Journey Word 4: Egypt & The Wilderness
We see now in the journey that we travel to the exodus story, where God redeemed His People from slavery and brought them to the Promised Land. This was part of the promise to
Journey Word 4: Egypt & The Wilderness
We see now in the journey that we travel to the exodus story, where God redeemed His People from slavery and brought them to the Promised Land. This was part of the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God wanted people to trust Him, and we will see the results of that.
Moses and the Exodus
We see the book open up to the descendants of Jacob. God blessed them, but Egyptian rulers saw that success as a threat and were suspicious. To prevent further population growth, Pharaoh ordered every Hebrew newborn boy to be thrown in the the Nile. Moses was born around this time, and he was to be thrown in the Nile. Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in the river, and rescued and raised him. Moses would grow up a member of Pharaoh’s household.
Moses’ life would be unexpectedly interrupted when he was older, as he fled Egypt as a fugitive. He became a shepherd in Midian after this. God called to him in a burning bush, in which Moses was instructed to go back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and demand he release God’s People. Therefore, Moses and Aaron (his brother) went back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh.
God sent nine terrible plagues upon Egypt, but after each, Pharaoh still refused to release God’s People. The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart to prove He is God Alone. The tenth and final plague was the worst one, where the death of the firstborn sons occurred. Pharaoh had killed the newborn sons of Israel, so God wanted to lay to rest the newborn sons of Egypt. Only households with the blood of the perfect lamb across their door posts would be freed of this destruction. God’s Spirit came and took out the sons of Egypt. Finally, when Pharaoh’s own son died in this plague, Pharaoh relented to let God’s People leave.
From Egypt to Mount Sinai, we see God had continued to demonstrate His care for the people, as He guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Imagine that!). When they were pursued by the Egyptian army, God parted the sea miraculously for the Israelites to pass on dry ground, and then destroying Pharaoh’s army with the walls of water. God provided them with manna and quail for food, which was enough for each day they were there. After about three months of travel in the wilderness, God led them to Mount Sinai.
The Ten Plagues
Water to blood (Exodus 7:14-25) The Nile turned into blood.
Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15) Frogs invaded everywhere, and when they died, they let off foul odors across the land. Truly disgusting.
Gnats/Lice (Exodus 8:16-19) Dust turned into small insects like maybe gnats, lice, etc.
Flies/mosquitoes (Exodus 8:20-32) These were flying insects of some kind. Psalm 78:45 referenced that they may have fed on the Egyptian people.
Death of livestock (Exodus 9:1-7) A plague was sent on the Egyptian livestock in the fields. However, the Israelites’ livestock was unharmed.
Boils (Exodus 9:8-12) Boils appeared on both Egyptians and their animals. Egyptians priests and healers could not be of service for them.
Hail (Exodus 9:13-35) A hailstorm had struck Egyptian lands, and some of Pharaoh’s officials left his side to be with Moses and Aaron.
Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20) Locusts had eaten every plant that was not destroyed in the recent hailstorm. The officials pleaded with Pharaoh just to listen to Moses and Aaron.
Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29) Intense darkness would descend upon the land for three total days (see a connection here?). It was so dark, it was described as palpable.
Death of the firstborn of Egyptians (Exodus 11:1-12:30) God’s Spirit would strike dead all of the firstborn males including Pharaoh’s son; however, those with the blood of the lamb on their door post would be spared (Passover).
Mount Sinai experience
Recorded in Exodus 19-40; Leviticus 1-27; Numbers 1-9
Moses alongside the Israelites spent two years camping at the foot of the Mount Sinai. At this mount, God called Moses up the mountain to meet with him, and Moses would become the mediator of the covenant between God and Israel. Moses represented Israel to God, and God to Israel. By Moses, God had given the Ten Commandments. Along with that, He gave the instructions for building the tabernacle and its furnishings, which included the Ark of the Covenant. Laws were given to govern people’s lives, worship, practices, priesthood, and society.
The Israelites needed to learn how to live with God in their midst, and observing the divine laws made it possible for sinful people to dwell with a Holy God. After two years in the desert of Sinai, Moses and the Israelites began the journey to the Promised Land, Canaan.
Wanderings in the wilderness
Numbers 10-36; Deuteronomy 1-34
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