The war for human Hearts

 Read Exodus 7. 

The purpose of the ten plagues was not only to deliver the people of Israel from slavery but that "The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD..." (v.5 and v.17).  These were demonstrations of how powerful and worthy He is of their worship.  Each of the plagues was directed specifically against the system of false worship the Egyptians had made up.  Later in 12:12 God said, "...on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD."   

The Nile River provided water to the nation for crops and the resulting agricultural prosperity.  Instead of thanking the LORD of heaven for such grace, they invented the god Osiris and envisioned the river as being his bloodstream.  So, the LORD demonstrated their foolishness to them.  It is as if God responded with "You think this is a bloodstream?  Let me show what that would really be like."  The disaster lasted seven days. 

Empowered by the devil, the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate the change of water into blood.  When Pharaoh saw the counterfeit, he discounted the power of God.  Instead of humbling himself before the LORD, he hardened his heart even more.  This is raw and open spiritual warfare.  

Satan is a counterfeiter.  Jesus called him the father of lies (John 8:44).  Satan endeavors to come up with cheap substitutes for the will and work of God to distract the hearts and minds of humans from the truth.  He is the source of all false religions in order to thwart people from knowing and living for Jesus.  He is the liar behind all temptation to do anything but what God wants a person to be doing.  He is the accuser against God behind the thoughts that question what is clearly stated in the Bible.  His singular goal is to keep as many humans as possible from giving themselves to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life.  Satan is a defeated foe, faces eternal damnation, and wants to take as many down with him as possible. 

A hard heart loses all sensitivity to the difference between good and evil.  The Holy Spirit of God helps us to spiritually appraise the people and happenings around us so we are not fooled by Satan's schemes.  (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).

 

What happens when things get Worse?

 Read Exodus 6. 

"But the LORD..."  To God, it does not matter what the circumstances seem to be.  Life is all about fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our lives.  Our trust is in the One who controls the circumstances. 

"Now," He said.  This is God's timing.  It is His plan.  These are His people.  It is His name and authority that have been challenged by Pharaoh.  In the first eight verses, notice how many personal references the LORD makes.  The word "I" appears 18 times in the ESV; that does not include the words "my" and "myself". 

Armed with this powerful reassurance, Moses obeyed God and spoke to the people.  But the people did not listen.  They could not hear it or process it in faith due to "their broken spirit (internal pain) and harsh slavery (external pain)." (v.9) 

The test of their faith was great and in their discouragement they were not seeing their prayers being answered.  After crying out to God for help, their circumstances had grown worse.  They were losing hope.  God had not changed.  His promises had not diminished.  His deliverance was at work.  Hope was right in front of them. 

When the people did not listen, the leader became disheartened.  Moses blamed himself for not being able to communicate in an effective manner.  This resulted in his reluctance to obey God's directive.  The LORD foretold Moses of this adversity with Pharaoh at the burning bush.  And God also foretold of the demonstration of His "wonders" in order to facilitate Israel's exodus from Egypt (3:19-22).  But in the pressure of the moment, God's promises lost their impact. 

We must be on our guard not to interpret our circumstances by our feelings.  Our feelings are fickle.  When there is a delay in answers to our prayers, we must recognize it as a test of our faith.  Will we stand on the word of God in difficult times, knowing He is in control?  

 

A lesson for those who defy God

 Read Exodus 5. 

If Moses and the Israelites thought they were ready to leave, they were mistaken.  God had them in the right place, but more preparation was needed.  God prepared them physically with increased labor and hardship.  The events that were ahead would make them stronger spiritually as God systematically revealed the greatness of His power.  At the same time God was working in Pharaoh and the Egyptians to bring them a point of total humiliation. 

Moses obeyed God and delivered the message to Pharaoh.  Verse two contains, perhaps, the most dangerous words a human could utter.  "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice...?  If there is a question God delights in answering, it is that one!  Then, he added, "I will not..."  This is open rebellion and defiance against the Creator of the Universe.  Defiance goes beyond doubt or disbelief.  The audacity, the pride, the insane arrogance behind that attitude is hard to fathom.  A mere human being became so satanically deceived as to actually believe he could successfully ignore and openly rebel against the Living God!  After all, the Pharaohs were considered deity.  Everyone was to worship them, not the God of Israel.  Ah, but He is much more than the God of Israel, He is the King of Kings, LORD of Lords, and the only true God.  He is the Owner of life itself.  He is the giver of life and He can take it at His will. 

The next several chapters are nothing more than an answer to Pharaoh's question.  The result will be the total destruction of this once mighty nation. 

When a person is confronted with the LORD's claim on their lives and becomes defiant, thinking that God may be ignored, watch how God responds.  

1. Sometimes, He allows them to go their own way and get their fill of the empty dreams they are chasing.  A Christ-less future of eternal punishment is all that awaits them.  

2. Sometimes, He responds quickly to the rebellion and removes them from this life.  

Either way, they made their decision not to respond to God's loving offer of forgiveness and eternal life.  

3. Sometimes, after the harsh results of their bad decisions brings them to a point of humility, they become willing to listen to God's wooing and respond to His grace with "Yes, LORD". 

There is nothing in this life more joyous than when a person comes to a place of humble repentance toward God and faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.  The results are real life now and life everlasting.

 

Overcoming our feelings of Inadequacy

 Read Exodus 4. 

Moses moved from questioning what God commanded him to do to outright rejection of what God said.  All of his excuses centered on his feelings of inadequacy.  Meanwhile, God continued to demonstrate that the job depended upon His adequacy, not Moses.   

With each of his five excuses, God countered with a promise.

1. Moses: "Who am I that I should go...?" (3:11)

God: A promise of His presence.  "I will be with you." 

2. Moses: "What is his name?" or "By what authority would I approach this task?" (3:13)

God: A promise of His Person.  "I AM. 

3. Moses: "They will not believe me." (4:1)

God: A promise of His miraculous power. 

4. Moses: "I am not eloquent." (4:10)

God: A promise of presentation.  "I will teach you." 

5. Moses: "Send someone else." (4:13)

God: A promise of a partner. 

God wanted to use Moses to help millions of enslaved people; a priceless opportunity!  But Moses tried to give it away.  God wanted to give Moses national and international influence as a leader.  But Moses wanted to protect himself and stay where he was.  God wanted to demonstrate His omnipotence.  Moses focused on his own limitations.

While God prepared Moses, He also prepared the people. 

1. The people did believe the message. 

2. The people realized that God had heard and was answering their prayers. 

3. They people worship the LORD.  

The LORD delights in using people who know that adequacy for the assignment in not within them.  The Apostle Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:7-"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."  Humble service with dependence on God allows all the glory to go to Him alone.

 

When God calls your Name

 Read Exodus 3. 

Another 40 years went by.  Moses was now 80.  He spent the middle part of his life humbly tending the sheep of his father-in-law.  God used this time to change Moses' character and to teach him how to lead a flock in the desert.  These are the very qualities that the LORD would use for Moses' life mission. 

God revealed Himself in a creative way, using a curiosity approach, to gain Moses' attention.  It was not until Moses "turned aside to see" that God spoke to him.  Hearing what God has to say begins with a willingness to turn to Him.  Once a person becomes willing then they are ready to listen to what God has to say to them. 

Now, that God has Moses' attention and willingness, He unfolded the deliverance plan for the people of Israel.  When God wants something done, He will give the vision for the task to a leader of His choosing.  Moses was to be that leader. 

Notice that Moses had lost both his swagger and his confidence.  Then, he began questioning and pushing back on God's call for his life.  When a person has been hurt, rejected and disillusioned, their focus is on self and self-protection.  Each time God gave him all that would be needed for success. 

Moses: "Who am I?"

God: "I will be with you."  In addition, God added a specific promise of deliverance.

The issue was no longer the call, but Moses' faith in the living God. 

Moses: "What is his name?" 

God: "I AM who I AM."

Because of the past, Moses envisioned that he would be rejected by the people as having no authority to deliver God's message to them and lead.  Again, his focus was on self, rather than the person and power of God.  The "I AM" refers to God's eternal nature.  He is always in the present tense as the self-existent One.  The indication is that God would prepare the people to recognize that name as authoritative and follow Moses.  Again, God added the promise of deliverance. 

One by one, the LORD supplied a solid answer to each of Moses' questions.  It is good for humans to ask questions concerning their faith and God's Word.  But after one knows what God has said, then it falls on human responsibility to immediately obey.  

 

4 attributes of God that affect us Everyday

 Read Exodus 2. 

Is the God of heaven truly interested in the details of our lives?

If so, does He have a plan for each individual?

Does He intervene to fulfill that plan?

The Bible answers all those questions and more in this chapter. 

While male Hebrew babies were being killed at Pharaoh's command, God protected Moses.  The LORD not only spared his life but provided for his mother, his education, and leadership experience.  When Moses grew up, it seems as though he knew God had put him in such a powerful position to help his people.  But the abuse of power and privilege is never the will of God.  Like Joseph, the Lord did not change His mind, or His plans, concerning Moses' future.  But He was going to change Moses' character. 

At age forty, Moses was a murderer, rejected by the people he wanted to lead, and hunted by those who raised him.  Instead of living in luxury, he sat alone in the desert by a well.  He must have thought that life was over.  His impetuous, pride-filled decision cost him everything.  The suffering was self-inflicted.  But God.... 

God sent Jethro's daughter to begin the unfolding of the next phase of his life. 

As the Lord prepared Moses in the desert, He had not forgotten about the needs of those enslaved in Egypt.  The people cried out to God for help.  Verse 24 provides a four-part reassurance of God's personal attention and involvement in human lives:

1. God heard.  The Lord wants to hear from us.  Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." 

2. God remembered His word. The Lord did not forget.  The basis for His answer to their prayer was the promise that He made.  The Word of God is the basis of answered prayer.  Jesus stated in John 15:7 "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  

3. God saw.  The Lord is looking for righteous people to help.  2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him." 

4. God knew.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-32 "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat? ' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you."  

The Bible's first case of civil Disobedience

 Read Exodus 1. 

At the end of Genesis, Jacob's total family that moved to Egypt numbered only 70.  They lived on the finest land in Egypt, overseeing of all the nation's livestock and food supplies.  At the opening of Exodus, several hundreds of years have gone by.  The family of Israel became a nation of millions people living in this foreign country.  The new Pharaoh felt threatened by them, but he did not want to lose their manpower.  His solution was slavery.  However, God blessed Israel with even more rapid population growth.  Pharaoh's solution was to kill all newborn males. 

The Hebrew midwives were charged with the murderous task of killing the babies.  "But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live."  Pharaoh's order was self-serving and evil.  This is the first case in the scripture of civil disobedience. 

Bernard Ramm wrote that the midwives had to choose among their fears: a) to fear the invisible God or b) to fear the visible king.  "Faith sees the real power; sight sees the immediate power." 

Once a person no longer cares what God thinks, there will be no respect for His presence, no regard for His expectations, little regard for human life, and no fear of His judgment.  Such a person's heart becomes wide-open to any, every, and all sinful behavior. 

These women did not protest or raise a ruckus.  They quietly and humbly did what was right.  When asked about it, they may not have been lying, but they just did not say more than they had to.  By faith, they trusted God.  The Lord took care of the two women involved and, to this day, we even have their names: Shiphrah and Puah.

1. God protected them from punishment.

2. God blessed them, v. 20-"God dealt well with them".

3. God gave them their own families. v.21 

A principle is seen throughout the Bible in such cases when authority conflicts with the known will of God.  It is this: God is able to take care of the consequences of our obedience to Him.