11.07.07 – RE:ading: Exodus 10:1-11:10

RE:flect

Chapter 10 opens up with another important idea in Israel’s history—remembering God’s mighty works by repeating them, handing them down, telling and retelling the stories. Consider this… look back on all the plagues now… how many did not affect Israel.

Can you imagine sitting on the sidelines of Goshen and watching this happen? Even to see darkness everyone but in your neighborhood (and I don’t mean spiritual darkness… I mean darkness that can be felt. Are you kidding me—this is the land of Ra, the god of Egypt, the god of the sun. And now the sun and light and darkness bow to this God of the Hebrews? Suddenly it must be realized by many of the Hebrews that the “perception” that Egypt’s might, power and influence was because their god was more powerful is not true at all. Now even “Ra” must bow to the TRUE and living God (and I say true because the name “Ra” is just a scarecrow’s name to either an evil philosophy of mankind, or a direct evil revelation of a name in which Satan wished to make all of Egypt a slave to himself, sin and turned away from the belief in ONE and ONLY ONE true God.)

Side bar: Why do you think Moses was filled with anger in Chapter 11:8? Cause his life was threatened? Cause Pharaohs stubbornness will cost a very large loss for innocent life? Mad at God for not overpowering Pharoah’s will? Or something else?

RE:act

Take some time this week to spend with your grandparents and other people older that 60 in yourlife. If they are believers in Jesus Christ as them to tell you stories of their faith. What they witnessed, what they have seen. How they have seen God work in their life and others. Just because the Hebrews were ordered to share and pass down the testimonies of God in their lives doesn’t mean they should be the only ones who get to enjoy sharing this stuff! Really, it is actually fun to have cookies and milk and see your aging grandparents talk about life when they were 10, 25, 40, 50 years old. That maybe the best reaction: (1) What are the Bibles stories given to us so that we may believe that God is the LORD, (2) What are our church’s stories over the last 30 years to also do the same, (3) Finally, what are our families stories.

Perhaps you wish to go talk to your parents about this quickly before you move on to pray today, or get ready to sleep tonight. 30 minutes + 8 cookies + 2 glasses of milk = 1 incredible conversation.

RE:ply

Lord, thank you for stories. Thank your for memories. Thank you for those in my life that I don’t have to question their love for me, their care for me, their sincerity and genuine honesty.

Lord, in a world were many are corrupted, many are in fear. Many are plagued with darkness—you have blessed us with light. We live in the light.

Lord, help me to gain the desire to listen to the stories of those before me—of walking in the light. Help me to see your hand always in the world. Help me to gain faith through your powerful revelation of the Bible.

Lord help me to support that faith that “You are the LORD” through the faithfulness you give to our church… and to my family. (or those around you if you are the lone Christian in the house).

Lord, I need you to help me to be content with just the Bible.

And Lord, I also wish for you to help me use everything outside the Bible that could help my faith to support it… and not to try to replace your word, my prayer life and your Holy Spirits power for my holiness and Christlikeness.

“ Hear , O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today…. these are the decrees and laws the Lord God directed me to teach you to observe….The LORD our God, the LORD is one….impress them [these things] on your children… Fear the LORD your God and serve him only…. Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight… in the future when your son asks you about these laws and decrees you are to tell them you were slaves of Pharaoh and how the LORD brought you our of Egypt with a mighty hand.” (Exodus 5-6, various verses)