Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Saturday January 19, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Exodus, Please Read Exodus 5-7. For those of you who have been following from the beginning I have decided to make the title more warm and inviting instead of just Bible chapters. In today's lesson we will read and learn about Moses' demands to Pharaoh; Aaron speaking for Moses; Moses' rod turning into a serpent; and a plague of blood.

God commanded Moses to face the Pharaoh of Egypt, who referred to himself as a god. He was not free to decide what portion of the commands of God he would speak; he was to tell Pharaoh all that God had commanded him. "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence (a plague), or with the sword." (Exodus 5:1-3).

Pharaoh persisted in keeping the Israelites under his cruel authority. Moses' first reaction was to question God on why the people are suffering if they are His people. "And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all." (5:22-23).

The Lord answered, "Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (6"1-2,6-7).

And as it had been foretold, the pestilence of God was poured forth on each false Egyptian deity, on every household of the Egyptians, on Pharaoh's son and, eventually, on Pharaoh himself and his armies. "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them." (7:1-5)

How often in life do our questions far out number our answers: Why have I been diagnosed with cancer? Why did my husband divorce me? Why did my child become a drug addict? Why was my child born with handicaps? Why did I lose my job? Why? God didn't answer Moses' questions, and seldom does He answer us in the way we expect. However, God will assure you that He is your God and will take care of you. Many times we are faced with difficultties in order to learn to trust and obey God. When you have faith in God to trust and obey Him no matter what you a faced with mountians are moved.

In today's Lesson Jesus Christ is revealed as our Redeemer from the bondage of sin. I will bring you out and I will redeem you (Exodus 6:6). We are blessed in Jesus Christ as He has redeemed us from the curse of the Law.

Today's Psalm: (9:10)
"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

Today's Prayer: Psalm (18:1-3)
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Have a great and wonderful day and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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