15 Days Through the Bible: Day 7
As we head out of the book of Genesis, we will move into the final four books that Moses wrote, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These books contain the history and the God given laws of the Israelite nation.
The family of Jacob that initially moved into Egypt to escape the famine has grown into millions of people.
Joseph has passed away and a new Pharoah is is sitting on the throne, things have changed. In fear of their rapidly growing numbers this new Pharoah orders all the baby boys born to the Israelites to be thrown into the Nile River as soon as they are born.
Through the faithfulness of Godly midwives many of the babies are spared.
One special baby boy is saved and kept in hiding with his family until he is 3 months old. His mother makes him a waterproof basket and send him floating up to Pharaohs daughter as she is bathing in the Nile River.
God ensure that he is found by Pharoah's daughter. She raises him as her own son.
As an adult Moses realizes he is an Israelite. He kills an Egyptian for mistreating an Israelite slave.
HIS LIFE IS NOW IN DANGER AND HE RUNS.
40 Years Passes.
Moses is a shepherd in the dessert of Midian.
bush. He tells him that he has heard Israel's cries and seen their pain. Moses is to go to Pharaoh and free his people.
Moses is not thrilled with the plan and makes excuses. God gives him some miracles to perfom and allows him the help of his brother Aaron.
They approach Pharoah.
God sends 10 terrible plagues meant to display His ultimate power.
God sends 10 terrible plagues meant to display His ultimate power.
Each plague builds on the next.
In the final plague we see a beautiful foreshadow of the Messiah and His plan for Israel (and eventually The Church)
This final plague which took the lives of the firstborn of anyone that did not obey the commands of God took of all was meant to be remembered for all time in an annual ceremony called the Passover. It was in this final plague that the angel of death "passed over" the homes with the sacrificial blood of a lamb on the doorposts. This as a sign of faith.
Each Israelite family had to obey a strict set of instructions on the night the plague took place. They sacrificed a lamb and spread the blood on the doorpost in order to be spared the death that would happen that night. Without the lamb acting as a sacrificial substitute, death would be the price for unbelief and disobedience. They had to choose to believe, obey and live.
God takes his people from Pharaohs grip through the Red Sea on dry land and into the desert: their destination, the Promised Land flowing with "Milk and Honey"!
The next day, they left Egypt with Moses leading the way, and the Egyptians happy to see them go.
On their journey they were fed by God, wafers from heaven (called manna", given sweet miraculous water and guided by God himself; yet they complain, whine, and ask, more than once, to be taken back to slavery where "at least they had good things to eat".
The next day, they left Egypt with Moses leading the way, and the Egyptians happy to see them go.
On their journey they were fed by God, wafers from heaven (called manna", given sweet miraculous water and guided by God himself; yet they complain, whine, and ask, more than once, to be taken back to slavery where "at least they had good things to eat".
Moses pleads with God on their behalf and keeps them from being torched on the spot for their ungratefulness more than once.
It is during this time that God gives the Israelites laws and a form of government. These are meant to teach them that: (Exodus 20 - the end of Leviticus)
He also used the system of laws and sacrifices to help them fully understand some VERY important points:
THEY FINALLY GET TO THE PROMISED LAND IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS 13-14.
The people send spies in to check out the promised land. When the spies get back the report is terrifying. 10 spies doubt God will defeat the people in the promised land, and the people listen to them
They follow God. They don't follow God. They are conquered. They cry out to God. He rescues them.
Eventually they cry out for a king so that they can be "like all the nations around them".
Hebrews 9
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
It is during this time that God gives the Israelites laws and a form of government. These are meant to teach them that: (Exodus 20 - the end of Leviticus)
- God is their ruler and if they will hear Him, obey Him, trust Him and follow Him.
- He will go before them, provide for them and live among them (as long as they obey).
- He loves them jealously and will not have their love or devotion shared with idols or other gods'
- They are to be different than the nations around them. THEY ARE SET APART FROM THE WORLD. THEY ARE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. HIS TREASURE.
- They were to follow one God, not many gods.
- God is their ruler. They belong to Him.
He also used the system of laws and sacrifices to help them fully understand some VERY important points:
- God is holy and cannot be in relationship with sin. They were to be holy as He is holy.
- The law showed them how impossible it was to stay holy for longer than 10 minutes at a time.
- A system of sacrifices were necessary to pay for each unholy or sinful act.
- They needed a Savior.
God has them build a traveling tabernacle, with a special room that only the high priest could enter. This room is called the holy of holies. God would meet their with the high priest and their sins would be atoned for. God dwelt here. The priest went in place of the people.
THEY FINALLY GET TO THE PROMISED LAND IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS 13-14.
2 of the spies try to pursued the people to trust, but they don't listen.
The doubting generation is sentenced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
The next generation vows to follow Gods ways as their fathers did not.
Moses passes away. He is not allowed to enter the promised land.
God commands the people to empty the land of the idol worshippers that live there so they will not be tempted to live like them.
They enter and "almost" conquer the promised land following God's newly appointed leader, Joshua (read this account in the book of Judges)
God sends Judges (read this account in the book of Judges) to remind them to follow His ways.
He tells them through the Judge that if they don't obey they will be overcome by their enemies.
The have short memories. A series of events takes place in a loop.
They follow God. They don't follow God. They are conquered. They cry out to God. He rescues them.
LATHER RINSE REPEAT.
In this act they are rejecting God as their leader. God warns them what it will mean to have a king: taxes, army inscription, etc. They still ask for a king.
God gives them what they ask for.
King Saul is the first King. (In the book of l Samuel)
Judges 21:25
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.
A foretaste of what is to come!
Hebrews 9
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
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