January 15 - Exodus 9-12
As the struggle between Pharaoh and God continues, it is obvious that pride is the problem. It is a contest between one who exalts himself as god and the One who is God. That is the result of pride in any person's life. It causes us to act as if we are in control, when we are the created not the Creator. We are the servant, not the Master. Therefore, God turns up the heat as the plagues progress. Pharaoh gets to the breaking point, but at first it is a case of temporary repentance. That is very real repentance, and it is never effective. Then, he even gets to the point of partial repentance when he says the men can go and sacrifice, but they can't take all of their cattle, families, and possessions. That is never acceptable to God either. He is looking for our complete surrender to His authority.
Then, when the tenth plague, the plague of the death of the firstborn, comes, God provides a way out for the Israelites. He had continued to make a difference between them and the Egyptians in that the plagues did not harm them, but now He explains the Passover. The two elements were the blood of the lamb and the unleavened bread. The people see what is happening to the Egyptians, and they bow in worship of the Living God. Now, He says when He sees the blood on the door of their homes, He will pass over and not kill the firstborn of the family. This blood points to the blood of Jesus, which would be shed in the future for our sins. It tells them that God's power protects us from destruction, not our own power. We are dependent on the provision of God. Then, the unleavened bread is a symbol in the Bible for a lack of sin. Since leaven or yeast is a symbol of sin, when there is no leaven used to make the bread, it speaks of no sin. This is a picture of Jesus' sinless body that was to be broken for our sins, but also, the people are told to sweep the leaven out of their homes. The only way to have God forgive our sins is to completely repent of them. Sweep them out of your life. Turn away, confess them to Him, and ask Him to cleanse you by His grace. (Ephesians 2:8,9; I John 1:9)
The Bible also makes a point of the Israelites having the favor of the Egyptian people. In fact Moses was held in esteem by the people just not by Pharaoh. When they prepared to leave the country their neighbors showered them with everything they wanted or needed. This was partly out of the fear of what God might do next, because of the death of the firstborn, but it was also out of respect. They realized that these people served the true God. Their God had the power. Could it be that many Egyptians turned their hearts to God at this time. I think they did. Also, it was God's way of supplying the needs of the Israelites in their journey to Canaan. God wants to give us favor in the eyes of our neighbors, and He wants to supply our needs for the journey, if we will humble bow before Him as the Israelites did at this time.
Then, when the tenth plague, the plague of the death of the firstborn, comes, God provides a way out for the Israelites. He had continued to make a difference between them and the Egyptians in that the plagues did not harm them, but now He explains the Passover. The two elements were the blood of the lamb and the unleavened bread. The people see what is happening to the Egyptians, and they bow in worship of the Living God. Now, He says when He sees the blood on the door of their homes, He will pass over and not kill the firstborn of the family. This blood points to the blood of Jesus, which would be shed in the future for our sins. It tells them that God's power protects us from destruction, not our own power. We are dependent on the provision of God. Then, the unleavened bread is a symbol in the Bible for a lack of sin. Since leaven or yeast is a symbol of sin, when there is no leaven used to make the bread, it speaks of no sin. This is a picture of Jesus' sinless body that was to be broken for our sins, but also, the people are told to sweep the leaven out of their homes. The only way to have God forgive our sins is to completely repent of them. Sweep them out of your life. Turn away, confess them to Him, and ask Him to cleanse you by His grace. (Ephesians 2:8,9; I John 1:9)
The Bible also makes a point of the Israelites having the favor of the Egyptian people. In fact Moses was held in esteem by the people just not by Pharaoh. When they prepared to leave the country their neighbors showered them with everything they wanted or needed. This was partly out of the fear of what God might do next, because of the death of the firstborn, but it was also out of respect. They realized that these people served the true God. Their God had the power. Could it be that many Egyptians turned their hearts to God at this time. I think they did. Also, it was God's way of supplying the needs of the Israelites in their journey to Canaan. God wants to give us favor in the eyes of our neighbors, and He wants to supply our needs for the journey, if we will humble bow before Him as the Israelites did at this time.