַמְעַט֙ small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?” Numbers 16:8-10 And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: is it הַמְעַ֣טtoo small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? 2 Samuel 12:7-9 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were מְעָ֔ט too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? Job 10:20 Are not my days מְּעָֽט few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer.

This is the same way our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 47:7-9 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. מְעַ֣ט Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” It is interesting how even during this time of gladness in that Jacob is now restored to his son that he thought had died long ago. That he still can feel the bitterness of all those years of grief. This is an important reality for us to be reminded of that in this life we will not completely be healed. Even when we trust God with our painful negative feelings and he brings us gladness we still have the pain of the loss or challenge. This is part of living in this fallen, broken, corrupted place. The good news is that we have God’s promise of bringing us into the without corruption place where we can be completely healed of all the challenges we face here. Paul talked about this when writing to the Philippian Christians. Philippians 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. I’ll close with this amazing reality of the without corruption place that Jesus is preparing for us. Revelation 21:3-5 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

We find the phrase וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔יו fall on the neck used three times in the Bible. And interestingly crying is also involved in these uses. Genesis 33:3-4 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔יוfell on his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Genesis 45:14 Then he וַיִּפֹּ֛ל עַל־צַוְּארֵ֥י upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his צַוָּארָֽיו neck. Today we would say throw our arms around the neck which is how the NIV translates it.

This is also how our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 46:29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔יו fell on his neck and wept on his צַוָּארָ֖יו neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” After all of these years of being apart God finally brought them back together. This is a great picture of the overwhelming gladness that both of their hearts experienced. God created us as relational beings. Our hearts need the nourishment of relationships with God and others. I’ll close with a parable Jesus told about a father who loved his son and longed to have him back home. This is the picture that God gives us to show his love for everyone no matter how far away they may currently be from Him. Luke 15:20-24 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Our word is also used to describe a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families. Exodus 8:3 The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the וּבְבֵ֤ית houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. 

We also see our word used in the sense of one’s ancestry conceived of as a house. 1 Kings 12:20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the בֵית־דָּוִ֔ד house of David. Psalm 135:19-20 All you בֵּ֣ית Israelites, praise the Lord; בֵּ֥ית house of Aaron, praise the Lord; בֵּ֣ית house of Levi, praise the Lord; you who fear him, praise the Lord. This is the sense that our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 46:5, 7, 26-27 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him…All the persons of the לְבֵֽית־יַעֲקֹ֛ב house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

A lot of this chapter is showing how God was moving Jacob’s whole family to Egypt where he would create an entire nation there and then bring them back into the land he had promised them. God is showing himself faithful. We also see this phrase לְבֵֽית־יַעֲקֹ֛ב house of Jacob used several times throughout the Old Testament referring to God’s people. Exodus 19:3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the לְבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel. Psalm 114:1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the בֵּ֥ית יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב house of Jacob from a people of strange language. Obadiah 17-18 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the בֵּ֣ית יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. The בֵית־יַעֲקֹ֨ב house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו house of Joseph a flame. I’ll close with this messianic prophecy about Jesus our savior and future hope. Here described as being from the house of David. Zechariah 12:10; 13:1 And I will pour out on the בֵּ֨ית דָּוִ֜יד house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn…On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the לְבֵ֥ית דָּוִ֖יד house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

This is the same sense of a supernatural appearance that imparts a message often in dreams that we see it used in our chapter today. God communicates to Jacob this way to reassure and reconfirm with him that he is accomplishing all that he had promised him earlier. Genesis 46:2-4 And God spoke to Israel in בְּמַרְאֹ֣ת visions of the night and said, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again.” If we recall this was not the first time God communicated to Jacob in this way. Genesis 28:12-16 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Jacob clearly identifies this as God talking to him. And his message contains the same promise as God is reminding him of today. 

This form of communication used by God is very creative and engages the imagination which helps one to remember it is also used in the New Testament. I’ll close with this amazing vision given to John about our future with Christ. Revelation 1:12-16 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”…I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

This is the sense of how our word is used today in our chapter. Even though Jacob was not physically sick his grief was intense that it was like a sickness in how it affected his life. Remember where Jacob was before he heard the news his son was still alive. Genesis 37:34-35 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. Genesis 42:36, 38 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!...But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.” Genesis 43:14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved. So this is where Jacob was at and yesterday we saw that his heart became numb when he first heard the news that his son Joseph was alive. It just couldn’t be true after all of these years and he probably didn’t want to relive the pain of his lose over Joseph. But once he had time for all of the evidence from his sons to realize it was true his heart went from being numb to his spirit becoming our word for today. Genesis 45:27-28 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob וַתְּחִ֕י revived. And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” What a great contrast from intensely bitter grief to having his spirit revived. This is our God who heals our hearts and revives our spirits. I’ll close with this encouraging prayer for God to revive his people again which is based on God’s promise to give his people his peace. Psalm 85:4, 6-8 Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us…Will you not תְּחַיֵּ֑נוּ revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.

We see our word used in asking for God’s help and salvation in the time of distress. Psalm 77:1-2 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without תָפ֑וּג wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. Psalm 38:21-22 I am נְפוּג֣וֹתִי feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart…Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

In our chapter for today we find our word used in the sense of becoming numb. Genesis 45:25-27 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became וַיָּ֣פָג numb, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. This is interesting because of the contrast between our word yesterday used to describe the shock and panic of Joseph’s brothers and numbness of Joseph’s father when they hear the same news. I think it is because while they both are in shock the reaction of panic from his brother’s is due to the evil they did to him. Whereas Joseph’s father didn’t commit any evil towards him. He was a grieving father. Notice how Joseph’s heart goes from numbness because it just couldn’t be true after all of these years and the pain of the loss not wanting to be brought up. Then we see his spirit revive when he had time to soak in all the evidence his sons brought him. The good news is that God loves and cares about our hearts whether we carry guilt from our sin or from the loss of a loved one. He is the one who heals our hearts. I’ll close with these beautiful words of Jesus. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

This is the sense of how our word is used today in our chapter. Genesis 45:3-4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were נִבְהֲל֖וּ dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. I would think a mixture of shock and panic would be a great way to describe what Joseph’s brothers were feeling at this moment which our word contains both of these elements. God allowed Joseph’s brothers to come to the place where they are not in control of what is going on any more. When we face this in our lives we can feel both shock and panic at the same time. People throughout the Bible have experienced this when faced by God himself or the unmovable events that God orchestrates. God does this to open up our hearts to him if we have closed ourselves off to him or to protect us against those who have hardened their hearts to him and would do us harm. Psalm 83:17-18 Let them be put to shame and וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. We see David call on God for his protection and praise him for causing his enemies to experience this. Psalm 6:10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly וְיִבָּהֲל֣וּ troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. I’ll close with this great passage that encourages us that God is in control and working in love for us to benefit our lives regardless of how big of challenges we may be facing. Psalm 2:1-6 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

This is the sense it is used in our chapter today. Genesis 45:1-3 Then Joseph could not לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗קcontrol himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” Now we saw earlier back in chapter 43 that he was able to control himself. Genesis 43:29-31 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out. And וַיִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔קcontrolling himself he said, “Serve the food.” So what changed from this time to the next when Joseph could no longer control himself. The big change in my opinion was that he saw a change of heart from his brothers. We saw yesterday that Judah was willing to take his brother Benjamin’s place because he cared more about his father and Benjamin’s life than his own. This showing of repentance I think was the key. Joseph could finally make himself known because he saw evidence that his brothers were facing their past like they needed to. God speaks through Paul to the Corinthians believers about the difference between just feeling sorry for sin and showing the desire to turn things around in your life and walk away from sin. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. Joseph wisely allowed his brothers to feel the pain of their sin so they would begin to repent. And as we have already seen allowing ourselves to feel the emotion of guilt in a healthy way, trusting God with it in true repentance we receive forgiveness, freedom, and gladness. 

We see it of King’s reining in place of the previous one. 1 Chronicles 29:23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king תַּֽחַת in place of David his father. And he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned תַּחְתָּֽיו in his place. We also see priest’s serving in place of the previous one. Deuteronomy 10:6 There Aaron died, and there he was buried. And his son Eleazar ministered as priest תַּחְתָּֽיו in his place. 1 Kings 2:35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army תַּחְתָּ֖יו in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest תַּ֖חַת in the place of Abiathar. And the head of the army serving in place of the previous one. 2 Samuel 17:25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army תַּ֥חַת in place of Joab. 

We see it used to put one’s life in place of another’s life in the sense of rescue. The spies sent by Joshua make an agreement with Ruth to save her life later when they take the city in exchange for her saving their lives now by hiding them from the King of Jericho. Joshua 2:14 “Our lives תַחְתֵּיכֶם֙ for your lives! the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”

This sense of a post occupied or served by another is how our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 44:4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil תַּ֥חַת for good? The accusation is that since Joseph treated them in a good way goodness was expected but they put evil תַּ֥חַת in the place of good or instead of behaving in a good way they instead did this evil. Genesis 44:30-34 Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy's life, as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ Now therefore, please let your servant remain תַּ֣חַת instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.” As we have saw a few days ago Judah finally starts thinking of someone other than himself. He is willing to put his own life in place of his brother Benjamin’s. This is a great picture of what Jesus did for us. I’ll close with these amazing reminders of God’s love for us demonstrated in Jesus death in our place. Romans 5:8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Galatians 1:3-5 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

Joseph experienced the consequences of evil committed against him and is a great example on how to trust God when this happens to us. Even though Joseph had evil done to him by his brothers he still trusted God and avoided it himself. We see this when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. Genesis 39:9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great הָרָעָ֤ה wickedness and sin against God? This sense of morally objectionable behavior is also how our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 44:4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid רָעָ֖ה evil for good? We also see our word used two more times in our chapter where we see the evil Joseph’s brothers did to Joseph also effect his father. Genesis 44:27-29 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in בְּרָעָ֖ה evil to Sheol.’ And also in Genesis 44:34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the בָרָ֔ע evil that would find my father. Because Joseph orchestrated events like he did his brothers we finally able to experience what it was like to be treated unjustly and be accused of something that they did not do. Instead of getting even with his brothers and taking revenge he arranged it so that they could feel the same emotions that Joseph experienced as consequences of the evil they had done to him. When we get ourselves involved with evil there are always negative consequences that brings harm to everyone. This is why God hates sin because it hurts his kids who he loves so very much. We are usually not aware of what is going on inside of us and around us enough to recognize the evil and take steps to stop or avoid it. This is why Joseph acted so wisely he cared enough about his brothers to wake them up to the danger of evil. The good news is that God is good and his goodness will prevail in the end which we will see when we get to chapter 50 of Genesis.

While it is important to understand cultural differences so that we do not become offensive to people who misunderstand us. It is of the greatest priority to understand what offends the almighty God. The good news is that God is not shy about what is detestable to him. So we are not left to guess on what pleases him and is required of us. Here are just a few verses. Leviticus 18:22 Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה detestable. Deuteronomy 12:31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of תּוֹעֲבַ֨ת detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. 1 Kings14:24 There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the הַתּוֹעֲבֹ֣ת detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that areתּוֹעֲבוֹת  detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת detests them both.  Ezekiel 22:11 One commits תּֽוֹעֵבָ֔ה abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. These and many other verses help us understand God’s character and what pleases Him. We desire to be like God not just because he is all powerful but also because of our relationship. God is our loving father who wants to protect us. The one who is for us and on our side is someone who is truly looking out for our best interests. I’ll close with God’s instruction to turn away from anything that would become an idol and separate us from him. Ezekiel 14:6 Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your תּוֹעֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם detestable practices!

Losing family member is a very painful experience. But even in this fallen messed up world that has become corrupted God can heal us and move us to gladness. We can experience sadness that will lead us to acceptance. And loneliness that can lead us to intimacy. Ultimately God moves our hearts through the pain of loss to gladness if we allow ourselves to feel the loss and trust God with our emotions. Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. In this process we experience God becoming our family. Psalm 68:5-6 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. And not only is God there for us but he has also set up the church which becomes our family. James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. I’ll close with this beautiful picture of the church which most people only think this part of the Bible is for weddings. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

We also see our word used in the sense of favor before a human ruler. A great example is when Nehemiah prays for God to give him mercy before King Artaxerxes who he served. Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him לְרַחֲמִ֔ים mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. This is also the sense our word is used in our chapter today. Genesis 43:13-14 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you רַחֲמִים֙ mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” What is great about our God is that even if we stand before a human power of authority over us we can always appeal to God who is the ultimate authority over every earthly power. I’ll close with Jesus parable about this exact situation as he gives us a valuable reminder of one of the benefits of prayer. Luke 18:1-8 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

King Hezekiah calls out to God in his distress using our word. Isaiah 38:14 Like a swallow or a crane I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my עָרְבֵֽנִי pledge of safety! In this sense we have the idea of God being for us on our side. Which is how it is used in our chapter today. Genesis 43:8-9 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.  

For the first time we see Judah thinking of someone other than himself. He decides to put himself out for his brother Benjamin. Judah’s action reminds us of how Paul describes Timothy to the Christians in Philippi. Philippians 2:19-21 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. I’ll close with this encouraging reminder of God himself being for us. Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 

Again, we see Joseph being a great example for us of a godliness. Even when God allows us to go through difficult challenges and orchestrates them because it causes us pain it also hurts God. And God just can’t ignore sin because it is that bad. It is so bad that someone has to pay for it to be held to account for it. There has to be a reckoning. And thank God Jesus was the only one who could pay for your sins and mine. Putting Jesus to death of the cross greatly affected God but he did it anyway to save us. The best picture of this is when Jesus waits to raise Lazarus from the dead. I’ll close with this amazing picture of God being affected emotionally by what he had to do but still going through it because goodness would be the result. John 11:6, 14-15, 17, 21-23, 32-41, 43-44 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone …he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 

We only see our word used twice in the context of people asking other people for help in their distress. And both times it doesn’t end well. Proverbs 25:19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of צָרָֽה trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. And the other time is in our chapter today. Genesis 42:21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the צָרַ֥תdistress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this הַצָּרָ֖הdistress has come upon us.” Did you catch that play on our word? When Joseph begged them from the distress of his soul not to do that to him they ignored him so now distress is happening to them. Joseph’s plan to test them by setting up the circumstances to make them face their own sin against him is working. They even say to each other, “What is this that God has done to us?” in verse 28 and in verse 22 “Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.’” They are clearly now forced to face their guilt which again is a good thing because if they trust God with their guilt it will lead them to forgiveness and gladness. As well as provide the possibility for reconciling with their brother that they did all of this evil toward. I’ll close with this encouraging reminder of how great our God is for us. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in בְ֝צָר֗וֹתtrouble.

A good example of our word is Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has בְּ֝חָנַ֗נִיtested me, I will come forth as gold. This shows the original context of the word for testing metals applied to Job’s character that God would see Job’s true nature. So this sense of our word (to be put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of someone, including imperfections, faults, or other qualities) is exactly how it is used in our chapter today. Genesis 42:15-16 By this you shall be תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” Now Joseph knew they were not spies but his brothers because he recognized them right away. Joseph is using that discernment he learned from all his challenges to test his brothers character to see if they will face the evil they have committed against him. Because that is the best thing for them. God wants to move us to gladness ultimately. When we sin against God and others God is compassionate enough to allow us to feel the emotion of guilt which if we trust God with that feeling, it will lead us to forgiveness. And forgiveness allows us to feel gladness. Joseph wants that for his brothers as well as having their relationship reconciled as well. But that would not be possible until his brothers go through the hard work of facing what they have done and allowing themselves to feel guilt. I’ll close with David’s psalm where he asks God to test him for this very purpose. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! בְּ֝חָנֵ֗נִי Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Genesis 42:6 Now Joseph was הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.