Monday, September 25, 2017

eschatology: God Delivers Israel (Ex.12-15)

As promised, not only did God deliver, but the Israelites came out of their slavery rich...

(Exodus 12:33-36, 40-41)  The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.  35 Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36 and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians... 40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

Besides depleting the wealth of Egypt, God was also going to deplete their strength...

(Exodus 14:1-4)  Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

Thus God took them in a different "random" direction on purpose, not only to set up the scenario above, but to protect the morale of the Israelites...

(Exodus 13:17-18)  Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.

(Exodus 14:11-14)  As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

The Lord parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could calmly and safely walk to the other side, then sent the waters crashing down on the Egyptian soldiers who were in hot pursuit...

(Exodus 14:30)  Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

They then sang praises to God.  More so will it be like that after the Tribulation when the Israelites come out of the Tribulation (with all other believers) and enter the Millennium to have their Abrahamic and Davidic covenant fulfilled!!!...

(Exodus 15:13)  “...In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;  In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation..."

Today's takeaway:  Since we are born into the slavery of sin, we need to be delivered.  But we cannot save ourselves, only God do this.  And He has done all the work, all we have to do is believe - accept His oh so ever loving and gracious gift.

(John 8:31-35)  So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”  34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever..."

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