This week I am going to just jot down some thoughts on the chapters. No real theme…except for asking God to help me understand!
Exodus 3:22 - this is amazing. When God led His people out, He supplied what they needed through pagans! “Thus you will plunder the Egyptians” - wow, what a concept. Later in Exodus, we will see how He used these supplies for His glory. God is always at work to prepare us for what is ahead - because He is already in the future and He knows what He has for us to do!
Exodus 4 - the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart - demonstrates the sovereignty of God over all people. Yet it does not excuse the personal responsibility of the individual - see Exodus 52-19 for the state of Pharaoh’s character. Perhaps God hardens the hearts of those that don’t want to follow Him anyway! And see Exodus 7:3 for the divine purpose behind what He does!
Exodus 4 - Zipporah and the circumcision. Wow this leaves a lot of questions unasked and unanswered, doesn’t it? I’d love your thoughts on this. I am thinking that v. 24 implies that Moses had not been faithful to take care of the spiritual things in his own family and was thus not yet prepared to lead the nation of Israel. What are your thoughts?
I wonder how the magicians were able to replicate some of the miracles God enabled Moses to perform…. 8:18 says they couldn’t do the gnats one…
8:28 - tiny crack in Pharaoh’s heart. I wonder how things could have been different if he hadn’t resorted to his original evil ways…
12:32 - Pharaoh expected to be blessed? Are you kidding me??
13:17 - wow what a great principle. Sometimes when God is taking longer to accomplish something than seems necessary, it might be because He is protecting us from what we don’t know.
Chapter 14:14 is profound. Profound. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Profound.
14:19 - the angel went from leading them to protecting them. That’s a beautiful picture.
Chapter 15 - vs. 22-24 - THREE days after the Red Sea miracle, they grumbled at Marah when the waters were bitter. THREE DAYS. How soon we forget God’s faithfulness!
One last thought - 16:8. The grumbling. It wasn’t against Moses….it was against the Lord. Gulp.
Chapter 9 leaves me wondering this - v. 6 says all the livestock died but vs. 18,19 talks about more livestock. I am confused….