Exodus{ a summary )part 2
On escaping from Egypt, Moses eventually settled in Midian.
Having rescued the daughters of Jethro from being harassed at the well,
He was welcomed into the family, marrying one of his daughters and becoming a shepherd in Midian
Many years pass, during which Moses has a son; before he has an amazing experience which was to turn his life around.
This happened when he was grazing his sheep on the slopes of mount Sinai,
His attention was drawn to a bush which was burning yet unconsumed!
A voice calling him by name emanating from it informed him he was standing on ‘holy ground’ right there upon Sinai
The inference was plain, he was in the presence of a divine being and Moses hid his face in fear.
The voice went on to say God was aware of the plight of the Hebrews in Egypt.
Moses therefore had been chosen to release the people of God from slavery and take them back to their homeland.
Nonplussed by this, Moses expressed reasons why he was unsuited for the task; no longer being the proud prince who had left Egypt.
These excuses were all dealt with by a gracious God, and finally he left Midian to meet up with Aaron, his brother, to fulfill the will of God.
Assured then, that God was with him, ever present in keeping with the name He identified Himself by….I AM
With miraculous signs, the elders were convinced of his commission to appeal to Pharaoh to let him go.
Needless to say, this was dismissed by Pharaoh who increased their burden, openly defying the great I AM.
Moses an Aaron, however, returned warning him of the consequences of his actions. And so began a series of disasters for Egypt.
Each of these ‘plagues’ affected only the Egyptians and miraculously started and stopped at the word of Moses.
They demonstrated the impotence of the many gods worshipped by the Egyptians
There were nine of these which were stopped and started as Pharaoh agreed and then broke his word to Moses.
Whilst the Hebrews were unaffected by these, the final and tenth plague required obedience to ensure their protection,
What took place came to be known as the passover and resulted in the death of the firstborn
To demonstrate their trust in God, the Hebrews were required to follow detailed instructions including the sacrifice of a perfect young lamb
Some of the blood from this, as a sign of obedience, was then smeared on the doorposts of the houses, averting the death of the firstborn
The ‘angel of death’, seeing this would pass over ; but not so for the unprotected homes, with this the Pharaoh let them go.
Even as they had gathered for a meal of the lamb, protected by the blood they did so prepared to leave,
they did this in a hurry, realising that God was responding to their cries for help and showing them His mercy.
Having started on their way.however, it was not long before the Pharaoh regretted his decision to let the Hebrews leave,
He therefore gathered his soldiers and set off in his chariots in pursuit, intending to punish and then return the Hebrews into slavery.
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