Exodus is an explosive
account of a massive power struggle led by Moses against the military might of
the Pharaoh of Egypt. Millions of Jewish people were delivered from slavery and
thousands who opposed them at the demand of Pharaoh were sacrificed in the
crushing waters of the Red Sea. Over and above the historical facts are the
spiritual conflicts between good and evil. Revealed is the supremacy of the Lord
of creation in the book of Genesis and the challenge of Satan governing the
lives of fallen men in the chapters of Exodus. It is a war zone of spiritual
battle of the highest order. Showing the awful depths which had resulted from
the fall, from prior perfection, to the pollution and poison of sin and slavery.
It is power struggle between heaven and hell, between Redemption and rebellion,
between acceptance and rejection.
Moses is the central character and
author.
He was saved as a baby, in a floating
cot of bulrushes on the river. Reared and educated in Pharaoh’s palace. Responding and
talking to a speaking voice from the midst of a burning bush in the desert.
Standing on holy ground and accepting holy orders to lead Israel from bondage to
freedom. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob in Genesis is the very same God
of Moses in Exodus. I AM THAT I AM is His Name. This is my name for ever, and
this is my memorial unto all generations.
In due time that ‘Name’ would
appear in many places in the New Covenant Scriptures.
The Genesis 3:15 of the Old Testament,
becomes the John 3:16 of the New Testament.
In this Frank Focuses on Exodus we see
the:
(1) Pain of bondage. (2) Plan
of deliverance. (3) Plagues of
disobedience. (4) Passover of the
Lord. (5) Programme of the Law. (6) Priest
selected to serve the Lord and the people. (7) Preparation
for, and building of the tabernacle.
(1) Pain of bondage is experienced by
all men everywhere. The millionaire in his mansion and the pauper on the
park-bench the phenomenon of bondage is the common denominator. Bondage is seen
in every country and continent. Slavery banished two hundred years is thriving
at the hands of modern day Pharaoh’s. The Bible is as new as the moment we
live in!
(2) Plan of deliverance. Through the
work of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ the power and the plan is fully
operational today. Broken hearts and minds can know the deliverance of
redemption through faith. Men can stop making bricks from straw and start
building a new and eternal house of glory. All things can become new in the ‘I
AM’
(3)Plagues - resulting from
disobedience. Many of the plagues in Exodus were natural in the land however the
plagues mentioned were intense in activity and followed in rapid succession.
This was a conflict not merely between the might of the Egypt’s king and the
power of God; but the gods of Egypt,
the spiritual powers of wickedness which lay at the foundation and guided
the soul of that dark and evil kingdom. ‘For I will pass through the land
of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both
man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am
the LORD.’ (Exodus.12:12). The battle still rages between light and darkness.
It is an ongoing reality.
(4) Passover of the Lord. Precise
details of this ordered meal is found in Exodus 12.
Deeply significant at its inception and
today more and more people are discovering that a knowledge of the roots of the
Jewish people and an understanding of the Passover Seder (rhymes with
“raider”) is rich in God’s plan and purpose for Jewish and gentile people
alike. Evangelical churches are enriched with its meaning for it says so much
about the roots of Christianity. Here we have Jew, Gentile and the Church of God
together at a meal table.
(5) Proclamation of the Law. The
Decalogue the Ten Commandments are the greatest guidelines for living for all
men everywhere. They cannot be bettered for the good of humanity. It is better
to be divinely guided and correct rather than politically guided and incorrect.
That is not space science simply applied common sense. Jesus kept the Law and
believers do the same. If you love me keep my Commandments. Yes it is possible
and wonderfully uncomplicated for believers of every persuasion. We need grace
to do so and it is fully available for all.
(6) Priests are set in place for the
people. And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from
among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's
office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. And thou
shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. (28: 1-
2).
Pastor’s, and Ministers, have the
most responsible calling known to man. Disregarded by the world and its arrogant
unbelief, yet highly regarded by the Lord and His church.
More to follow on this important
subject in a later Bible Focus.
(7) Preparation and building of the
Tabernacle. Here again we have the design plans colours and materials given to
the Jewish people by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. From the first second
of creation of the world and of men and women, the Creator of all has had a
loving positive interest in all that He has made. This is clearly seen in the
books of the Bible. Redemption and restoration runs through each book like a
golden strand of love. Every second of every day the power of God works for the
perfection and ultimate glory of redeemed men and woman.
Page created 31 March 2007