Exodus 1:1-6:1
Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23
Matthew 22:23-33; 41-46
Acts 3:12-15
Hebrew 11:23-26
Sh'mot (Names)
The life of the Hebrews had been good in Egypt, at least for the first couple of generations. For the most part, the people of Egypt continued to honor the family of Joseph, because of the great contribution he had made in saving Egypt from the same fate of the famine that had gripped the rest of the region. As years went by, though, there arose a small but vocal group of Egyptians that hated the Hebrews. They hated the different way of life that the Hebrews lived and especially hated that they believed in a God other than Pharaoh. This group began a rather covert plan to reeducate and, in fact, change the history of the Hebrews' contribution to Egypt. At first, most Egyptians rose up against their plan, but, as the years went by and generations that had known Joseph died off, their plan began to take hold.
The history rewrite paved the way for a Pharaoh who, as a boy in the palace, learned to hate Joseph. He also saw the Hebrews as a menace to Egypt. Each time the economy of Egypt hit a snag, he publicly blamed the Hebrews as the reason. Pharaoh used this to his advantage, controlling and eventually enslaving the Hebrews.
Though life was becoming harder for the Hebrews, they still felt they were living in relative comfort. Egypt had become home and Canaan a distant memory they tried to pass on to their children. At first, they did not even notice the road to slavery they were on. That was, until it was too late and the children were too afraid of the outside world and change to leave.
The Hebrews began to see what was happening; but instead of crying out to the One who could deliver them, they just began to cry. They cried about the economy. They cried about the hard working conditions. They cried about having to eat mainly cucumbers, leeks, garlic, and things like this that they were still allowed to grow themselves. They did not realize that their cries were being heard and that the plan of the Elohim of their forefathers was right on schedule.
One day, the magicians and sorcerers of Pharaoh discerned something had happened in Egypt, something that needed further attention. Through their spells and witchcraft, they found that a baby had been born to the Hebrews, a baby who would deliver the Hebrews out of their bondage. The men didn't want their cushy lives to be destroyed and their servants free to leave. When they told Pharaoh, he agreed as well, his mind having been poisoned by the lies he had grown to know as truth. He ordered all the babies less than two years to be killed out of hatred and fear.
Months later, Pharaoh was sitting back, enjoying the view of the Hebrews building his monument. He looked up to the heavens, thanking his false gods for the great fortunes that had been brought him. Little did he know that the baby his daughter would find that day in the Nile River was the one Hebrew baby who had been saved. In fact, it was the one that would eventually bring him down.
To add a twist of humor from on high, Pharaoh's daughter had hired the mother of this baby, Moses, to help in raising him. As the baby was being prepared to live in the palace, Moses' mother and father were careful to train him and teach him the ways of Elohim during every private moment they had with him.
The day came when Moses was taken from his family permanently to live in the palace. The parents prayed daily that Elohim would continue to direct his life.
At first, Moses tried to fit into the Egyptian lifestyle. Try as he may, though, he could never give his heart fully to it. He would listen as the Egyptians would talk harshly about the Hebrews. He would hear of the plans they would make to bring more work and misery to the Hebrew people. Something inside of him, placed there by his parents and his real Father, sent him signals that something was not right in the world.
One day, Moses saw one of the taskmasters beating a Hebrew. Before he knew it, Moses had killed the man and buried his body. The next day, the body had been found and Moses had fled for his life to land of Midyan. There he married and began tending sheep for his father-in-law.
It was one of those boring days. Moses was tending the flock, wondering just how he had gotten here. How is it possible that I have blown it this bad? I know I was called to lead my people out of the bondage of the Egyptians, but I've failed. I'm not strong enough and I can't even speak to two people at the same time, let alone a whole race of people. Elohim will never be able to use me. I will spend the rest of my life banished on the backside of this desert with no one to speak to but sheep.
To make matters worse, it was the rainy season in the desert and it was cold. Moses wished he had listened to his father when he had wanted to teach him how to build a fire with wet wood. Why would someone need a skill like that when they were living in a palace? I wasn't thinking very far in the future, was I? As he wallowed in his own stupidity, he looked to the horizon and noticed a light in the distance. No need to be cold. I wonder who is out here with me and how they got such a great fire going.
As he neared, he started feeling heavy as if the air was denser here. As the bush came into clearer sight, Moses heard a booming voice telling him to remove his sandals. The ground was holy. He did as the voice said, feeling quite frightened. He felt power behind each syllable echoing inside him. There was much said between Moses and the One he would now know as YH VH. Then he finally asked, "Why me? I have no power inside of me. They won't believe a murderer who has a fondness for the Hebrews." That's when he saw his own staff turn to a snake before him. He'd never liked snakes. Moses hoped that Pharaoh felt the same as he started his long trip back to his old home.
Moses' biggest fear came when he finally met the Pharaoh and showed him the signs from Yah. As he spoke, his voice came from deep inside as it never had before. It was as if the echoing booming of Elohim had planted a seed of itself inside of him. However, Pharaoh said no. What surprised him more, though, was that his own people also said no. They do not want to leave Egypt! They talk about leaving, but in their hearts Egypt is now home. They've been lulled into slavery like a baby into sleep. Pharaoh does not want them to leave and they do not either.
Moses found a place he could be alone and pray. He began to pour out his heart and soul to Elohim. Tears flowed from his eyes. Then everything stopped. He felt the same weight from the desert The words came from inside him and from everywhere, "Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh. With a mighty hand he will send the Hebrews off; with force he will drive them from the land!"
Moses sat in silence. He will take the people out of Egypt. That I believe. But how will He take Egypt out of them?
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