Welcome back to Time in the Word. Today we are quickly picking up where we left off last week. In case you missed last week’s devotional, you can get that here. Turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus 3:16- Exodus 4:1-29. You can find a digital link here. Moses started giving God his excuses for not being qualified to lead the Israelites out of Israel. God has ignored the excuses, and as we will see, God gives Moses the game plan along with the outcome. Has God ever given you a plan and the outcome of that plan?
Abraham knew
In Genesis, God told Abraham that the Israelites would be enslaved by the Egyptians:
Genesis 15:13 New International Version
13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
-BibleGateway
In the Old Testament, God often told his leaders and his people what to do and the outcome to expect. It astounds me God would do that. Why? I sure wouldn’t mind knowing that a battle I am about to fight would turn out in my favor! What courage that should inspire in someone! Just do as I have instructed and here is what will happen.
Start with the elders
God has largely ignored Moses’ excuses. He directs Moses to leave Midian and go to Egypt and assemble the leaders of Israel and speak to them. Moses is to tell them God sees how the Egyptians are treating the Israelites. Moses is to remind them of the promise God made to deliver them to a land flowing with milk and honey. God’s plan begins with the elders. He assures Moses that the elders will listen.
If you aren’t already taking notes, you should be. Start writing down each instruction God gives to Moses and then the results God said would happen. God tells Moses what will happen after he and the elders go and meet with Pharaoh:
- Moses and the elders are to meet with Pharaoh and ask for a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to God.
- God tells Moses that Pharaoh WILL NOT let them go unless a “heavy hand compels him”.
- The Egyptians will be struck by God’s hand- All the wonders being performed will finally convince Pharoah to let the Israelites go.
- Before the Israelites leave Egypt, the Egyptians will give the Israelites silver, gold rings, and clothing. – Remember, the Israelites were enslaved by force, and their possessions taken. God often allows his people to plunder their enemies.
Here’s your sign
Moses still lacks confidence and feels he needs a sign to go with his words. God obliges with some signs to demonstrate Moses is legitimate:
- Throw your staff down and it will turn into a snake. Grab the tail, and it turns back into a staff.
- Put your hand into your cloak. Pull it out and see it has become white-leprous. Stick your hand back into your cloak and then pull it back out to show your hand restored.
- If the above signs do not convince them, then Moses is to take water from the Nile and pour it out onto the ground. The water will turn to blood.
Here are a few things to think about. What do you think God was trying to convey to Moses with the staff? What does a staff represent? Do you think leprosy represents sin? The Nile was worshiped by the Egyptians and seen as life-giving. What was God’s purpose in turning the water of the Nile into blood?
We’ll pick up next week when God shares the plan for the Israelite’s exodus. Till next time, thank you for joining me here today in Time in the Word.
Michele Bruxvoort is sure to draw you in with her delightful sense of humor and love for living life. She enjoys reading, repurposing, as well as remodeling the family home with her husband. Drawing from her life experience as wife, mom, and follower of Jesus, Michele brings you a very honest and real perspective on life. When you don’t find her writing, you can find her mowing lawns, stocking shelves, taking care of her grandbaby and tackling her latest life adventure.
Wisconsin native and empty-nester, she now makes her home with her husband of 27 years in the South West Prairie plains of Minnesota.
