Jethro the father-in-law of Moses arrives and offers some advice. Moses had been attempting to settle all disputes himself for all of the people. Jethro advises Moses to set up other godly men to assist with the work. Ministry was never to be a one man show. We need each other and we limit what God wants to do when we do it all our self.
Moses lifts up his rod over the enemies, with Joshua and the people fighting... Aaron and Hur come and assist Moses as he becomes weary. They helped Moses perform his prayer by meeting, helping him sit and propping up his arms as Moses continued to hold up the rod until the victory. God reveals Himself as banner over us.
God miraculously provides food for the Israelites every day. This portion was just enough for that day except on the sixth day, He provided enough for the seventh the sabbath the day of rest. God still provides what we need on a daily basis when we are following after Him, when we are doing what He has told us to do.
Moses and the Israelites sang to the Lord, thanking Him, praising Him, acknowledging His great power. He is a great warrior and even a God of war. Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen were covered by the sea, as the Israelites walked through on dry ground to safety.
God brings His people to the place that they see His hand move mightily again on their behalf. When God has spoken many times we get discouraged when things look like they are not working. We must learn to trust in the Word that we have received that He will follow through in what He has said.
the Lord tells Moses that from this time forward every firstborn male is to be kept holy for the Lord. They are to be marked as belonging to Him. The New Testament announces that we are all firstborn because of Jesus and are marked as belonging to Him when we make Him Lord of our life.
God instructs the people through Moses how to keep Passover. He instructs the people in detail to celebrate what miraculous deliverance from Egypt that will occur. Egypt's final judgement is about to happen. the people are instructed to keep Passover as an act of worship for all time.
Chapter 11 is a short chapter just 10 verses long. God announces that the firstborn of the Egyptians shall die. The Hebrew people gather articles of silver and gold from their Egyptian neighbors. God tells Moses that Pharaoh will not only let them go but they will be compelled to go.
Pharaoh is again questioned how long will you be lifted up in your pride? When God questions us we need to take serious thought to our actions and search our hearts. God brings the plague of locust that destroys every green thing. Then darkness comes to all of Egypt except Goshen. The chapter ends with Moses confirming Pharaoh will not see his face again.
The plagues continue on all the animals, then a skin disease on man and beast of which the wonder-workers or magicians were not able to duplicate. God explains He is using these signs that His name will be honored in all the earth. Pharaoh still refused to believe, in his pride he kept his animals and keeper unprotected rather than yield to a warning. Pharaoh again looks like he is going to repent and then breaks his word and hardens his heart.
God continues his judgment on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. God begins with a plague of frogs, lice, and flies (and/or insects). Moses announcing the clear division between the Egyptians households, land and the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. Pharoah's heart is hard and he will not let the people go.
Exodus 7, God answers Pharoah's question or taunt that he does know of any Hebrew God. God himself begins to reveal himself to the Egyptians, miracle by miracle, plague by plague, judgment by judgment. Because of Pharaoh's choice to not believe, becuase of his own pride God allows his heart to continue to be hardened. God answers, God's response begins in this chapter and continues through the next four plus chapters.
Exodus 6, answers Moses question that he asked God at the end of chapter 5. God reveals himself, as God Almighty, the God who is enough, the all-powerful, the one who is self-sufficient. He shows himself by a new name and strength, he is as his name suggests. Prior He has revealed Himself as "the God who sees me' Genesis 16:13 and Jehovah Jireh, He who provides, and now as the Almighty.
Chapter five begins with Moses and Aaron announcing what God has said, to let His people go. Pharaoh replies who is this God, and orders the Hebrews to make bricks without being given straw. They were to gather their own straw and continue to make the same amount of bricks.
In chapter four Moses and God continue their conversation at the burning bush. Moses expresses his concerns and God answers with miracles. The miracles will be a sign to the Hebrew people and will eventually cause Pharaoh to let God's people go. On the way back to Egypt God makes sure all is in order and Zipporah circumcises Gershom.
This chapter made famous by God, Moses, the Jewish people but also by the great movie with Charleston Heston, "The Ten Commandments" God speaks to Moses from a bush. God gives Moses the direction to go and get his people, God has heard their cry. He is going to set them free from the oppression in Egypt.
Exodus chapter we have the story of the birth of Moses, with pharaoh's daughter rescuing Moses from the Nile, paying to have him nursed and then she raised him as her son. Moses kills an Egyptians for being cruel and decides to leave Egypt crossing the desert he arrives in Midian.
Exodus chapter one is the story of a family who grows into a large nation of people. They outnumber the Egyptians, there are more Israelites than Egyptians in Egypt. Just as we forget what God has done for us the Egyptians forgot Joseph. They began to fear and torment the people of Israel. The edict to kill all baby boys is given.
The last chapter of Genesis records the end of the lives of Jacob (known as Israel) and also the death of Joseph. Jacob is taken back to the land of Canaan and buried as he had requested. The brothers of Joseph fear for their lives now their father is gone. Joseph reassures them that what they meant for evil God used for good. The end of the book concludes with the death of Joseph
Jacob/Israel call sh his sons together to speak of the things to come. All of what was spoken has still not been completely understood, which is typical of prophetic words. We see the mercy of God in the tribe of Levi in years to come, and we see Judges rises and the Messiah foretold. Through these last words.
Jacob is failing and death is near, Joseph brings his two sons to his father Jacob so that they can be blessed before Jacob passes. Jacob claims Manasseh and Ephraim as his own sons and blesses them accordingly. He spoke that both will be great nations. However, Ephraim, the youngest will be greater than the older Manasseh.
Joseph takes five of his brothers to meet with Pharoah, Jacob then meets with Pharoah and blesses him. The family settles in Goshen, separate from the Egyptians. The famine continues and Joseph collects all the money, cattle, flocks, horses and eventually all the land for Pharoah. Whatever we do we must do it as unto the Lord.
Today Jacob/Israel arrives with his household in Egypt. This chapter lists the sons and grandsons, daughter Dinah and wives of Jacob, the two maids of Leah and Rachel. Sixty-Six people, plus the wives of Jacobs sons. Joseph and his two sons were already in Egypt. Joseph instructs Jacob how to reply to pharaoh so they will be settled in Gosen.
In chapter 45 Joseph reveals who is he to his brothers. After weeping and rejoicing the brothers are sent back to get Jacob/Israel their father. Pharoah invites the family to come and live in Egypt.
The brothers are sent on their way unknown to them with their money in their grain sacks and Joseph's cup in Benjamin's grains sack. It appears Joseph is testing his brothers. They all return to Egypt after the cup if found and Rueben pleads that he take the place of Benjamin.
Food runs out again in Canaan, and Jacob makes the decision to let Benjamin go with his brothers back to Egypt. The ten brothers return with double payment hoping to get Simeon and food. Joseph releases Simeon and has a banquet prepared seating his brothers in order of their birth.
Jacob now known as Israel sends his 10 sons to Egypt to buy grain. He keeps Benajmin with him, afraid for his life. The ten brothers appear befoe Joseph and Joesph recognizes them. However, they do not recognize Joseph. Joseph remembers his dreams and interrogates his brothers, apparently testing them. Have they changed?
Joseph emerges from prison and gets moved to the palace. Most scholars agree God's character building has taken 13 years. Joseph was sold into slavery at 17 and is now 30. Placed in charge of all of Egypt.
Genesis 40, we find Joseph in prison interpreting dreams for the baker and the cup-bearer. Three days later the cupbearer is restored to his position and the baker is put to death. Joseph's interpretation was correct.
Genesis 39, Joseph goes from bad to worse in his situation. The favor of God was on Joseph and he was granted rule or was put in charge of all in Potiphar's house. Potiphar's wife desired Joseph and attempted to trap him. Potiphar's wife lied and Joseph was put in Jail. The favor of God was upon him there and he was put in charge.
