~~~~~Lesson: Exodus: First Five Plagues (Reading After Lesson)
Today we're going to cover the first five plagues that came upon the Egyptians. Moses requested permission for the Israelites to go to the desert for three days to worship their God, and Pharaoh replied by increasing their workload- aka: making bricks without straw. The ten plagues are often debated, as is much of the Exodus story. I'm sure most of you have heard of it, but there is a "non-God-involved" explanation in some circles for the plagues. The basic explanation is that a volcano erupted, causing red ash to fall into the river, making it appear as if the water had turned to blood. All of the fish died from the elements in the ash poisoning them. The frogs all fled the water, making people think there was a plague of frogs. As all of the fish and frogs died, the gnats came to feast on the remains, as did the flies. I'll explain the rest of it when we read about the last five plagues. Question: Can there be a scientific explanation for a "miraculous" event and still have it be led by God? Or if God is involved, does that mean that there cannot possibly be an explanation that we can understand? -or- in other words, are science and God mutually exclusive? If so, why? If not, why? ~Reading: Exodus 4-9 Staff into snake: Exodus 4:8-9, 12-13 (8-9) The Lord told Moses and Aaron, "If Pharaoh demands that you work a sign or wonder, you shall say to Aaron: Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will be changed into a snake." (12-13) Each one [Pharaoh's magicians] threw down his staff, and it was changed into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed their staffs. Pharaoh, however, was obstinate and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had foretold. First Plague: Water Turned Into Blood: Exodus 7:15-16, 20-21 (15-16) Tomorrow morning, when he [Pharaoh] sets out for the water, go and present yourself by the river bank, holding in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. Say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you with the message: Let my people go to worship me in the desert. But as yet you have not listened. (20-21) Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the waters of the river in full view of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water of the river was changed into blood. The fish in the river died, and the river itself became so polluted that the Egyptians could not drink its water. There was blood throughout the land of Egypt. Second Plague: the Frogs Exodus 7:25-27, 8:2, 4, 8-9, 11 (7:25-27) Seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him: Thus says the Lord: Let my people go to worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I warn you, I will a send a plague of frogs over all your territory. (8:2)Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. (4)Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray the Lord to remove the frogs from me and my subjects, and I will let the people go off to offer sacrifice to the Lord." (8-9)After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh's presence, Moses implored the Lord to fulfill the promise he had made to Pharaoh about the frogs; and the Lord did as Moses had asked. The frogs in the houses and the courtyards and fields died off. (11) But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he became obdurate and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had foretold. Third Plague: the Gnats: Exodus 8:13, 15 (13) They [Moses and Aaron] did so. Aaron stretched out his hand, and with his staff he struck the dust of the earth, and gnats came upon man and beast. The dust of the earth was turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt. (15) The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." Yet Pharaoh remained obstinate and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had foretold. Fourth Plague: the Flies: Exodus 8:18-20, 26-28 (18-20) [The Lord said:] But on that day I will make an exception of the land of Goshen: there shall be no flies where my people dwell, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. I will make this distinction between my people and your people. This sign shall take place tomorrow." This the Lord did. Thick swarms of flies entered the house of Pharaoh and houses of his servants; throughout Egypt the land was infested with flies. (26-28) When Moses left Pharaoh's presence, he prayed to the Lord; and the Lord did as Moses had asked. He removed the flies from Pharaoh and his servants and subjects. Not one remained. But once more Pharaoh became obdurate and would not let the people go. Fifth Plague: the Pestilence: Exodus 9:2-3, 6-7 (2-3) If you refuse to let them go and persist in holding them, I warn you, the Lord will afflict all your livestock in the field- your horses, asses, camels, herds, and flocks- with a very sever pestilence. (6-7) And on the next day the Lord did so. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one beast belonging to the Israelites. But though Pharaoh's messengers informed him that not even one beast belonging to the Israelites had died, he still remained obdurate and would not let the people go.
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There were three festivals in ancient Israel that required (or at least strongly recommended) a trip to Jerusalem. These were the Passover, Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths.
Passover was, of course, was to commemorate the manner in which the Lord spared the Israelites when he was striking the Egyptians (see Exodus). Passover took place on the tenth day of the first month of the Hebrew calendar (which is equivalent to our late March to early April). During this festival, a sacrificial lamb was slaughtered (all of the meat must be eaten on that one day according to custom). The second was the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost [Shavout]). This occurred seven weeks after Passover, and was a day of sacred assembly that required that no work be done. The primary focus of this festival was thankfulness to God (usually for the wheat harvest). There were detailed list of what be offered to God on behalf of the nation. The final one was The Feast of Booths (also called Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth). This final feast was important as it was very close to two other important days in the Jewish year. The Feast of Booths took place on the fifteen day of the seventh month, which was called Tishri (equivalent to our late Sept. to early Oct.). Tishri had the Feast of Trumpets (first day of month), Day of Atonement (tenth day of month), and the Feast of Tabernacles (fifteenth day of month). For the Feast of Booths, people camped out in small huts for five days (day of atonement to first day of feast of booths) to recall the 40 years spent in the desert. This week was a time of final celebration and thanksgiving for the year's harvest. One of my favorite parts of Bible study is breaking out the maps and looking at the paths that the people in the Bible actually walked. My favorite bible for maps is the Archeological Study Bible. I've been browsing around and finally found their site online. Here is a link to their maps: http://www.archaeologicalstudybible.com/maps.htm
Note: I am NOT being paid to recommend this....I just like it. In case the map is too small, here is another one that shows the exodus route: http://www.bible-history.com/maps/Map-Route-Exodus-Israelites-Egypt.jpg Question: When you read the Bible, have you/do you look at maps and other resources to better understand the Bible? ~~~~~Lesson: Exodus: Chapters 4-6 (reading below lesson)
Moses goes and does what God tells him. He is immediately "rewarded" with seeing the situation getting worse, as Pharaoh interprets the Israelite’s desire to go worship in the desert as an attempt to shirk their duties. Question: Do you sometimes feel that even when you are doing God's will, things get worse? If it's not too personal, can you give an example? Now we know that later they are all freed, not just for a three-day trip to the desert, but forever rescued from Egypt. The initial situation getting worse was simply a small step towards total freedom. The Israelites become free. Question: Have you ever felt that someone else’s prayers have helped you through a situation? Pharaoh's initial reaction to being told things must change is total rejection of the idea. We often instinctively react to change by rejection. Question: Is there an area in which we can/did change for the better? When someone or God first suggested it, did you reject the idea? ~Reading: Exodus: Chapters 4-6 (4:27-31) The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to meet Moses." So he went, and when they met at the mountain of God, Aaron kissed him. Moses informed him of all the Lord had said in sending him, and of the various signs he had enjoined upon him. Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites. Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses, and he performed the signs before the people. The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their affliction, they bowed down in worship. (5:1-2) After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the desert." Pharaoh answered, "Who is the Lord, that I should heed his plea to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord; even if I did, I would not let Israel go." (5:6-9) That very day Pharaoh gave the taskmasters and foremen of the people this order: "You shall no longer supply the people with straw for their brickmaking as you have previously done. Let them go and gather straw themselves! Yet you shall levy upon them the same quota of bricks as they have previously made. Do not reduce it. They are lazy; that is why they are crying, 'Let us go to offer sacrifice to our God.' Increase their work for the men, so that they keep their mind on it and pay to attention to lying words." (5:19-23) The Israelite foremen knew they were in a sorry plight, having been told not to reduce the daily amount of bricks. When, therefore, they left Pharaoh and came upon Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them, they said to them, "The Lord look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hands to slay us." (6:28-7:7) On the day the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, he said, "I am the Lord. Repeat to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I tell you." But Moses protested to the Lord, "Since I am a poor speaker, how can it be that Pharaoh will listen to me?" The Lord answered him, "See! I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall act as your prophet. You shall tell him all that I command you. In turn, your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave his land. Yet I will make Pharaoh so obstinate that, despite the many signs and wonders that I will work in the land of Egypt, he will not listen to you. Therefore I will lay my hand on Egypt and by great acts of judgment I will bring the hosts of my people, the Israelites, out of the land of Egypt, so that the Egyptians may learn that I am the Lord, as I stretch out my hand against Egypt and lead the Israelites out of their midst." Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh. During the Jubilee Year, which occurred every 70 years, all property reverted back to the Israelite family who had originally owned it. Land could be "sold" outside of the tribe, but only for the period until the next Jubilee. This was to ensure an equality among the 12 tribes.
~~~~~Lesson: Exodus 3:11-4:17 (reading below lesson)
Look at the humanness of Moses when called by God. When reading the passage, notice how many times and ways Moses tries to "get out of" what God wants him to do. This is NOT laziness on Moses part; it is a natural humility that any human would feel when given a task by God. Imagine for a moment you're out getting groceries....out of the trees next to the store you see a light and go towards it, naturally curious. Is there a fire? Should you call someone? You see a burning bush, a wondrous green, beautiful plant that is glowing with beautiful colors that resemble flames. You hear God's voice.... At this point, what would you feel? What do you think Moses felt? Try to come up with an example that would be today's "equivalent" of Moses' call. Could you fulfill it? What is your favorite part of the passage and why? ~Reading: Exodus 3:11-4:17 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" He answered, "I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain." "But," said Moses to God, "when I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?" God replied, "I am who am." Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you." God spoke further to Moses, "Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. 'This is my name forever, this is my title for all generations' "Go and assemble the elders of the Israelites, and tell them: God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I am concerned about you and the way you are being treated in Egypt; so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey. Thus they will heed your message. Thus 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 sent us word. Permit us, then, to go a three-days' journey in the desert, that we may offer sacrifice to the Lord, our God. Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is forced. I will stretch out my hand, therefore, and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there. After that he will send you away. I will even make the Egyptians so well-disposed towards this people that, when you leave, you will not go empty-handed. Every woman shall ask her neighbor and her house guest for silver and gold articles and for clothing to put on your sons and daughters. Thus you will despoil the Egyptians." "But," objected Moses, "suppose they will not believe me, nor listen to my plea? For they may say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'" The Lord therefore asked him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he answered. The Lord then said, "Throw it on the ground." When he threw it on the ground it was changed into a serpent, and Moses shied away from it. "Now, put out your hand," the Lord said to him, "and take hold of its tail." So he put out his hand and laid hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand. "This will take place so that they may believe," he continued, "that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, did appear to you." Again the Lord said to him, "Put you hand in your bosom," He put it in his bosom, and when he withdrew it, to his surprise his hand was leprous, like snow. The Lord then said, "Now, put you hand back in your bosom." Moses put his hand back in his bosom, and when he withdrew it, to his surprise it was again like the rest of his body. "If they will not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, they should believe the message of the second. And if they will not believe even these two signs, nor heed your plea, take some water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water you take from the river will become blood on the dry land." Moses, however, said to the Lord, "If you please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past, nor recently, nor now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue." The Lord said to him, "Who gives one man speech and makes another deaf and dumb? Or who gives sight to one and makes another blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Go, then! It is I who will assist you in speaking and will teach you what you are to say." Yet he insisted, "If you please, Lord, send someone else!" Then the Lord became angry with Moses and said, "Have you not a brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he is eloquent speaker. Besides, he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, his heart will be glad. You are to speak to him, then, and put the words in his mouth. I will assist both you and him in speaking and will teach the two of you what you are to do. he shall speak to the people for you: he shall be your spokesman, and you shall be as God to him. Take this staff in your hand; with it you are to perform the signs. Dream interpretation was very important to almost every ancient culture. The Babylonians and Egyptians both kept "dream books" in which sample dreams and their common interpretations were written down.
~~~~~Lesson: Exodus: Chapter 3:1-10 (reading after lesson)
When Moses goes into God's presence, he tells him to remove his sandals, for he is on holy ground. A large issue today is what clothes to wear to church. I've heard this from so many people and they are so vehement, I really wanted to ask you. Do you think "dressing up" is required for going to church (especially on Sundays)? If so or if no, why?? God promises the Israelites land that other people are living in. Later we'll do a brief discussion of these people and where they came from. Why do you think God chose that section of land? Did it have special meaning? Was it the best land around? Were the people living there ungodly? ~Reading: Exodus 3:1-10 Meanwhile, Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, "I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned." When the Lord saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am." God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father," he continued, "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. But the Lord said, "I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good a spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites, Hittities, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. So indeed the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." During multiple times throughout the history of Israel, it was tradition for the Torah to be read aloud once a year at the temple. Since most of the "common people" couldn't read, this was the only time they could hear the entire Torah read aloud to them. In addition, parts of the Torah were often read each week at the Synagogue.
~~~~~Lesson: Exodus: Chapter 2:11-25 (reading after lesson)
It doesn't say in the bible at which point during his upbringing that Moses became aware that he was Hebrew. We can make guesses, but they are that, only guesses. I personally think it was after he was grown- he must have seen Egyptian's striking Hebrews hundreds, if not thousands, of times, but it didn't bother him until now. Just as a fun guess, when do you think Moses found out he was a Hebrew and not an Egyptian? Moses kills someone. It is easy to gloss over the verse, and almost dismiss it. One of the greatest men in the bible started out as a murderer. Take a moment to think about that. Often we feel as if there couldn't possibly be an important task for us to complete- that we are not "important" enough to be special. Can you name another important person in the bible who committed a "big" sin before they started on God's work? This chapter ends in a completely odd way (some versions have something written here- it depends on the version of the Bible you use). We have four sentences and it ends with "..." "God saw the Israelites and knew..." What do you think God knew? Can you think of a reason he would wait so long before helping to deliver them? One king changes to another and still they suffer in slavery....do current changes in leaders- in our country, other countries, out cities- really mean change? Do you think the king of Egypt was concerned with the Israelites or do you think he thought they "deserved" slavery? ~Reading: Exodus 2:11-25 On one occasion, after Moses had grown up, when he visited his kinsmen and witnessed their forces labor, he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen. Looking about and seeing no one, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So he asked the culprit, "Why are you striking your fellow Hebrew?" But he replied, "Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses became afraid and thought, "The affair most certainly be known." Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put him to death. But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian. As he was seated there by a well, seven daughters of a priest of Midian came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock. But some shepherds came and drove them away. Then Moses got up and defended them and watered their flock. When they returned to their father Reuel, he said to them, "How is it you have returned so soon today?" They answered, "An Egyptian saved us from the interference of the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock!" "Where is the man?" he asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him there? Invite him to have something to eat." Moses agreed to live with him, and the man gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. She bore him a son, whom he named Gershom; for he said, "I am a stranger in a foreign land." A long time passed, during which the king of Egypt died. Still the Israelites groaned and cried out because of their slavery. As their cry for release went up to God, he heard their groaning and was mindful of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He saw the Israelites and knew... |
Jennifer Becker Landsberger
Who am I? Freelance writer (magazines, websites, & copywriting), Catholic, military wife, and Mensan. Double Bachelor's in History & Psychology. Witnessing by charity and love are above all. Studying the Bible and beyond helps me on this quest. Feel free to join my walk into the Bible.
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If you found the information helpful, even a small donation would be wonderful! Thank you & God bless you. ~~~Prayer before Writing-
Oh creator of the universe, who has set the stars in the heavens and causes the sun to rise and set, shed the light of your wisdom into the darkness of my mind. Fill my thoughts with a loving knowledge of you, that I may bring you like to others. Just as you can make even babies speak your truth, instruct my tongue and guide my pen to convey the wonderful glory of the Gospel. Make my intellect sharp, my memory clear, and my words eloquent, so that I may faithfully interpret the mysteries what you have revealed. Categories
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To my readers & fellow writers,
I promise: 1. I will pray that God's grace helps illuminate all of our interactions- both those of simple reading and more active conversations. 2. I will communicate with you respectfully and civilly. These are (rightly) issues which we feel passionate about. But even in disagreements, I will respect you fellow "seekers of truth." 3. I will not fall into negative behavior or words, such as insinuations, exaggerations, blames, or personal attacks. I respectfully ask you to do the same. 4. I will pray we will all find the truth and strive to fulfill the two greatest commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31) This site will occasionally feature paid posts! I always 100% verify everything I endorse. You will not see posts for products or sites I would not use myself.
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