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Exodus Chapters 1 through 15

Exodus Chapters 1 through 15 Wonderfully describe an exciting and amazing time of NEW things for Israel: See them grow into their new name as the “children of Israel”, as a NEW creation There is the raising up of a NEW deliverer

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Exodus Chapters 1 through 15

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  1. Exodus Chapters 1 through 15 • Wonderfully describe an exciting and amazing time of NEW things for Israel: • See them grow into their new name as the “children of Israel”, as a NEW creation • There is the raising up of a NEW deliverer • The “LORD God of the Hebrews” is revealed to Israel by a NEW name • Israel will now enjoy a NEW relationship as “my son, even my firstborn” • Israel and Egypt will know the LORD by NEW wonders • Their lives will be changed with a NEW calendar and a NEW feast of deliverance • This deliverance will be praise and commemorated through a NEW song

  2. Exodus Chapter 1 – A New Creation: God Keeps His Promises “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” v. 7

  3. v. 1-5 v. 6 v. 7 v. 8-14 v. 15-21 v. 22 The family that entered Egypt is enumerated The passing of the first generation is highlighted The next generations of Israel grow, and grow, and grow A new king arises and fearful of Israel’s numbers places them into extreme servitude – Plan A (1st challenge) Plan B – Stunt their growth by killing male children during child birth (2nd “private” pogrom) Plan C – Pharaoh charges “all his people” to cast every Hebrew son into the Nile river (3rd “public” pogrom) Breakdown of Exodus Chapter 1 The promised seed is multiplied by the unseen hand of the LORD despite the connivings of man. A New Creation: God Keeps His Promises

  4. The Ways of Providence(first printed in 1881) – p. 71 When Joseph lived, their position was one of comfort and honour in the land; but after he was dead, “there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph” (Exod. 1:8), and this new king regarded this thriving and prolific colony of Israelites with a jealousy which prompted him to devise harsh measures against them. He “made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field”. This grievous experience was calculated to revive Israel’s recollection of the promise that God would deliver them—a promise made long before, but which prosperity of the first part of the period of their settlement in Egypt may have caused the people to forget or undervalue, in the same way that we find, in our day, that prosperity for the Jews in any part of the world makes them think lightly of the promised restoration.

  5. Evidence that Moses is the writer of the book of Exodus • Internal evidence within the book: • Moses is told to record on a scroll the episode of Israel’s victory over Amalek – Exo. 17:14. • He records “all the words of the LORD” – Exo. 24:4, which included at least the Book of the Covenant – Exo. 20:22-23:33 • Supporting references in the Gospels endorsing Moses’ authorship: • “have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush…” – Mar. 12:26 citing Exo. 3:6 • “the days of her purification according to the law of Moses…As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb…” • – Luk. 2:22-23, which cites Lev. 12:2-6, in particular v. 8 and Exo. 13:2 • “For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother, and Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:” – Mar. 7:10 which cites Exo. 20:12 and 21:17 • “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law…” – Joh. 7:19 The Expositor’s Bible Commentary

  6. The Hebrew name for the book derives from the first words of the text: “And these are the names of” – Exo. 1:1 which connects with Gen. 46:8 where a list of names is provided for those who went to Egypt with Jacob. The first four books of Moses comprise one continuous record (Yg’s Lit): “In the beginning, God created…” – Gen. 1:1 “And these are the names of the sons of Israel…” – Exo. 1:1 “And Jehovah calleth unto Moses…” – Lev. 1:1 “And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai…” Num. 1:1 Deuteronomy seems to connect with another new, significant period as Israel prepares to enter the promised – “And it cometh to pass after the death of Moses” – Jos. 1:1 and then “And…” continues once again. v. 1-4 virtually repeat Gen. 35:22-26 v. 5 is a reiteration of Gen. 46:27 v. 6 of Gen. 50:26 Painstakingly repeated. Why? Point = none were lost!

  7. Genesis 15:16 - “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites in not yet full.” ‘iniquity’ – 5771 – perversity, moral (evil), cp. Gen. 4:13 in the response of Cain to the LORD’s pronouncement = ‘punishment’ ‘Amorites’ – 567 – publically with prominence, a mountaineer, from 559 – to say. The son of Canaan in Gen. 10:16, first usage. Resided in the land of Canaan, see v. 21. Conflict with the Amorites spoken of in Gen. 48:22. [‘Amalek’ – dweller in a valley’] ‘not yet full’ – Rotherham’s – ‘not complete’. Possible parallel with Pagan Rome’s restraint over the apostacy, “And now ye know what withholdeth (RSV, ‘restraining’) that he [the ‘man of sin’] might be revealed in his time.” The early history of the sons of Jacob must have shown the need alike of their removal from contact with the people of Canaan.

  8. The Amorites Jos. 9:10 – “to the two kings of the Amorites…to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan” 1 Kin. 21:26 – “And he [King Ahab, the husband of Jezebel] did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.” Amos 2:9-10 – “Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars (see Deu. 1:27-28; 3:11), and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness (due to their unwillingness to enter the land the first time – Num. 13:28-33), to possess the land of the Amorite.”

  9. “Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.” – Exo. 1:1 ‘Jacob’ used 11x in Exodus (see below), whereas ‘Israel’ appears 158x. “that came out of the loins of Jacob” – 1:5 “remembered his covenant…with Jacob” – 2:24; 3:6; 4:5; 6:8 (land) “but by my name Yahweh” – 3:15, 16; 6:3 “And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” – 2:25 Exodus 19:3 – “Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;” ‘say’ – 559 – to say, be told ‘tell’ – 5046 – to be conspicuous, tell, make known

  10. “Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.” – Exo. 1:1 Leah’s sons in Exo. 1:2-3 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun Rachel’s son in Exo. 1:3 Benjamin. Joseph was already in Egypt (v. 5) Bilhah, Rachel’s maid’s sons in Exo. 1:4 Dan, and Naphtali Zilpah, Leah’s maid’s sons in Exo. 1:4 Gad, and Asher < Mothers’ names not mentioned > “And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls” – Exo. 1:5 (cp. Exo. 15:27 – full circle!)

  11. “And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and they children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast.” – Gen. 45:10 “Goshen” – 1657 – drawing near See Gen. 47:11… “a possession” – 272 – property, possession by inheritance, implying a fixed hereditary proprietorship, see v. 27 “in the best of the land” “and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.” – Gen. 45:18

  12. “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” – Gen. 22:17 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant’ 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear. Luke 1 Compare to the blessing given to Jacob by Isaac in Genesis 28: “And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude (6951 – assembly, company for religious purposes, see Exo. 12:6; 16:3) of people; and give thee the blessing of Abraham…” v. 3-4

  13. “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.” – Exo. 1:12 Language of a NEW creation in Exo. 1:7 “fruitful” – 6509 – to bear fruit – same English word in Gen. 1:22, 28 “increased abundantly” – 8317 – to wriggle, by implication, swarm or abound – ‘bring or brought forth abundantly’ in Gen. 1:20, 21 “multiplied” – 7235 – to increase in whatever respect – ‘multiply’ in Gen. 1:22, 28 “waxed exceeding” – 3966 – properly, vehemence, by implication, wholly, speedily – ‘very’ in Gen. 1:31 “mighty” – 6105 – to bind fast, to be powerful or numerous – ‘mightier’ in Gen. 26:16 (Isaac’s seed was mightier than Abimelech’s) “filled” – 4390 – to fill or be full of – ‘fill’ in Gen. 1:22; ‘replenish’ in Gen. 1:28 “grew” – 6555 – to break out – ‘abroad’ in Gen. 28:14 (growth of seed promised)

  14. Aligning Events in the Book of Exodus “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation” – Exo. 1:6 120 Death of Isaac At 40 he flees to Midian 18th Egyptian Dynasty HYKSOS 18th Egyptian Dynasty 12th Egyptian Dynasty 13th Egyptian Dynasty “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” – Exo. 1:8

  15. Old Testament Bible History – Volume II, Alfred Edersheim The Ancient Religion of Egypt – p. 14 Hyksos, or Shepherd kings, a foreign and barbarous race of invaders, hated and opposed by the people, and hostile to their ancient civilization and religion. “The Shepherds” were evidently an eastern race, and probably of Phoenician origin…there is evidence that the race brought with it the worship of Baal and the practice of human sacrifices—both of Phoenician origin.

  16. Aligning Events in the Book of Exodus “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation” – Exo. 1:6 120 Death of Isaac At 40 he flees to Midian 18th Egyptian Dynasty HYKSOS 18th Egyptian Dynasty 12th Egyptian Dynasty 13th Egyptian Dynasty “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” – Exo. 1:8

  17. Old Testament Bible History – Volume II, Alfred Edersheim The Ancient Religion of Egypt – p. 16 We know that under the rule of the last great king of this native dynasty (the 13th) a completely new system of Nile irrigation was introduced, such as we may well believe would have been devised to avoid another period of famine, and, strangest of all, a place by the artificial lake made at that time bears the name Pi-aneh, “the house of life,” which is singularly like that given by Pharaoh to Joseph.

  18. Aligning Events in the Book of Exodus “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation” – Exo. 1:6 120 Death of Isaac At 40 he flees to Midian 18th Egyptian Dynasty HYKSOS 18th Egyptian Dynasty 12th Egyptian Dynasty 13th Egyptian Dynasty “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” – Exo. 1:8

  19. Old Testament Bible History – Volume II, Alfred Edersheim The Ancient Religion of Egypt – p. 17 The period between the “new king” of the Bible (Aahmes I) and Thothmes II (the second in succession to him), when we suppose the Exodus to have taken place, quite agrees with the reckoning of Scripture. Now this Thothmes II began his reign very brilliantly. But after a while there is a perfect blank in the monumental records about him. But we read of a general revolt after his death among the nations whom his father had conquered. Of course, one could not expect to find on Egyptian monuments an account of the disasters which the nation sustained at the Exodus, nor how Pharaoh and his host perished in the Red Sea.

  20. Old Testament Bible History – Volume II, Alfred Edersheim The Ancient Religion of Egypt – p. 17 But we do find in his reign the conditions which we should have expected under such circumstances, viz., a brief, prosperous reign, then a sudden collapse; the king dead; no son to succeed him; the throne occupied by the widow of a Pharaoh, and for twenty years no attempt to recover the supremacy of Egypt over the revolted nations in Canaan and east of the Jordan. Lastly the character of his queen, as it appears on the monuments, is that of a proud and bitterly superstitious woman, just such as we would have expected to encourage Pharaoh in “hardening his heart” against Jehovah.

  21. Old Testament Bible History – Volume II The Ancient Religion of Egypt – p. 17-18 But the chain of coincidences does not break even there. From the Egyptian documents we learn that in the preceding reign—that is, just before the children of Israel entered the desert of Sinai—the Egyptians ceased to occupy the mines which they had till then worked in the peninsula. Further, we learn that, during the latter part of Israel’s stay in the wilderness, the Egyptian king, Thothmes III, carried on and completed his wars in Canaan, and that just immediately before the entry of Israel into Palestine the great confederacy of Canaanitish kings against him was broken up. This explains the state in which Joshua found the country, so different from that compact power which forty years before had inspired the spies with such terror; and also helps us to understand how, at the time of Joshua, each petty king just held his own city and district, and how easily the fear of a nation, by which even the dreaded Pharaoh and his host had perished, would fall upon the inhabitants of the land.

  22. “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens…But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” – Exo. 1:10-11 “taskmasters” - Roth.’s – “chiefs of tribute…to humiliate them” “afflict” – 6031 – looking down, browbeating, to depress, abase. Hebrew word first used in Gen. 15:13. “rigour” – 6531 – in v. 13 & 14, to break apart, fracture, severity, Cf. Lev. 25:43, 46; Ezk. 34:4 Same Hebrew word in Deu. 8:2 – “humble”; v. 3 – “humbled”, Look at v. 5!! <<See v. 11>> “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” – Heb. 12:6

  23. “And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities (RSV – ‘store-cities’), Pithom and Raamses” - Exo. 1:11 * The positioning of these store-cities would be within easy reach of the children of Israel when they took a spoil from the Egyptians. ‘Pithom’ – 6619 – the city of justice ‘Raamses’ – 7486 – child of the sun

  24. “But the midwivesfeared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” – Exo. 1:17 ‘midwives’ – mentioned earlier in the book of Genesis: Rachel with the birth of Benjamin – Gen. 35:16-18 Tamar with the births of Pharez and Zarah – Gen. 38:27-30 Wonderful quality here in Exo. 1:17 – they ‘feared God’ (see also v. 21) Exhibited by the very meanings of the names of these two sisters: ‘Shiphrah’ - brightness, garnished, glisten, fair Cp. Ecc. 8:12; Exo. 20:20 ‘Puah’ - to glitter, brilliancy << Acts 5:29; 4:18-19>>

  25. Exodus Chapter 1 • Lessons that we have learned: • The LORD keeps His promises • His servants are known to Him by name • The LORD will sustain us, as part of His NEW CREATION, despite the odds at times • Whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth • Those who allow their fear of God to guide their actions will be rewarded by the LORD

  26. Exodus Chapters 1 through 15 • Wonderfully describe an exciting and amazing time of NEW things for Israel: • See them grow into their new name as the “children of Israel”, as a NEW creation • There is the raising up of a NEW deliverer • The “LORD God of the Hebrews” is revealed to Israel by a NEW name • Israel will now enjoy a NEW relationship as “my son, even my firstborn” • Israel and Egypt will know the LORD by NEW wonders • Their lives will be changed with a NEW calendar and a NEW feast of deliverance • This deliverance will be praise and commemorated through a NEW song

  27. Exodus Chapters 3 & 4 – A New Name is Delivered by a New Mediator “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exo. 3:14

  28. 3:1-6 3:7-10 3:11-13 3:14-17 3:18-22 4:1-17 4:18-23 4:24-26 4:27-31 God’s glory, holiness, and faithfulness are manifested to Moses The sufferings of Israel are know to their God Moses 1st and 2nd objections to God’s plan for him The Memorial Name is expounded Israel will worship the LORD using the spoils of Egypt Objections 3, 4, and 5 despite the signs provided Moses to return to Egypt (new relationship as “firstborn son”) Zipporah circumcises her son Aaron meets Moses. They return to Egypt and communicate the LORD’s message. Breakdown of Exodus Chapters 3 & 4 The timing is now right for God to act through his servant Moses to deliver the children of Israel, those he now claims as his firstborn son. A New Name is Delivered by a New Mediator

  29. The Ways of Providence – p. 70-71 Chapter IX Moses Next we turn to the case of Moses. This towers over all others like a great mountain over the surrounding country. Moses is next to the Lord Jesus, “the prophet unto him”, in the height, breadth, importance, and greatness of his case in all points and relations; yet all of God, for apart from God’s use of him (God’s word to him and work with him), Moses would have lived a quiet pastoral life in Midian, and passed off the scene without leaving much if any mark behind him.

  30. “And when he (Moses) was full forty years old, it came unto his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel…For he supposed his would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them…” – Act. 7:23, 25 • Moses saw his life as being inextricably linked to that of Joseph. Israel had been “added [to]” through Joseph; they would now be “drawn out” by Moses. • Joseph is in his 40th year in Gen. 45 • He was 30 years old in Gen. 41:46 when he stood before Pharaoh • 7 years of plenty finished in Gen. 41:53 • 2 years of famine had already elapsed in Gen. 45:6

  31. Moses would have thought upon the parallels in his life to that of Joseph • God did send me before you to preserve life • And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth • And to save your lives by a great deliverance • It was not you that sent me hither, but God • Like Joseph, he had a familial relationship with Pharaoh • As the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he too was in a position of authority in Egypt “And Moses took the bones of Josephwith him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.” – Exo. 13:19

  32. The Ways of Providence(first printed in 1881) – p. 80-81 Our aim is to bring to bear so much of the history and experience of the fathers as may be applicable to our own case. Like Moses we are living at the end of a time of Israel’s down-treading. Like him, we are looking for a promised divine interposition. Like him we are able to discern providential signs characteristic of the situation; but like him we have been the subjects of delay in our expectations. As in the case, we may see that notwithstanding adverse appearances, God is at work, and we may hope that like him we shall one day, and that soon, be rescued and cheered by the angelic intimation that the moment of open interference has at last arrived.

  33. Figure of the furnace used to describe Israel’s experience in Egypt “brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt” – Deu. 4:20; “brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace” – Jer. 11:4

  34. Why refer to Egypt as an “iron furnace”? IRON GOLD & COPPER SILVER TIN

  35. “…and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” – Exo. 3:2 >>> not preserved by natural means ‘bush’ – 5572 – to prick, bramble, thorny bush. Edersheim – “the thorny acacia tree…the only timber of any size” Cp. Mat. 27:29 – “platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head” Principle of not being consumed… In Moses’ own life, see Exo. 18:4 See also Lam. 3:22-23; Mal. 3:6

  36. “And God said, unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM (Rotherham’s ‘I Will Become’): and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM (‘I Will Become’)hath sent me unto you.” – Exo. 3:14 See Eph. 3:15 Heb. 11:16 Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh = I Will Be What I Will Be “that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD (YHWH thy elohim)” – Deu. 28:58b

  37. Moses’ objections to the LORD’s commission “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt” – Exo. 3:11 “When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? – Exo. 3:13 “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD had not appeared unto thee.” – Exo. 4:1 “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” – Exo. 4:10 “O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of whom thou wilt send.” – Exo. 4:13, see NIV trans. “But Moses said, O Lord please send someone else to do it.” God makes a concession to help his servant, but there would be a consequence: >>> Aaron would receive the honour of leading the priesthood. It is strange that Moses did not raise another, larger issue: the feasibility of organizing, equipping, and sustaining such a massive escape. Apparently the problem was settled by the burning bush, for to preserve one entity (the bush) was a token that Israel could be preserved.

  38. “Israel is my son, even my firstborn” – Exo. 4:22 >>> ADOPTION! Moses and Aaron sprang, not from the “firstborn,” Reuben, but from Levi, Jacob’s third son, and not even then from Levi’s oldest son; but Kohath, his second son; and Moses was not even the oldest son of his father, for Aaron was older. Privileges of firstborn: Priesthood cp. Abel, Aaron & Samuel Inheritance Double portion Deu. 21:17 Rulership Jehoshaphat & Jehoram in 2 Chr. 21:3 * Based on Gen. 49:3

  39. Gershon/Gershom – 1647 • “And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” • – Exo. 18:3b-4 (rejoin Moses) • Old Testament characters with this name: • Firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah • Exo. 2:22, Eliezer not initially named • Firstborn son of Jacob’s son Levi • 1 Chr. 6:16 • A son of the priestly family of Phinehas who returned from exile with Ezra • Ezr. 8:2

  40. Exodus Chapters 3 & 4 • Lessons that we have learned: • The timing of events is according to the LORD’s will • God’s people are tried to reveal His glory, not to be destroyed • The LORD is He that sanctifieth • The LORD is faithful and His NEW NAME is “future-focused” and will be revealed in a multitude • God is patient and He will work with His saints to fulfill his plans • By adoption and covenant we can enjoy a NEW RELATIONSHIP with our God

  41. Exodus Chapters 1 through 15 • Wonderfully describe an exciting and amazing time of NEW things for Israel: • See them grow into their new name as the “children of Israel”, as a NEW creation • There is the raising up of a NEW deliverer • The “LORD God of the Hebrews” is revealed to Israel by a NEW name • Israel will now enjoy a NEW relationship as “my son, even my firstborn” • Israel and Egypt will know the LORD by NEW wonders • Their lives will be changed with a NEW calendar and a NEW feast of deliverance • This deliverance will be praise and commemorated through a NEW song

  42. Exodus Chapters 7 & 8 – New Wonders by the Finger of God Seen in Egypt “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.” Exo. 7:5

  43. 7:1-9 7:10-13 7:14-25 8:1-15 8:16-19 8:20-24 8:25-32 Moses is encouraged to go to Pharaoh The contest begins with Pharaoh and his magicians First plague : waters in Nile River and vessels turned to blood Second plague: frogs covered the land of Egypt Third plague: lice, which the magicians could not replicate!!! Fourth plague: flies, the land of Goshen is now shielded Moses and Aaron called before Pharaoh. Will they compromise??? Breakdown of Exodus Chapters 7 & 8 The plagues will show Pharaoh and his servants that there is none like “the LORD God of the Hebrews” in all the earth. Yahweh orders and controls all things. New Wonders by the Finger of God Seen in Egypt

  44. Egypt & Pharaoh – Symbols of Sin & Death • Like Israel… • By our own: thinking, strength, and actions we can’t conquer Sin! • We must learn that our deliverance from Sin and Death depends on the LORD • We personally struggle with Sin each day of our lives (if there isn’t a struggle then Sin is winning – see Gal. 5:16-17) • Victory over Sin and Death will not be easy and will require real sacrifice • Sin and temptation will not let go of us of their own free will – We have to leave them behind. • There can be no peace with Sin, it must be utterly destroyed (stone that crushes the kingdoms of men)

  45. Introduction to the Plagues • The plagues increase in severity… • 1) Irritations – plagues 1, 2 & 3 • 2) Destructions – plagues 4, 5 & 6 • 3) Death – plagues 7, 8 & 9 and ultimately the tenth as well • The first 9 plagues are arranged in 3 groups of 3 plagues each: • The first plague in each group (1, 4 & 7) was introduced by a warning delivered to Pharaoh early in the morning as we went out to the Nile, each with a purpose clause – Exo. 7:15; 8:20; 9:13 • The second plague in each group (2, 5 & 8) was introduced by a warning, but it was delivered to Pharaoh at his palace – Exo. 8:1; 9:1; 10:1 • The last plague in each group (3, 6 & 9) commenced without any warning – Exo. 8:16; 9:8; 10:21

  46. The Ways of Providence– p. 81-82 The purpose of God (which was declared to Moses), that ultimately He would fill the earth with His glory (Num. 14:21), required that a beginning should be made then, in the exhibition of His power in a way not to be mistaken. To allow of this exhibition, it was needful there should be a plain issue between God and man, and resistance on the part of man, and an ensuing struggle sufficiently prolonged and diversified to exclude the possibility of doubt as to the nature of the operations performed. God could have manifested His power by hurling the mountains from their base, or cleaving the earth with terrible chasms, or rending the air with terrific conflagration. But this would not have got at the understanding of the people. It would have scared without instructing, and would have passed out of memory as a mere freak of nature. It was necessary that intelligence should be manifestly at work, and this necessity could only be met by a situation that all could understand, and that would allow of the works of God being seen in intelligible relation thereto.

  47. Old Testament Bible History – Volume II, Alfred Edersheim Progress and Duration of the Ten Plagues – p. 69-70 The supernaturalness of the plagues consisted in: 1) their severity; 2) their successive occurrence; 3) their coming and going at the word of Moses; 4) their partial extent, and 5) the unusual seasons and manner in which they appeared. (Suggests a ten month period.) The first three were in connection with the river and soil which formed the boast of Egypt. The other six came exclusively upon the Egyptians, as the LORD had said: “I will put a division between My people and thy people,” “to the end that thou mayest know that I am Yahweh in the midst of the land.” If the first three plagues had shown the impotence of Egypt, the others proved that Yahweh reigned in the midst of Egypt…the three last “strokes” were not only far more terrible than any of the others, but intended to make Pharaoh know “that there is none like Me in all the earth.”

  48. Plagues by reference to a natural phenomena– plague number in brackets • Heavy rainfall causes high flooding of the Nile around September • High flooding means more red earth and bacteria suspended in the soil, causing a “bloody” Nile [1] • Fish die because of bacteria in the Nile; they die and decompose causing disease (anthrax) • Infected frogs leave the river because of unpalatable water and die rapidly [2] • Lice/mosquitoes multiply because of favorable breeding conditions at the time of the high Nile [3] • Frogs die of anthrax, and flies multiply because of the dead frogs and fish [4] • Cattle are now infected with anthrax, perhaps carried into the field by frogs [5] • The boils are skin anthrax carried by the flies from infected carcasses of frogs and cattle [6] • Heavy storms are typical of early February in the region [7] • The heavy rainfall which caused the high Nile in the first place would make conditions favorable for a locust plague by March [8] • The ‘khamsin’ dust storm would be fueled by the dust from the now dried-out flooded areas of the Nile valley. These storms typically last three days [9] • We are now in the right sort of time-period for Passover and plague [10] The Exodus: a commentary on Exodus 1-15 – Bro. Mark Vincent, p. 115-116

  49. “In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD” – Exo. 7:17 “This is the finger of God” – Exo. 8:19 “I will put a division between my people and thy people” – Exo. 8:23

  50. 1st plague: water turned to blood • God had “struck the Nile” (RSV Exo. 7:25), the lifeline of Pharaoh’s empire. • The Nile was the source of: • Drinking water • Fish for their daily diet • Normal work would have been disrupted! “And the fish that was in the river died…And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river” – Exo. 7:21a, 24

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