June 23, 2022
Dearly Beloved, I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has given for you today is from the book of Exodus 3: 17, “I will bring you up out of the affliction, of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”
From the above verse we learn that our God gave freedom to the children of Israel who were being afflicted by the Egyptian task masters, for nearly 430 years. But the new Pharaoh was still worried that his Israelite slaves would rise up against him as they were great in number. So he ordered a terrible punishment – all the first-born male babies of the Israelites were to be killed. Pharaoh gave orders to the midwives that ‘Every son that is born , you shall be cast into the river’. But God saved Moses who was born at that period of time to perform a great task in the future days to come. God called Moses who was then 80 years, of age. Moses lived 120 years and was 80 when he confronted Pharaoh, says the word of God. God called “Moses, Moses!”And He said to him, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
But Moses gave many excuses in order to avoid being the leader of Israel, and also since he fled from Egypt, when he was 40 years, of age, now he did not want to go and stand before Pharaoh. So God said, to him, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” God also said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. So Moses gathered the elders of Israel together, and said to them, all that the Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, had said to him. “In obedience to God, Moses did just as He had said, He stood before Pharaoh and asked him to let the people of Israel, to go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that they may sacrifice to the Lord their on the mountains. ’ God encouraged Moses saying, I will, stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbour, who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”Thus God did not send them out empty handed.
Thus we see that God firstly saw the affliction of the Israelites, Later He heard their cry. Immediately He came down to help them and sent a deliverer Moses to deliver them from the horrible situation. As they were afraid of moving to a strange land God also moved along with them as a pillar of cloud during the day, and as a pillar of fire during the night. His presence went before them, to ensure that they were well protected by God. To bring out His people who were treated like slaves, He performed ten major plagues as a sign to awaken the mind of Pharaoh towards the children of Israel. But God hardened the heart of Pharaoh such that he refused to send them out of Egypt. Moreover he wasn’t convinced about worshipping God outside Egypt on the mountains. So he refused to send them. Finally the wrath of God was upon them and God slew all the first born of the Egyptians. Pharaoh and the people shuddered at the slaughter so they forcibly sent the Israelites out of their land.
Are you struggling in your life like the Israelites? Are you forced to work more than your capacity? Are you stressed with work load, at your work spot? Is your boss rude and arrogant in behaviour. God will soon deliver you out of his hand. God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Trust in God and obey His word then You will be delivered from all your problems, God will set you free. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for telling us about the hardship that the people of Israel endured in the hands of the Egyptians. God deliver us also from our hardships and give us protection and security that we may enjoy real freedom.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.