Salvation belongs to the Lord! And nothing and no one will stand in His way.
God had a purpose for Pharaoh’s life: He would be the gate that God would batter down to display His power. With a purpose like that who could get excited about their destiny?! The only thing was . . .Pharaoh didn’t know his part in the script. God had seen slavery, Pharaoh, and the exodus of His people even before there was one of them. (Gen. 15) Picture of exodus with permission
Whenever I face an intimidating obstacle, I glance at this painting, and remember God has seen past this point and He can do anything. Also, and more importantly, God is today, and has been in the business all through history, of saving sinners from the kingdom of darkness, and bringing them into His kingdom where they are totally free!
Why did God send Jacob’s family into Egypt – hind sight being 20/20, they immigrated as a motley crew of 70 total, and came out by the most conservative estimates, two million people.
Egypt appears to have been a womb and it was time! They had to be free to serve God. Only He understood the formidable task that lay ahead for it was one thing to bring His people out of bondage, and an entirely different thing to cast bondage out of them.
Disciple’s perspective
1 Corinthians 10 likens the Red Sea crossing to baptism. That would make the Exodus a picture of salvation. God freed His people. Not one was left behind. God did it all with His own right hand! The Israelites would never forget the wailing they left behind as they triumphantly and hurriedly passed the city limits; which they had never dared to transgress. What a strange thing to walk without the cracking of a whip or a shout demanding compliance! Freedom! In their freedom, Jesus was clearly depicted as the Lamb without blemish and whose blood and flesh made their salvation possible.
They were never to forget but were to observe this memorial every year forever. Still today! Death passed them over because they lamb had given His life. Glory! Likewise, we must never forget Jesus, our Passover. Our memories can be short, which is why we must heed the urging of scripture (Ps. 103:2) not to forget His benefits.
Are you free? Free of death? Free of bondage? Free of the incessant strivings of the enemy of your soul? Or the cracking of his whip as he compels and controls?
Jesus has set you free if you will accept His free gift, repent of your sin and being your own boss, be baptized (more on this in Part II) and submit to follow Him. Let freedom ring!
Bible Reading list – Feb 12 -16 – this list has been modified to break on Saturdays from now on.
| DATE | READING | Commentary |
| Feb 12 | Exodus 35-36 | The Tabernacle |
| Feb 13 | Exodus 37-39 | Priestly Garments |
| Feb 14 | Exodus 40 | |
| Feb 15 | Numbers 7 | |
| Feb 16 | Numbers 8-9;Lev 1-3 | Offerings |