41.z. “Let My People Go” – 8. Locusts

 

 

Exodus 10:1  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them,  and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”  So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,  and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field,  and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.  Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”  So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God. But which ones are to go?”  Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”  But he said to them, “The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind.  No! Go, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.”  So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts.  The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again.  They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.  Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.  Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the LORD your God only to remove this death from me.”  So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the LORD.  And the LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt.  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

Summary; Egypt threatened with locusts. Pharaoh’s servants persuade him to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh inquires of Moses who are they that shall go to serve the Lord. Of Moses’s answer. Pharaoh’s reply. Locusts come over all Egypt. Pharaoh sends for Moses, and confesses his sin. Moses prays to God. The plague is stayed. Pharaoh’s heart hardened. (Brown)

Getting to the heart of the matter, God warned Pharaoh to humble himself or the worst plague of locusts ever seen would come upon Egypt. Pride was at the heart of Pharaoh’s problem; he simply didn’t want to give into God. What Pharaoh wanted is what many of us want in the flesh: a way to “give in” to God, without fully submitting to Him. Sometimes we look for a way to bargain with God as an equal, instead of submitting to Him as Creator and LORD.  Pharaoh did the same thing in Exodus 9:27-28. He said the words of repentance but did not follow through with the actions. His heart was only hardened more after God relented and showed mercy. (Guzik)

“Once again comes the easy confession of sin, and the shallow repentance that springs only from a desire to avert the consequences.” (Cole)

The plagues of Egypt show the sinfulness of sin. They warn the children of men not to strive with their Maker. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself; but no account was made of it, for he was not sincere therein. The plague of locusts is threatened. This should be much worse than any of that kind which had ever been known. Pharaoh’s attendants persuade him to come to terms with Moses. Hereupon Pharaoh will allow the men to go, falsely pretending that this was all they desired. He swears that they shall not remove their little ones. Satan does all he can to hinder those that serve God themselves, from bringing their children to serve him. He is a sworn enemy to early piety. Whatever would put us from engaging our children in God’s service, we have reason to suspect Satan in it. Nor should the young forget that the Lord’s counsel is, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. (Henry)

What would it take to soften your heart to the will of God? Does it take a sign or miracle for your heart to be moved? Does it require God to bless you financially, physically, or in higher honor positionally?  What would it take for your heart to soften to the will and purposes of God? A humble heart willing to the purposes, plans, and design of God will be blessed.  Take a lesson from the plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt; A prideful heart void of love for the one true God will never find peace in their self-orchestrated lives. Replacing God with false gods will give a heart and mind a false peace of being able to control and please these abominations. When a person continually rejects or denies the calls of God there is a continual hardening of their heart that results in it becoming like stone. 

How many times have I rejected the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction for my life?  How many times have I closed my eyes and ears to the things of God to entertain what this world has to offer? How many times have I brushed aside the conviction of sin? How many times have I allowed anger, hate, fear, pride, jealousy, disobedience, neglect, complacency, etc….. residence in my heart? How many times have I given God only a pacing thought throughout the day?  Do I even give any thought to my sinfulness in light of His Holiness? Do I even want to be grown and matured in ways that honor and glorify Jesus Christ? Do I want to be close enough to God to receive His blessings but not close enough to hear His quiet whispers of correction, leading, and direction? 

There will never be growth or maturing in your knowledge and understanding of God’s plans, purposes, and promises when shallowness and emptiness are in your heart and soul and does not have the desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all you think, say, and do. 

41.y. “Let My People Go” – 7. Hail

 

 

Exodus 9:13  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.  For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.  But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.  You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.  Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”’”  Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses,  but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.”  Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.  There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.  The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.  Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.  Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.”  (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.  But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.)  So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the LORD, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth.  But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

 Psalms 83:17-18  Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,  that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.

 Proverbs 16:4   The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

In this bold declaration, God told Pharaoh through Moses that his resistance was being used for God’s glory. If Pharaoh though he was accomplishing anything with his resistance against God, he was completely wrong. All his stubborn rebellion merely glorified the LORD more in the end. God invited Pharaoh and the Egyptians to trust Him by recommending precautions before the plague. Some took God’s invitation and spared their livestock, but others did not. I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked: This sounds like perfect words of repentance from Pharaoh, but true repentance had not worked its way into his heart. Pharaoh was grieved at the consequences of sin, but not at the sin itself. “Moses does not believe that pharaoh will keep his word, yet he grants the request so that pharaoh may be without excuse.”  Hardening the heart against God is sin; failing to repent when God graciously answers our plea is to ignore His rich mercy is to sin yet more. (Guzik)

Moses is here ordered to deliver a dreadful message to Pharaoh. Providence ordered it, that Moses should have a man of such a fierce and stubborn spirit as this Pharaoh to deal with; and every thing made it a most signal instance of the power of God has to humble and bring down the proudest of his enemies. When God’s justice threatens ruin, his mercy at the same time shows a way of escape from it. God not only distinguished between Egyptians and Israelites, but between some Egyptians and others. If Pharaoh will not yield, and so prevent the judgment itself, yet those that will take warning, may take shelter. Some believed the things which were spoken, and they feared, and housed their servants and cattle, and it was their wisdom. Even among the servants of Pharaoh, some trembled at God’s word; and shall not the sons of Israel dread it? But others believed not, and left their cattle in the field. Obstinate unbelief is deaf to the fairest warnings, and the wisest counsels, which leaves the blood of those that perish upon their own heads. (Henry)

A peculiar feature of the plague is the warning (ver. 19) whereby those who believed the words of Moses, were enabled to escape a great part of the ill effects of the storm. It is a remarkable indication of the impression made by the previous plagues, that the warning was taken by a considerable number of the Egyptians, who by this means saved their cattle and their slaves. (Unknown)

The same type of warning can be said given in John 3:16-21  “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Rev. 22:7 And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.”
Rev. 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

There are many warnings in God’s Word to people, and as well, many examples of warnings that were not believed to the harm of those hearing and blessings to those who did listen and acted according to His Word. In Acts it says that no man has an excuse for denial, rejection, and disobedience to God.  The clear warning of eternal Hell and torment or the blessing of eternal life in Heaven is promised and He, the Creator and Author of all there is will indeed carry out what He has clearly stated for judgment and blessing.  Like those in Egypt who denied the warning of God and suffered and died will be those who deny God’s offer of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness.  Jesus will come quickly when He is not expected and those found void will forever be eternally in Hell and torment.  Today is the day of salvation.  Do not wait another second, your eternal destiny is but one breath away.

41.w. “Let My People Go” – 5. Livestock Plague

 

 

Exodus 9:1  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them,  behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.  But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.”’” And the LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.”  And the next day the LORD did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died.  And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Moses told Pharaoh that the Israelites would be spared, and Pharaoh believed it enough to confirm this. Nevertheless, he did not change his heart when it was proven that Moses and his God were exactly right. (Guzik)

God will have Israel released, Pharaoh opposes it, and the trial is, whose word shall stand. The hand of the Lord at once is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, die by God’s own hand. This was greatly to the loss of the owners; they had made Israel poor, and now God would make them poor. The hand of God is to be seen, even in the sickness and death of cattle; for a sparrow falls not to the ground without our Father. None of the Israelites’ cattle should die; the Lord shall sever. The cattle died. The Egyptians worshipped their cattle. What we make an idol of, it is just with God to remove from us. This proud tyrant and cruel oppressor deserved to be made an example by the just Judge of the universe. None who are punished according to what they deserve, can have any just cause to complain. Hardness of heart denotes that state of mind upon which neither threatenings nor promise, neither judgements nor mercies, make any abiding impression. The conscience being stupified, and the heart filled with pride and presumption, they persist in unbelief and disobedience.  (Henry)

Then the Lord said unto Moses,…. The same day the plague of the flies was removed: go in unto Pharaoh boldly, without any fear of him or his court: and tell him, thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: speak in the name of Jehovah, the God whom the Hebrews worship, and who owns them for his people, and has a special love for them, and takes a special care of them, and is not ashamed to be called their God, as poor and as oppressed as they be: let my people go, that they may serve me; this demand had been often made, and, though so reasonable, was refused. (Gill)

Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle—A fifth application was made to Pharaoh in behalf of the Israelites by Moses, who was instructed to tell him that, if he persisted in opposing their departure, a pestilence would be sent among all the flocks and herds of the Egyptians, while those of the Israelites would be spared. As he showed no intention of keeping his promise, he was still a mark for the arrows of the Almighty’s quiver, and the threatened plague of which he was forewarned was executed. But it is observable that in this instance it was not inflicted through the instrumentality or waving of Aaron’s rod, but directly by the hand of the Lord, and the fixing of the precise time tended still further to determine the true character of the calamity. (Brown)

Many today, like Pharaoh, deny God and His control over all there is. They deny Him as Creator and author of life and all things created. They deny not only the honor and glory and praise and worship due Him but throw aside His grace, mercy, and love. What man can stand on the day of judgment and deny God then? What will a man say when they bow before Him and are cast into the lake of fire that burns forever and ever, where there is no death but continual torment for eternity? We have all been given free will to choose to honor and glorify God with our thoughts, words, and actions. Giving God a casual nod once or twice per week is not honoring and glorifying Him. No, it is deceiving yourself to think it is acceptable worship of the Heavenly Creator, All-Mighty, All-Knowing, Ever-Present, and All-Powerful God. You will do well to examine your heart for its intentions.  Are they focused on things of this world and what pleases their fleshly desires? God is not to be mocked by complacency, neglect, or denial.  Repent and take hold of His free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

41.h. “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?”

 

 

Exodus 5:1  Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.”

 2 Kings 18:35     Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”

 2 Chronicles 32:15   Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

 Psalms 10:4   In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

 Psalms 12:4    those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

 Psalms 14:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

 Romans 1:28   And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

 Jeremiah 44:16-17    “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.

The fundamental demand of God to Pharaoh (through His messengers Moses and Aaron) was freedom for His people. God asserted that Israel belonged to Him, not Pharaoh; and therefore, that they should be free. Those who belong to God should be free, not bound. Moses relayed the demand God first gave him back at Exodus 3:18. God presented the smaller request to Pharaoh first so that the request would be as appealing and as easy to accept as possible. He did this so Pharaoh would have no excuse at all for refusing God and hardening his heart. (Guzik)

Pharaoh treated all he had heard with contempt. He had no knowledge of Jehovah, no fear of him, no love to him, and therefore refused to obey him. Thus Pharaoh’s pride, ambition, covetousness, and political knowledge, hardened him to his own destruction. What Moses and Aaron ask is very reasonable, only to go three days’ journey into the desert, and that on a good errand. We will sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Pharaoh was very unreasonable, in saying that the people were idle, and therefore talked of going to sacrifice. (Henry)

The request was put in this form to try Pharaoh, and that he might be the more inexcusable in refusing to grant what was so reasonable. (Gill)

A hardened heart can be softened or made more hard by the Word of God. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) The Word of God is Light unto the soul receptive to it. The eyes to their hearts and minds are not closed even though they are walking in darkness.  When the Light of the Gospel is flamed they see it and run toward it to get out of the darkness that has given them no satisfaction or comfort. However, there are those whose eyes are purposely closed. They are not searching for Light. They are content in darkness and choose to live it in.  Should the Light be flamed before their very eyes they do not see it. 

We do not know how or when the Light of God’s Word will soften a hardened and blinded soul. God’s Word can soften the most hardened soul of whom we would think it not possible.  Likewise, it can harden the softest heart that chooses to reject it. The mystery of the power of God’s Word never ceases to amaze me.  I am in awe of its power. Let us never be so careless as to think the Word of God is powerless against the vilest of people.  As we pray for those who walk in darkness, (family, friends, neighbors, leaders) let it be in line with God’s Word softening their hearts and minds to the Savior and the Good News of the Gospel, with receptive hearts to the salvation of their souls.

40.y. “I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction”

 

Exodus 3:15  God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

 Psalms 72:17     May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

 Psalms 72:19    Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

 Psalms 135:13    Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

 Psalms 102:12     But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.

 Micah 4:5    For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

“I AM WHO I AM.” “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” “This is my name forever”

 After four hundred years in Egypt, Moses had the job of announcing that now was the time for the children of Israel to go back to Canaan, and to take the land God promised to their fathers. This was probably totally contrary to what the elders and people of Israel desired. In four hundred years, you set down roots. They probably had no desire to return to the Promised Land; all they wanted was to be made more comfortable in Egypt.

We don’t come close to understanding the purposes and plans of God. We like to think that we will be provided a land flowing with milk and honey, peace, trial, and trouble-free. Faith in God would be much easier and certainly more shallow if this were the case. Think about when your faith grew.  Wasn’t it after you had walked in the valley of trials and troubles? Wasn’t it during a time when your situation was without answers? Wasn’t it during a time when you realized that self-reliance was not even close to being adequate? Wasn’t it a time when you realized your only hope of refuge, strength, and courage to face another day was in God – I Am?

Some of our paths in life will be less burdensome than others who will live in almost constant trials and troubles. It is the same God over all of us. We do not know God’s plans and purposes other than the promises given to us in His Word. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will give you peace and rest. I will be your refuge and strength. I will guide and lead you.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

We may think we have been forgotten or our trials and troubles are unseen by God. Cast these thoughts from your heart and mind. Lay these in the hands of Him who is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. By faith, we can trust and rejoice in our Heavenly Father no matter what situation we find ourselves in. It is hard to release our burdens and trust God. It is not natural for us to rely on God when we desperately want to rely on ourselves. 

Our purpose in life is to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do. By faith, we think, say, and do that which honors and glorifies Him. When we intentionally choose and commit to this every moment of every day, we will find reasons for hope and rejoice in Him alone.

Strive For Peace

“Strive for peace with everyone” – It is very easy to strive for peace with someone wanting to meet you half way toward that goal.  How does it affect you when they are not at all willing to be at peace with you?  “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble”  We must remain pure in our heart and be merciful.  Scripture tells us that our of the abundance of our heart our mouth will speak.  Fill your heart with pure desire to live, act and speak with one purpose – To honor and glorify God

Matthew 5:7

 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed

Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises

Hebrews 12:14

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled