1.30.10 -- Exodus 19

Skipping ahead a bit today to Exodus 19.

Ex 19:8 ~ How many times have I made a similar pledge, and then just as Israel did, turned and ignored God's law in favor of my own desires?  I can't even count.  It's harder to look down on Israel for their foolishness when I realize that I'm no different.

Ex 19:23 ~ Seems Moses underestimated the people's ability to disobey!  God knew they needed another warning.

1.29.10 -- Exodus 14

Exodus 14

Ex 14:5 ~ I doubt the Egyptians would have forgotten the loss of their firstborn, so probably they remembered the loss, but forgot the cause.  I know that's the way most of us are at times.  I certainly have a tendency to forget that it's so often my own stubbornness that causes me to suffer, when had I listened to God's will I would have avoided such things!

Ex 14:11 ~ The Israelites are just as quick to forget God's power to save.

Ex 14:23 ~ How blinded by their own arrogance must the Egyptian army have been to have followed Israel into the sea.  They saw that the God who cleared the way for Israel was also working against Egypt, and yet they thought they could make it through.

1.28.10 -- Exodus 13

Exodus 13

I must admit that there isn't much here that really speaks to me.  I've never really followed the custom of passover, though we did do a passover meal once at the church where I grew up.  The concept of consecration of the firstborn is also a bit foreign since we no longer practice animal sacrifice (thank God! [literally]).  The only part that in any way appeals to me is the concept of God going before them in a pillar of fire (Ex 13:21-22).  How I wish He would provide such obvious guidance to me sometimes!

1.27.10 -- Exodus 12

Exodus 12 The Passover (which prefigures Christ on the cross)

Ex 12:5 ~ "without blemish" as Christ was without sin

Ex 12:6 ~ "kill it at twilight" close to the time of day of Christ's death

Ex 12:13 ~ The blood of Christ covers our sins so that God's judgment and wrath pass over us.

Ex 12:17 ~ God's people brought out of slavery in Egypt--God's people redeemed from slavery to sin.

Ex 12:48 ~ the passover feast was an opportunity for non-Jews to become Jews--Christ's death allowed Gentiles to be part of the Kingdom of God

1.26.10 -- Exodus 11

Jumping back into the Old Testament today with Exodus 11.  This is right at the end of the plagues God brought on Egypt through Moses.  This is the event remembered in the Passover feast.  It is also a type* of the death of Christ.

Exod 11:7 ~ God once again demonstrates His favor to His people.

Exod 11:8 ~ "Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger."  I wonder if Moses was angry because he knew Pharaoh would ignore his warning or because of what the warning entailed?

Exod 11:9 ~ God knew that Pharaoh wouldn't budge until after this great tragedy occurred, but He had plans to use Pharaoh's stubbornness to accomplish His own goals.

*type: a symbol of something in the future, as an Old Testament event serving as a prefiguration of a New Testament event.