Exodus 19

19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. 

I'm not sure what lesson to take from this chapter.  But God displays for Israel his power and the way he does it with Moses right in front of them must give Moses even more credibility to the people.  Can you imagine being in the presence of that moment and not being emotionally impacted?

knut   

Exodus 18

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 

Sometimes a wise word from someone around us, is the best thing we can listen to.  Being a little removed from the situation can be a "God-send."

tp

Exodus 17

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[c] the throne of the Lord,[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

There's a couple of quick things in this short paragraph.  Firstly, I'm drawn to this idea of building an altar.  It was usually just a pile of rocks.  It becomes a reminder, everytime you see it.  The pile would not get blown over, or would probably be difficult to know over.  So, it would be there for a long time....as a constant reminder.  Why don't we still do this?  Makes me think I should have a pile of rocks in our back yard.
Secondly, the Amalekites really made their bed here.  It is not a good place to be, where the Creator of Universe is saying your people are going to be wiped away, and the memory will be erased forever.....YIKES!

have a good weekend!
tp

Exodus 16

9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

I have a strange take on this chapter.  This verse reminds me that Moses was "slow of speech" and that his brother Aaron most likely did most of the talking.  So, our romantic vision of Moses verbally battling with Pharaoh, and then addressing the Israelite nation.....probably isn't correct.  God was working through Moses, and then from him to Aaron.  It seems a tough path to take.  But, this re-iterates the power of God.  That he could take down the powerful Egyptian nation with someone who don't talk so good.

He is truly the Supreme!

tp

Exodus 15

“If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

I always struggle with the songs in scripture.  It's a bit of a story recap, and without the assistance of harps and cowbells, it can be tough.  This command seems so simple.  Yet, I know they are going to mess this up over and over and over again.  When I read the dialogue, the Israelites seem so weak minded.....just like me.  hahaha.

tp

Exodus 14

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

This is a total drop the mic moment.  
Can you imagine the fear?  On one hand it makes me laugh that just behind all the plagues where God has shown up time after time....they still don't trust.
But, I love what Moses says.  In essence, I know this is the scariest thing you've ever experienced.  Death is certainly coming at us.  But, if you sit here and do nothing, God will deliver us!  WHAT!?  If I do nothing!?  I'm not sure I could do nothing in that circumstance.  I would probably be finding out how my sprinting skills line up to everyone else's.


31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. 

So, this verse talks to my first point.  Now the fear God?  What about all those other miracles?  We are such weak minded beings, aren't we?  What have you done for me or showed me in the last 10 minutes?  That's really what it comes down to.

tp

Exodus 13

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place."

Why would Joseph care where his bones end up?  Maybe he doesn't at all but just wanted to use this as a reminder to them that God keeps promises.  Even ones that probably felt impossible in the middle of their slavery in Egypt.

22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

not a ton said about the pillar of fire and the cloud.  Could everyone in the land see it or just the Israelites?  Either way, its just a couple sentences tucked away in Exodus but what a miracle of God's power to witness.  The pillar of fire especially paints an impressive image in my mind.  Believing would seem easy at that point with such a tangible view of God's presence.

knut

Exodus 12

first off---holy long chapters batman.

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.

Lots of documentation in this chapter about steps that seem so trivial that I'm not certain the importance?  Maybe its a lesson in listening to God's instruction intently and following exactly as he detail?  

I initially just breezed by this verse.  But really reflecting, what an awful night this was in Egypt.  The sadness and hearts totally ripped apart and broken.  The parents all losing their children.  Children losing their parents too maybe?  It says all firstborn, which makes me think of kids the way its written.  But that would be adults too, right?  Anyway great sadness and likely fear too.  Pharaoh seeing the Israelites are different though maybe still not really understanding just wanting them to get out as quickly as possible to prevent further loss of life.

Chaos is what I am imagining.  Due to lack of following God.  hmmm, there is some of that going around now.

knut

Exodus 11

8 “Then all these servants of yours will go to their knees, begging me to leave, ‘Leave! You and all the people who follow you!’ And I will most certainly leave.”

Moses, seething with anger, left Pharaoh.

I just took note of Moses anger today.  With this last plague where people were dying (some he grew up with), he must have been frustrated and heartbroken to the point of seething at the Pharaoh for his ignorance and the pain it was causing.  

No particular learning.  I think sometimes when I read the bible I drive right past the raw emotions exposed in the words.  today I felt a small piece of the pain and frustration Moses must have experienced.

knut