"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Friday, November 6, 2020

EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter FIVE


Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire 

EXODUS 5 – by Albert Lopez, no Facebook video available.

INTRODUCTION: So Aaron and Moses are reunited as Pastor James went over with us. Even the people were in. they listened to them and bowed down in worship to the Lord. So now it’s time for the showdown between a little god Pharaoh and the one and only God Yahweh. 

God will be using his chosen servant Moses and Aaron, who are going to the Pharaoh to relate … not a suggestion or a request, even if it may have sounded like a request to Pharaoh. It was an order from the Most High in response to hearing the cry of His people. This would be the beginning of many more confrontations as Moses and Aaron would learn.
EXODUS 5:1
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness
.

"Let my people go." This was a command, but it didn’t come from just anybody, it came from a King: the King of kings!

In the way that Moses and Aaron were talking to the pharaoh they were telling him that Someone far superior was giving this order.
Pharaoh did not recognize anyone was more superior than he was; God had said that he would harden Pharaoh’s heart back in EXOD 4:21.

The one who does not recognize God as his superior has already hardened his heart. Some verses dealing with hardening one’s heart:
PROVERBS 11:20:
Those with twisted minds are detestable to the LORD, but those with blameless conduct are his delight.

JEREMIAH 5:23:
But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed.

HEBREWS 3:10
Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways
.
EXODUS 5:2
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go
.

“Who is the Lord?” This was not a question with hopes of finding an answer, this was more of a declaration against God! It was more like, “Who are You God?”
PROVERBS 30:9
That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God
.
This question of “Who is the Lord?” in this verse comes from a self-satisfied person who is denying God’s Providence. Pharaoh saying, I don’t know the Lord continues the insult and makes no admission of ignorance.
Again this question is not born of a desire; he isn’t looking to build a relationship with the Lord. Pharaoh keeps insulting the god of Moses, not because of ignorance but because of arrogance.
PSALM 14:1a
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”
(There is no God for me).
The answer Pharaoh had to his question “Who is the Lord?” even though he didn’t say it was this: The Lord isn’t anyone I need to recognize or obey.
This is not only what Pharaoh said, but it is also what a lot of people in the world and even in the church say, by how we live our lives. Pharaoh was rejecting the Lord’s position of superiority.

A right knowledge of, and respect for the identity of the Lord is central to the issue of whether or not to obey Him!

JOHN 8:48-55
The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word
.

There is overwhelming grounds for obedience. The events recorded in the book of Exodus answer Pharaoh’s question as to who the Lord is! Yet, despite this, Pharaoh hardens his heart and disobeys GOD’s command to let His people go!
Who is the Lord?

To the Israelites: 

EXODUS 6:7
Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians
.

The Egyptians: 

EXODUS 7:5
The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.

Egypt is a biblical type for “the world”: 
JOHN 17:14,21
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may [f]believe that You sent Me.
Egypt which will one day repent: Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt (and to Assyria!), and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it (ISA 19:21-25).
For the onlookers: Listen to the words of Rahab she was a harlot from Jericho who became part of God’s family. 

JOSHUA 2:8-11
Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath
.

These examples and many more are more than enough reasons for obedience to God.
Jesus helps us obey: 
1 JOHN 4:9
By this the love of God was manifested [b]in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him
EXODUS 5:3
3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword
.

The Israelites were worried of the consequences of not obeying the Lord then they decided that it was better to obey the Lord then the Pharaoh.
ISAIAH 8:11-13
For thus the LORD spoke to me [m]with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,12 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear [n]what they fear or be in dread of it. 13 “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.

JEREMIAH 1:17
Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them

Jesus says in
MATTHEW 10:28
Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
EXODUS 5:4-18
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. 5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. 6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. 11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished. 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. 14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore? 15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? 16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. 17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks
.

Obedience doesn’t always bring immediate blessing
The Israelites accused Moses and Aaron of being the reason that their jobs got harder and was multiplied. They were like Moses if your plan was to take our load off our backs because of you now we have two loads. Thanks a lot Moses.

Obedience requires a lot of times that we invest without expecting anything in return.
MATTHEW 10:42
And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

GALATIANS 6:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary
.
EXODUS 5:19
19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task
.


Repeated mention of the daily quota helps to understand the oppressiveness of the situation: Egyptians made demands and kept account of what the Israelites did every day. It was as if the More Moses talked to Pharaoh, the more work they received after the conversation. I’m sure they were like Please Moses stop talking.

EXODUS 5:20-21
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: 21 And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us
.


Before one of the Israelites challenged the right for Moses to be judge when trying to stop a fight and accused Moses of intending to kill him (EXOD 2:14).
The Israelites did not expect to be free from Egypt yet. They were thinking because of Moses; the Egyptians were going to kill them. Their comments give the understanding that the Israelite foreman knew or recognized that God had the right and the ability to act as the ultimate judge in the situation.

God is Judge and Just over all:
PSALM 7:11
God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

ISAIAH 33:22
For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us.
The foreman was expecting to obtain the Pharaoh’s favor blaming others.
Here is a reminder to us to control our tongues. It is easy to let the tongue fly in a sense when you are trying to obtain favor or make yourself look good.

JAMES 3:2,5
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

PROVERBS 10:19
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

PSALM 39:1
I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence
EXODUS 5:22-23
22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all
.


When Moses spoke to God, He boldly blamed God and Pharaoh
“You caused this trouble” (referring to God).
“He caused trouble” (referring to Pharaoh).

Moses asks God “Why?”

Moses goes on and asks why have You caused trouble for this people or afflicted them? Why did you send me? We should not ask GOD “Why” but rather ask God “What for” or “What are You trying to show me?” These questions are related to purpose, GOD’s purpose that He intends for us, His saints.

Moses and Aaron’s obedience to the commandments and orders of God brought about problems instead of bringing about relief.

Jesus said to His disciples: 
MARK 4:35-40
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they *took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37 And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?
His response:
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?
The Word says: 
PSALM 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
I’m sure that Moses and the people wanted to have God just stomp on the Egyptians and make the suffering stop and also be taken to a more pleasant situation than the one they were facing. However God was doing something through this suffering and also would deliver them at His time
We read in EXODUS 6:1
God’s response to Moses’s complaining: But the LORD replied to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of a strong hand he will let them go, and because of a strong hand he will drive them from his land.” 

This wouldn’t happen immediately, but it came to pass because God said it would. It wouldn’t be fast or easy (for Moses and Aaron and the children of Israel) but God was with His people. Be encouraged Church, that God is with His people and cares for His people. What seems out of control is in His control.

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