Servants – Page 2 – Praying Pint

42.c. “Let My People Go” – 10.b. Death and Passover

Exodus 12:29  At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

Job 34:20    In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3   For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Psalms 78:51   He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Psalms 135:8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast;

Hebrews 11:28    By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Psalms 105:38    Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.

James 2:13   For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Egypt and Pharaoh would not give God His firstborn – Israel (Exodus 4:22-23); so God took the firstborn of Egypt. Finally, Pharaoh knew that the LORD God was greater than all the Egyptian gods and was greater than Pharaoh himself – who was thought to be a god. Pharaoh didn’t simply allow Israel to leave; now he commanded them to go. This was just what the LORD told Moses would happen: When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. (Guzik)

What a scene of horror and distress must now have presented itself, when there was not a family in Egypt where there was not one dead!

The Egyptians had been for three days and nights kept in anxiety and horror by the darkness; now their rest is broken by a far more terrible calamity. The plague struck their first-born, the joy and hope of their families. They had slain the Hebrews’ children, now God slew theirs. It reached from the throne to the dungeon: prince and peasant stand upon the same level before God’s judgments. The destroying angel entered every dwelling unmarked with blood, as the messenger of woe. He did his dreadful errand, leaving not a house in which there was not one dead. Imagine then the cry that rang through the land of Egypt, the long, loud shriek of agony that burst from every dwelling. It will be thus in that dreadful hour when the Son of man shall visit sinners with the last judgment. God’s sons, his first-born, were now released. Men had better come to God’s terms at first, for he will never come to theirs. Now Pharaoh’s pride is abased, and he yields. God’s word will stand; we get nothing by disputing, or delaying to submit. In this terror the Egyptians would purchase the favour and the speedy departure of Israel. Thus the Lord took care that their hard-earned wages should be paid, and the people provided for their journey. (Henry)

at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt—At the moment when the Israelites were observing the newly instituted feast in the singular manner described, the threatened calamity overtook the Egyptians. It is more easy to imagine than describe the confusion and terror of that people suddenly roused from sleep and enveloped in darkness—none could assist their neighbors when the groans of the dying and the wild shrieks of mourners were heard everywhere around. The hope of every family was destroyed at a stroke. This judgment, terrible though it was, evinced the equity of divine retribution. For eighty years the Egyptians had caused the male children of the Israelites to be cast into the river [Ex 1:16], and now all their own first-born fell under the stroke of the destroying angel. They were made, in the justice of God, to feel something of what they had made His people feel. Many a time have the hands of sinners made the snares in which they have themselves been entangled, and fallen into the pit which they have dug for the righteous. (Brown)

I can’t even imagine the terror and horror this plague inflicted. I don’t know the devastation of losing a child. The sorrow, emptiness, and heartache have to be immense. All I can think to say to this passage is; “It is a terrible thing to fall under the judgment and commendation of the hand of God.” As terrible as this loss is felt by those who experience it, there is a time coming for those who reject and deny God’s redemption and salvation that will be much greater and last for eternity. This is the promise given by God to all who reject and deny Him. Eternity in Hell – an eternal living death of torment – forever and ever in agonizing death but not dying.

Just as the hour of death came unexpectedly to every Egyptian family so it will be to all those who reject and deny God, things of God, and the redemption and salvation made possible through Jesus Christ.

42.a. “Let My People Go” – 10. Promise of Death of all Firstborn of Egypt

Exodus 11:1  The LORD said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. So Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.   But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

Deuteronomy 4:34   Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Job 27:16-17   Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay,  he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.

Psalms 24:1  The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

Psalms 105:37   Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

Proverbs 13:22   A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Job 34:20    In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

Isaiah 42:13    The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.

Psalms 105:36    He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.

Psalms 135:8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast;

Proverbs 21:13    Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

Revelation 6:16-17   calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,  for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Despite the great calamity to come, God would grant the Egyptians the ability to see the situation as it really was: the fault of their own Pharaoh, not the fault of Moses or the children of Israel. Here for the fourth time we are told that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12, 10:20, 10:27, and 11:10). Yet God never hardened Pharaoh’s heart until he first hardened it against the LORD and His people (Exodus 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, and 9:7). (Guzik)

“The Lord hath put a difference between those who are his people and those who are not. There are many distinctions among men which will one day be blotted out; but permit me to remind you at the outset that this is an eternal distinction.” (Spurgeon)

Much could be said about the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and passages that show it to be of himself and passages that show it to be of God. A person can be tempted to say that it is not fair, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. But, clearly, Pharaoh hardened his own heart first. He did have free will to choose and he chose to defy God and the signs and wonders performed in His name. Let this be a warning and witness to all – a hardened heart does not start out like stone. No, it is soft and pliable but with continual and repeated intentional choosing to defy God, deny God, things of God, God’s creation, and God’s Word (written and proclaimed) the heart becomes harder and harder and harder. At some point, there is no possible softening. This is known to God.

God knows the beginning from the end. He knows who is His and who is not. He knows this before any person is born. There is nothing that happens on earth that would be a surprise to God, where He would say; “I did not see that happening”. God knows the beginning from the end. Every last bit of it. He knows the thoughts and intents of every single person born before they are born. He knows the hairs on the heads of every last person. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows who will honor and glorify Him. He knows who will repent. He knows who will believe. He knows who will abide in faith. He knows who will obey. He knows who will not. He knows who will be ushered into heaven and who will find eternity in Hell. He knows the sin(s) every man will commit before it is even a thought in their mind. Nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the beginning from the end.

Who is the man that they dare say to the Creator of all there is, “I am not at fault, You made me like this.” Each person is given knowledge of God in their innermost being and this knowledge is added to by the wonders of creation. No man is with an excuse when they stand before their Creator. It is by free will they choose to deny the One and only True God. They make images of wood and stone and bow down and worship the craft of their hands, or they deny any God at all. They harden their hearts day after day until the hardness is complete. They will never repent or believe in God and His redemption. They reject God’s Word, His grace, love, and mercy. They reject Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, salvation, and forgiveness. They reject eternal life and freely choose eternity in Hell, though they are warned 1,000 times.

While I write this I am humbled beyond words for I was once like these, without a care, without a need of God, without giving thought or concern to eternity, sin, death, heaven, hell, judgment, forgiveness, etc…. And yet, God, in His great mercy and love, softened my heart, opened my eyes and ears, and showed me my sin and the need for redemption, salvation, repentance, and forgiveness. I lived a life of no concern for God or things of God, and yet He pursued me, He kept knocking at the door of my heart, and at the right moment, He got my attention. At the right moment, a neighbor across the street (Rich) asked my wife and me to attend an evangelical meeting at the church they attended. It was at this meeting Thursday, March 22nd, 1979 my sin, God’s holiness, and my need for repentance and a savior were revealed deep within my heart and mind. I know there was nothing deserving within me of this grace and mercy – trust me I know. However, God’s great love brought me to the point of believing or rejecting. As I say this it is not as though I could have rejected it. I don’t really know how to explain it. The message preached and my need so revealed that there was no way I could say no to the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I don’t know how many times I reject God and things of God throughout my life up to the point of being saved. God does and I am sure it was a lot. God’s grace, mercy, and love are deep and wide. And yet, they have boundaries. These boundaries include “Faith and Repentance” (trust, obedience, reliance, honor, and glory to Jesus Christ). Good intentions, wishing, hoping, denying, rejecting, self-reliance, etc… all fall short of these boundaries of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

Oh, that all of you would see the sinfulness of sin, the Holiness of God, and the need for repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.

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.v. “Let My People Go” – 4. Flies

Exodus 8:20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” And the LORD did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us.” So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

There is no record of a specific reply from Pharaoh to this request, but since the plague came, he obviously did not soften his heart towards the LORD God or Israel. Perhaps the reaction was not described because there was no reaction; perhaps he ignored Moses’ message. This is the first mention of the idea that the land of Goshen (where most the Israelites lived) was spared in the plagues. Possibly, the people of Israel suffered at least somewhat under the previous plagues. To a large extent, they would be spared in this fourth plague. God wanted Pharaoh to know that there was something special about the people of Israel. Pharaoh refused to recognize this, so the plagues continued. (Guzik)

Pharaoh was early at his false devotions to the river; and shall we be for more sleep and more slumber, when any service to the Lord is to be done? The Egyptians and the Hebrews were to be marked in the plague of flies. The Lord knows them that are his, and will make it appear, perhaps in this world, certainly in the other, that he has set them apart for himself. Pharaoh unwillingly entered into a treaty with Moses and Aaron. He is content they should sacrifice to their God, provided they would do it in the land of Egypt. But it would be an abomination to God, should they offer the Egyptian sacrifices; and it would be an abomination to the Egyptians, should they offer to God the objects of the worship of the Egyptians, namely, their calves or oxen. Those who would offer acceptable sacrifice to God, must separate themselves from the wicked and profane. They must also retire from the world. Israel cannot keep the feast of the Lord, either among the brick-kilns or among the flesh-pots of Egypt. And they must sacrifice as God shall command, not otherwise. Though they were in slavery to Pharaoh, yet they must obey God’s commands. Pharaoh consents for them to go into the wilderness, provided they do not go so far but that he might fetch them back again. Thus, some sinners, in a pang of conviction, part with their sins, yet are loth they should go very far away; for when the fright is over, they will turn to them again. Moses promised the removal of this plague. But let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: if we think to cheat God by a sham repentance and a false surrender of ourselves to him, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. Pharaoh returned to his hardness. Reigning lusts break through the strongest bonds, and make men presume and go from their word. Many seem in earnest, but there is some reserve, some beloved, secret sin. They are unwilling to look upon themselves as in danger of everlasting misery. They will refrain from other sins; they do much, give much, and even punish themselves much. They will leave it off sometimes, and, as it were, let their sin depart a little way; but will not make up their minds to part with all and follow Christ, bearing the cross. Rather than that, they venture all. They are sorrowful, but depart from Christ, determined to keep the world at present, and they hope for some future season, when salvation may be had without such costly sacrifices; but, at length, the poor sinner is driven away in his wickedness, and left without hope to lament his folly. (Henry)

The call of God to every individual is special and specific to them. This call on a person’s life can come at any moment and in any form that God alone chooses and ordains. This call will be in line with His Word and promises. It is hard to tell how many times this call to repentance and salvation will occur in a person’s life. I do know that at some point the heart becomes harder and more determined at rejecting and denying this call. How many people are in Hell right now that would give anything to have one more chance at redemption? How many are living right now with a hardened heart and a one-way ticket to Hell? How many reject the call of God without giving a pacing glance or nod toward eternity and things of God? Wide is the road that leads to eternal Hell and narrow is the gate to eternal Heaven – few there be that find it. Don’t let the things of this world or the wisdom of this world consume your soul. This world will go on chasing after meaningless ventures and crafty ideals, being led by people, like Pharaoh who give no thought to God and things of God.

41.r. “So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded”

Exodus 7:8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

The first time Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh everything seemed to go wrong. It took courage for them to go to Pharaoh again, but Moses simply obeyed God. In the midst of an unmistakable miracle, Satan provided Pharaoh with a reason to doubt – and Pharaoh seized on the doubt and hardened his heart. Miracles – or at least apparent miracles – are part of Satan’s arsenal. Paul later wrote on this theme: The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). These Egyptian magicians were intelligent, learned men; but they lacked the wisdom of God, as Paul observed concerning them in 2 Timothy 3:7-9: Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. (Guzik)

Unless they were misdoubted, it was not for them to produce their credentials. Hence they worked no miracle at their former interview. Now, however, the time was come when their credentials would be demanded, and an express command was given them to exhibit the first “sign.” What men dislike, because it opposes their pride and lusts, they will not be convinced of; but it is easy to cause them to believe things they wish to be true. God always sends with his word full proofs of its Divine authority; but when men are bent to disobey, and willing to object, he often permits a snare to be laid wherein they are entangled. The magicians were cheats, trying to copy the real miracles of Moses by secret sleights or jugglings, which to a small extent they succeeded in doing, so as to deceive the bystanders, but they were at length obliged to confess they could not any longer imitate the effects of Divine power. None assist more in the destruction of sinners, than such as resist the truth by amusing men with a counterfeit resemblance of it. (Henry)

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers, &c.—His object in calling them was to ascertain whether this doing of Aaron’s was really a work of divine power or merely a feat of magical art

2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

Paul calls out the names of those who were called by Pharaoh to perform miracles in comparison to Moses and Aaron. I wonder what these men would say to us today. They have spent over 3,000 years in hell and torment. Would they say Believe in God, Satan is a liar, or Hell and torments for eternity is real? Would they say Keep your heart and mind pure, your eyes focused, and listen to things of God with a deep desire to honor and glorify Him? As much as I want to think this is what they would come to say, it is more probable that they would forever be cussing at God and things of God.

Things of this world, Satan, and our natural sinful desires will always try to distract us away from God, serving God, following God, obeying God, trusting God, relying on God, the Word of God, and things of God. Anyone one of the things of this world, Satan, and our natural sinful desires can water down the truth and impact of God’s Word in our lives. They can lead us toward apathy, stagnation, deadness, neglect, complacency, and indifference, and will leave us void, empty, and unsatisfied, unholy, ungodly, and convince us that we have the appearance of righteousness, but in reality – Deceived.

41.k. “Why did you ever send me?”

Exodus 5:10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Moses went to the Israelites as directed by God and spoke what god directed him to say. The people bowed and worshipped God because of these words. Moses went to Pharaoh and spoke the words God gave him to speak. Pharaoh was pretty upset that these slave people would even think to come to him with such a request. Pharaoh, in turn, says, “obviously you have to much time on your hands and because of that you are having too much time to think about anything other than serving me, so now you will gather your own straw to make the quota of bricks you are assigned. This was impossible but Pharaoh never withdrew this requirement and beat the foreman of those making the bricks for falling short. The foreman went to Pharaoh and said why do you treat us like this. Pharaoh said; “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD. Go now and work.” The foreman saw they were in trouble and when they met Moses after speaking with Pharaoh they said to Moses. The Lord look on you and judge you for what you have caused upon us.

Moses turned to the Lord and asks why have you done evil to these people and why did you send him. You have not delivered them.

The foreman wanted judgment against Moses and Moses wanted to blame God. Both expected God’s promise of deliverance to be handled immediately and they reacted with doubt and blame. Would we have been any different? We might look at this and think in our hearts we would not, but we are not being treated harshly after being given the words of encouragement and the promise of deliverance by God through Moses. I wonder how close this lack of faith in God and His promises hits home in our hearts and minds. Any Christian who is walking with God and seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Jesus Christ will encounter times of trials and troubles as they are being led by the Holy Spirit. The point to remember is that we have been given the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, direct, teach, and comfort us through these times. The problem is that far too many “Christians” are not seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and do. It would seem their hope is built on the comforts of life rather than the Word of God. They have no hope because there is no growth upon the foundation of salvation. Shallowness, complacency, and neglecting God’s Word will never increase our reliance and dependence upon Him, but rather cause us to become judgmental and blaming.

We are without excuse in light of all that has been given to this generation. We live in a time that knows with historical and biblical truth that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, sent to redeem mankind, die and rose again, and is coming again. We have been given God’s Word in written form and it has been made available through every means possible with technology. No one has any excuse for the neglect it is given. No one has any excuse to live ignorant of it.

We are to be a Holy people that live for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do, a light in the darkness, and able to give witness to the hope that is within us. How do we know what it means to honor and glorify Jesus Christ when we lack in desire for this very purpose?

40.e. “But we do not want you to be uninformed”

Genesis 50:1 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

Genesis 23:2     And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

Mark 5:38-39    They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

John 11:35-36     Jesus wept.  So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Acts 8:2     Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13     But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Though pious relatives and friends have lived to a good old age, and we are confident they are gone to glory, yet we may regret our own loss, and pay respect to their memory by lamenting them. Grace does not destroy, but it purifies, moderates, and regulates natural affection. The departed soul is out of the reach of any tokens of our affection; but it is proper to show respect to the body, of which we look for a glorious and joyful resurrection, whatever may become of its remains in this world. Thus Joseph showed his faith in God, and love to his father. He ordered the body to be embalmed, or wrapped up with spices, to preserve it. (Henry)

With the loss of a sibling, parent, spouse, or child there are so many emotions that flood our hearts and minds. None of these ever reach the ear of the departed. None of these emotions of loss, love, sorrow, and heartache will be heard by those departed. It is natural to mourn the loss of a loved one or to mourn with a friend who has lost a loved one. Many times our sorrow in their death is because we have left some things unsaid or undone. Maybe we haven’t communicated to them just how much they meant to us or how much they have influenced our lives. We may have had hopes for their lives. We mourn and it is natural. The loss of a loved one hurts our heart. Nothing could hurt the heart more than a loved one who dies not knowing or committing to God’s love, grace, and mercy through Jesus Christ. Let it be our goal to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do, and when our time on earth is complete and there is mourning for our passing, let it be short-lived and turned into rejoicing and praise because we have passed from death to life with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

39.x. “Battles and blessings”

Genesis 49:19 “Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels.

Numbers 32:29 And Moses said to them, “If the people of Gad and the people of Reuben, every man who is armed to battle before the LORD, will pass with you over the Jordan and the land shall be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. However, if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.” And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben answered, “What the LORD has said to your servants, we will do. We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.”

Deuteronomy 33:20-21 And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander’s portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments for Israel.”

In the days of Jeremiah (among other times), foreign armies oppressed Gad (Jeremiah 49:1). Yet victory would be his in the end. (Guzik)

“This has been the blessing of many a child of God – to fight, and apparently to lose the battle, yet to win it at the end.” (Spurgeon)

Concerning Gad, Jacob alludes to his name, which signifies a troop, and foresees the character of that tribe. The cause of God and his people, though for a time it may seem to be baffled and run down, will be victorious at last. It represents the Christian’s conflict. Grace in the soul is often foiled in its conflicts; troops of corruption overcome it, but the cause is God’s, and grace will in the end come off conqueror, yea, more than conqueror, Ro 8:37. (Henry)

When our battles and trials are made and fought within our own doing the outcome is bad for us. When our battles and trials are surrendered into the hands of God the outcome and victory is His and the blessing ours. God is all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful. We do well to remember this and subject the things of this world that afflict us into His hands and keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ with our hearts and minds seeking to honor and glorify Him in all we think, say, and do.

39.l. “Why should we die before your eyes?”

Genesis 47:13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.

Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph’s advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God’s providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are at God’s mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we smart by our own want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but they regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor. The whole is consistent with Joseph’s character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to become his servants. (Henry)

In a national crisis, the power of the central government will increase. We certainly have seen this fruit being manifested. A seven-year famine will certainly be a national crisis and the power of the central government should increase. However, when a government unleashes a fear campaign and controls news and media narratives they are able to get the sheep to follow. If only it was fearful respect for God that would drive these sheep to follow after Him. Often fear is based on unknown outcomes with the threat of those outcomes impacting that person. Trusting in God and relying on His grace, mercy, and love will guard your heart against the fear that easily leads sheep to follow after worldly wisdom and action.

We all stand before God bankrupt. When we come to Him through Jesus Christ our debt is forgiven. Though you may have lived 10, 20, 30, or 60, years in famine to God’s grace, mercy, and, love, now is the time to humbly come before Him acknowledging your bankrupt soul and gain eternal life for your soul through belief, trust, and reliance on the blood of Jesus Christ to cover your debt.

39.k. “For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 46:31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ When Pharaoh calls you and says, What is your occupation?’ you shall say, Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 47:1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.”

“For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians”. There are many comments and thoughts as to why this is so, but for whatever reason, the Egyptians looked down on shepherds with disgrace, aversion, disdain, disgust, contempt, etc…. Joseph knew this and also had to have been led by God in his thoughts. Joseph was not the least bit worried about telling Pharaoh that his family came from a line of shepherds. Joseph was not ashamed to say this was his family. He also may have had thoughts of trying to keep his family away from the Egyptian culture and their customs and to mark his family in such a way that the Egyptians would willingly stay away from them.

God has a plan for every life if they would but seek Him first in their hearts and minds. For some, this may result in high-profile positions with great influence and power, and responsibility. For others, it may result in occupations and positions less so. Learning to be content in God’s plan for our lives and occupations is not an easy thing. In the guise of contentment, some are just lazy misfits with no drive to succeed or be under the influence of God’s direction. Likewise, there are those who strive for wealth, power, status, and worldly recognition outside of God’s influence in their lives and they are never content. Both of these groups of people and everyone in between has a commonality, God is not in their lives. He is not first in their lives. They are influenced by worldly passions and what the world deems proper and important. Being content can only come to the hearts and minds of those who have learned to follow after God and seek Him first, and purposing to honor and glorify Him in all they think, say, and do. They will have been given discernment and be able to hear the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirits leading in their lives and being able to distinguish worldly from Godly. There is no God-ordained occupation below any of us.

Early in my career I had a garbage route and picked up garbage in a small town with a pickup truck. I also cleaned toilets in an administration building for a biological vaccine manufacturing company. I was also a master plumber. In all that I did God gave me purpose and contentment. At the end of my career, I was a CEO of a biological vaccine manufacturing company. I had no formal post-high school education. God will use and place those where He chooses and content are they who find their contentment in Him.