Ex. 10:1 – 13:16: JER. 46:13-28: ROM. 9;14-29
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his officials so that I might perform these signs of mine among them”
This week’s Parasha is one of the most dramatic for Israel who had dwelt as exiles for 400 years in Egypt with the final half cruelly afflicted as slaves. Last week we read about the first seven calamities (makot) that God inflicted upon Egypt when Pharaoh refused to agree to the terms set before him, On each occasion, God’s judgement increased in severity. And so we come to the most devastating and final three plagues: locust, darkness and death of the firstborn. Only after the 10th plague, did Pharaoh agreed without hesitation or demand to set the Israelite’s free. The Book of Exodus (Shemot) is the breathtaking description of God’s dealings and redemptive acts for His covenant people. But, the first few chapters open where the Israelite’s circumstances couldn’t have appeared worse. On many occasions throughout Israel’s history it has been like this not least in modern times with the Holocaust which we commemorate this Friday. And it will be like this during the 2nd Exodus when Yeshua returns at the end of this Age. Israel’s survival will be hanging by a thread, surrounded by the nations led by the Anti-Christ. At this point, all hope for deliverance will have evaporated yet now, in utter desperation and despair Zechariah describes how Yeshua will reveal Himself to the besieged remnant in the most profound and moving prophecy: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”
In the previous parasha are recorded the first 7 plagues of God against the Egyptians as He demonstrates His supremacy through mighty acts of power via His servant Moses. This was a war against the forces of darkness and on each occasion evil was compelled to bow the knee. Every plague was directly linked to various demonic entities – the gods who the Egyptians served. Initially, Pharaoh’s magicians called upon demonic entities to replicate God’s miraculous signs until after the third encounter between Moses and Pharaoh whereupon they were left redundant and could do no more than remain as spectators.
The 9th plague was the plague of darkness that enveloped the entire Egyptian people demonstrating God’s power that took full authority over the Egyptian god, Ra, the god of light. The Pharaohs were considered to be the literal sons of this particular demonic entity who ruled over all the gods of Egypt, so it was the most stinging defeat for Pharaoh and a direct attack upon his personal identity.
On the 10th and final plague, all the firstborn of the Egyptians perished. Why the firstborn? God considered Israel to be His own firstborn among the nations and had warned about His impending retribution on Egypt (Ex 4:22-2-3):“Israel is My firstborn son. 23 I say to you, “Release My son, so that he may serve Me,” but in your stubbornness you refused to free him; therefore, I am going to kill your firstborn son.’”
In those times, the firstborn received the greater share of a father’s inheritance but interestingly this particular pharaoh was an exception since he didn’t die in the plague, although his son in line to be the next pharaoh did.
Throughout Moses’ encounter with Pharaoh, the gods of Egypt were muted. Serket, the goddess of protection, was powerless. Meshkenet, the goddess who presided at the birth of children, failed to save the firstborn. Sobek, the god of protection and fertility who epitomised the might of the pharaohs, couldn’t protect anyone. Renenutet, the god who appeared as a vulture, the special protector god of the pharaoh, could not protect the pharaoh’s son. Osiris, the giver and ruler of life was conspicuously absent.
Following the 10th plague, Pharaoh finally acquiesced to Moses’ demands, but what had he conceded from the very beginning? Therein lies an important principle for each one of us when we stubbornly refuse to walk according to God’s revealed will.
Moses understood that God’s purposes cannot be changed or manipulated and those who attempt to do so will ultimately face the same devastation as occurred with Pharaoh. It took ten plagues before God brought the greatest nation of the ancient world to its knees.
Due to his stubborn and rebellious heart, Pharaoh brought not only untold suffering upon himself but also upon his own people the Egyptians. It is a terrible thing when people who are beaten up through their own stubbornness and pride still choose spiritual death over life and that can tragically affect countless others they are surrounded by.
Not even on one occasion did Moses agree to enter negotiations with the enemy because he knew that Pharaoh aligned himself with Satan ‘the Father of Lies,’ a supernatural being with 6000 years of evil experience behind him. Every temptation, allurement and promise he offers is tainted with the poison of evil aimed to steal, kill and destroy. Every lie and subtlety is accompanied with unfulfilled promises that end with the stench of death and decay. Never negotiate with the enemy! Flee all appearance of evil. Cling to what is good and wholesome and remain hidden under the secret place of the Most High!
When we face off against the demonic forces of darkness we do so on the understanding that the battle is the Lords that is always one-sided in our favour! James 4:7 teaches us that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the Devil, he must flee from us! The only requirement God is seeking from us are willing and obedient hearts who choose to walk in His ways rather than our own.
God desires to transform us into giant slayers even he did for Moses and with so many heroes of faith throughout history. God has equipped us to be “more than conquerors” so when we choose to live according to God’s rules no evil shall prosper against us!
The story of the Exodus did not end with Pharaoh releasing the Israelites, for he subsequently had a change of heart and pursued them in the wilderness! Sin has an insatiable desire that can never be satisfied and Satan will never tire of seeking to regain lost territory to cripple and enslave. It is a bit like the monkeys seeking to steal your bananas from the kitchen. Be prepared and watch your backs!
Moses was an ordinary person with a stutter and a low self image who simply allowed God to transform his life. God so desires to do the same for us. In these days God is raising up an army filled with the nameless and faceless, ordinary people who He is transforming into giant slayers. It is His victory we celebrate through His shed blood at Calvary, so we “…keep the feast for Yeshua is our Passover.” (1Cor.5:7-8). We are not told to observe Easter in accordance with church tradition but we are commanded to observe Passover and other biblical feasts.
And at His last Passover meal with His disciples, Yeshua took a piece of matza and “… after he had made the b’rakhah he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this as a memorial to me”; 25 likewise also the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant effected by my blood; do this, as often as you drink it, as a memorial to me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.”
Yeshua is our Passover lamb which we are reminded of every time we celebrate communion together so vividly mirrored here in the story of the Exodus.
www.mekudeshet.co.za
