Part One

Next book: Exodus.  The book of Exodus, in my opinion, should be split into 2 parts. Part one should be chapters 1-15 and then part two should be chapters 16-40. Because I feel so strongly about this, that is how I will breakdown this book.

*please note, this is my interpretation - not to offend - but to simply help me digest the material, and possibly help others glean. All scriptures are based out of the NLT version. 

Part One:

PHARAOH! PHARAOH! LET MY PEOPLE GO!!! Did any one else sing that song at Vacation Bible School almost every summer like me? I feel like that pretty much sums up part one of Exodus!

I am getting ahead of myself.

At the time Moses was born, Egypt's Pharaoh had placed a death sentence on Hebrew newborn boys. "Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live."(Exodus 1:22).

When Moses was born, his mom knew instantly he was special. After hiding him for 3 months, she but him in a papyrus reed basket and placed him in the reeds of the Nile River. Moses' older sister kept watch from a distance to see what would happen. Right on cue, Pharaoh's daughter came with her servants down to the river. She knew the baby boy must have been a Hebrew baby, but he was crying and she felt sorry for him. Older sister walks right up to Pharaoh's daughter and says, "Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" (Exodus 2:7). Pretty clever! Of course, the princess says yes and big sister runs to get her mama! The princess even ended up paying Moses mama to nurse him. Once Moses was weened, his mama took him back to the princess and she adopted him as his own.

I feel like I could just stop the story right there! I mean HOW COOL IS THAT? You think God doesn't have a plan for your life?!? Ha! Yes He does, and it is so impressive. We just have to trust in Him and live it out. Too often we over think our plans (mainly me) when we just have to remind ourselves that He has it allllllllllll under control. What's the word? Oh, TRUST! Anyway, back to the story.....

When Moses was older he ended up being exiled from Egypt. He killed an Egyptian after watching him beat a Hebrew slave. Apparently, that is a 'no-no'. He moves to Midian for a new life. (Exodus 2:11)

After marrying and starting a family, Moses tended the flock of sheep for his FIL (father-in-law). "One day the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up." (Exodus 3:2) During this conversation with the Lord, Moses learns that he is not only going to go back to Egypt, but he is also going to set the Israelites free! **I don't know why, but I think of Simba in the Lion King right here, when Simba has to go back and face his past....I digress.

Moses had a million questions. He was asking, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11) and "What if they don't believe me or listen to me? What if they say, 'The Lord never appeared to you'?" (Exodus 4:1). I would have asked the same questions too! God gave him clear instructions on what to do when he met with Pharaoh. He was to show him the Lord's power.

First, Moses turned his shepherd's staff into a snack. Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing. Pharaoh wasn't impressed. Next, Moses turned his hands from healthy to diseased, and back to healthy hands again. Again, Pharaoh wasn't impressed his magicians could do the same thing.

Since Pharaoh wasn't going to give up the Israelites that easily, God gave Moses a plan: 10 Plagues.

But before Moses would follow through with performing the plagues, he demanded that God give him someone who would speak on his behalf. God was NOT happy about it, but He did give Moses a PR person; his brother, Aaron. Apparently, Moses had a stutter.

Now, the plagues begin.

1. Blood. Moses turns every ounce of water into blood through all of Egypt. Even the water in clay pots were turned to blood. (Exodus 7:14-24) Pharaoh's magicians duplicate the plague, so it doesn't impress Pharaoh.

2. Frogs. Frogs come up from the Nile River and cover all the land. (Exodus 8:1-15) Pharaoh's magicians duplicate the plague. Pharaoh pleads to get rid of the frogs and says he will set the Israelites go! But he turns his back on his word to let the Israelites go.

3. Gnats. All of the dust become gnats. (Exodus 8:16-19) The Hebrew neighborhood is untouched by the gnats. Pharaoh's magicians couldn't duplicate the gnats. God gets Pharaoh's attention. Pharaoh pleads to get rid of the gnats and says he will set the Israelites go! But he turns his back on his word to let the Israelites go.

4. Flies. A thick swarm of flies came over the land of Egypt. (Exodus 8:20-32) The Hebrew neighborhood is untouched by the flies. Moses told Pharaoh the flies wouldn't touch God's people, but put the Egyptians into a state of chaos. Pharaoh's magicians couldn't duplicate the flies. Pharaoh pleads to get rid of the flies and says he will set the Israelites go! But he turns his back on his word to let the Israelites go.

5. Livestock. The hand of the Lord struck down all the Egyptians livestock - horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats - with a deadly plague. Not one of Israel's livestock is touched.  (Exodus 9:1-7) After killing all of the Egyptians livestock, Pharaoh still will not let the Israelites go!

6. Boils. "Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches. The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land'." (Exodus 9:8-12) No Hebrew man, woman or child was infected by the boils. God protected His people. Boils broke out on all of the Egyptians and their animals. The magicians couldn't even stand before Moses because they too had boils all over them. Pharaoh wouldn't let the Israelites go.

7. Hail. Moses told Pharaoh if he didn't let the Israelites go he would "send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt. Quick! Oder your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail fails." (Exodus 9:13-35) Pharaoh FINALLY admits he has sinned and asks Moses to take the Hebrews to another land! Alas!! "But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn. Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave!!"

8. Locusts. Locusts cover all of Egypt and eat everything left after the hail. (Exodus 10:1-20) Everyone in Egypt is begging Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go, but Pharaoh refuses.

9. Darkness. Total darkness covers Egypt for 3 days so no one can even move! Naturally, the Hebrews continue life as usual, why? Because they have light!! (Exodus 10:21-29) Pharaoh again promises to let  Israel go, but again changes his mind.

10. Death of the first born. This is final blow. The firstborn of all the people and cattle of Egypt die, but Israel is spared! (Exodus 11:1-12:33) Pharaoh and the Egyptians URGE Israel to leave and QUICKLY!

Moses jumps on the opportunity, and tells all of Israel to pack their bags, they are moving!! Finally, they will be free and go to the land of milk and honey.

On the journey out of town, the Lord leads them a less direct route to get out of Egypt. In the mean time, Pharaoh again changes his mind, and calls all of his army together to go and get the Israelites. Moses gets word from the Lord, and Moses lifts his arms and staff to part the Red Sea. The Israelites pass through the Red Sea unharmed and completely dry. Once the last Hebrew got onto safe ground, Moses raised his arms again and the Red Sea collapses back together - killing Pharaoh and all of his army!

INTERMISSION.