The Hope restored!
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Introduction:
If you are running a race do you know the moment you are expected to give it everything you have?
The last 100 yards.
Typically the coaches will instruct you to sprint as fast as you can to get to the finish line.
There is one thing that they don’t tell you about that moment though.
How little you can give because your legs are typically numb, and you might throw up, pass out, etc…That is giving your all!
Moses isn’t running a race but God is letting them know this is the last 100 yards, almost there to the Exodus.
This plague will be the straw that broke the camels back and all of the Hebrews will be forced to leave Egypt.
This is also the most severe plague that Pharaoh is bringing upon everyone.
It will impact every family!
No one will be confused about Yahweh ever again.
Transition:
This plague isn’t just giving an opportunity to the Egyptians; but also to the Jews.
God begins by telling Moses that the Hebrews need to:
Prepare Themselves (1-3)
Prepare Themselves (1-3)
1 The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.
2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.”
3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
There is something that we miss because of our modernization of scriptures with adding verses and chapters about chapter 11.
That is the fact that Moses was still in Pharaoh’s presence talking with Him.
This conversation is a continuation of the meeting from chapter 10.
28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.”
29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”
But as I read the first few verses of 11, I wondered what Moses felt as God told him this.
I imagine it was mixed emotions.
A little joyous on the Hebrew side since the 400 years of slavery is going to end.
Disappointed and sad for the Egyptians and all they could’ve avoided by accepting God’s grace.
I believe that we, as believers, can empathize with Moses here in this position.
Every day we interact with people who can avoid eternal separation and punishment.
They only have to accept God’s grace, believe that the free gift just sitting on the table with their name on it is theirs to accept.
That gift is a pardon of all their sins before an righteous judge.
On the flip side as believers the excitement and joy for that long awaited hope that is finally going to happen.
No more pain, no more sorrow, only perfection and a great fellowship of believers all praising God together.
Since He is great and worthy!
God sometimes allows us to see peoples lives and recognize where we could help them most.
Here in Chapter 11 verse 1 God announces to all that this is the last plague!!
With it, He provided instructions for the Hebrews.
2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.”
The plunder begins.
Does this plundering have a purpose?
The gold and precious metals would be later used in the worship of Yahweh in the wilderness.
Where do you think the materials came from for the building of the tabernacle?
They were unknowingly taking the things that God will use to build His temporary place of worship.
His sovereignty is shown in this moment.
Often times we can’t see what He is doing and why; He is trustworthy!
The Hebrews trusted what He said and He changed how they were viewed.
3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
The slaves had favor with the Egyptians.
The perceptions of Moses changed too.
He was hated by the Hebrews, and laughed at by the Egyptians.
Now he is feared as a god by the Egyptians and revered by the Hebrews.
God lifts up whom He wills.
Application:
We are told what to be ready for when the rapture takes place, what to look for.
This should challenge us to be in constant readiness for what we hope will happen.
Christ Coming to get His bride and the marriage supper of the lamb.
Taking us to where He is!
How does this impact our mindset towards this world?
It should remind us that this is not our home!
We are awaiting the moment when we arrive in Eternity either through death or by the rapture.
We are pilgrims on our journey through this area.
When you are a pilgrim passing through, you don’t entangle yourself with the problems the place of transition.
We need to focus on our eternal goal.
Paul taught Timothy how to focus on the eternal destination.
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
Point:
Strengthen your mind against the apathy of being part of this world and letting it affect you.
Your joy is in the Lord, who gave you grace and accepted you with all your failures and flaws.
Our desire can be similar to John’s.
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Do you hope to hear your Lord’s voice as He tells you: “well done my good and faithful servant”?
Transition:
This brings up a question:
? How am I supposed to prepare myself for the Lord’s return or my place in Eternity?
1) Workout your salvation - which means to continue growing in maturity and faith.
The things that once tempted you to sin, shouldn’t be a loud voice, it should become a small whisper that is easily ignored.
2) Working your ministry - This means you know and fulfill what you are called to.
As a youth it means you are a testimony of God’s salvation and are not like everyone else. You have standards and lines that you won’t cross because of your biblical convictions.
You know what you believe and why and it’s important to you.
As adults it means any way God has designed you is used to further the gospel, disciple the next generations.
We are called to tell people the truth, and are not responsible for what they do with it.
Moses wasn’t responsible for what comes next and he is told what this next plague will bring:
A Great cry (4-7)
A Great cry (4-7)
4 So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt,
5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.
7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’
“God is coming!”
God is going to physically visit Egypt.
He reveals how He sees all mankind.
He doesn’t see people based on anything other than His special creation.
Monetary status
Political status
Popularity status
Any thing that we as humans deem “better than others” is moot!
This means that He will treat us all equally!
5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
He is going to kill every firstborn in Egypt:
Man, Woman, Child, and Beast.
The arrival of God amongst the land isn’t going to be a joyous night.
6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.
He will be taking all of the firstborn; they will die!
The outcry can be a direct reference to the cries that God heard of the Hebrews as slaves.
Remember the cries that He told Moses about? The ones He heard and the why Moses is being sent to deliver them from their cries as slaves?
These cries are typical to the culture; but it will be overwhelmingly Loud and terrible, because there are so many.
A wailing for the deaths is typically what people would do.
“Directly in front of the corpse would be professional mourners, women known as the Kites of Nephthys, whose purpose was to encourage others to express their grief. The kites would wail loudly, beat their breasts, strike their heads on the ground, and scream in pain. These women were dressed in the color of mourning and sorrow, a blue-gray, and covered their faces and hair with dust and earth. This was a paid position, and the wealthier the deceased, the more kites would be present in the procession.” -World History.org
In one night there wouldn’t have been enough time for families to plan out the Kites.
God is telling Moses that their wailing will be genuine and real, not drummed up emotions from those who are profiting making a scene.
God is going to make a scene without their help!
Israel’s cries were for deliverance; but Egypt’s cries are because of God’s judgment!
7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’
This phrase would be understood by all of the culture.
“It was an proverb that expressed freedom from alarm or immunity from assault.” -Barnes Commentary
This would be a surprising thing that only God could achieve.
It is supposed that no town or village in Egypt or in the East generally was free from dogs.
Dogs make a lot of noise at people, especially during the night.
God is telling Moses that on the night when He comes, during all the cries throughout the land, no dog will raise a whelp or snarl as 3-4 million Israelites marched out of Egypt.
Connection:
In the moments when we might believe the lie that God is distant from us and uninvolved in our lives
Remember these passages.
If God can move 3-4 million people out of a nation without any fight, or alarm from the dogs
He surely can and is involved in your life.
Transition:
Moses will not only get an OK or approval from Pharaoh and all the people of Egypt to leave and worship Yahweh.
They are going to be hated.
There will be an citywide:
Disgust for God (8-10)
Disgust for God (8-10)
8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
The Israelites were now in positions over the Egyptians.
The roles have switched, all in Egypt would pay homage to Moses and the Hebrews fording them out of the country!
This reflects the boldness that they spoke to Pharaoh with, to send the Hebrews out earlier.
7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”
Moses is told that during the next plague, the servants will not only rise up against Pharaoh; but they will pay honor to you and Yahweh.
Not just admitting defeat; but submitting themselves under the authority of Moses and Yahweh.
Let that sink in for a moment.
The Egyptians are now subjected to the slaves they were killing just 40 years ago.
The ones whom worshipped a God they didn’t know.
God can change our situations quickly can’t He?
The changes allow moments for us to respond.
We can either respond in humility, or pride!
Just remember how it worked out for Pharaoh when operating from pride.
What an embarrassment Pharaoh was.
Something to note about this interaction Moses had with Pharaoh, that we hadn’t seen up to this point:
An anger from Moses at Pharaoh!
8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Many commentators aren’t sure what the anger was from; we just know from the text that it was present.
Some suggest that Pharaohs pride was making him angry.
Maybe at the fact that Moses has witnessed and been the emblem of God’s wrath against Pharaoh’s pride.
The instrument of Judgment on sin, which wasn’t just a slap on the wrist or a stand in the corner moment.
Their food supply was decimated, their fish dead, their servants dead, their cattle dead, animals in general if they were in the field: Dead.
Psychologically they have been stripped of any self-pride or self-confidence.
Possibly Moses’ anger could be a righteous anger for the dishonor done to God.
Not sure; but He left the presence of Pharaoh in a huff and puff.
Look at what He says to Moses:
9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
God always cares what we are dealing with, big or small.
It isn’t you, It’s Pharaoh!
Remember the purpose for Pharaoh it all is to reveal Me to the world and to the Hebrews!
He continued reminding Moses of what He told him back in chapter 4.
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
Moses knew Pharaoh had 9 opportunities to humble himself; but stuck to His pride.
Pharaoh’s pride spread the God of the Hebrews to all nations.
God uses everything to proclaim Himself to the world, He cannot be hindered or hidden.
Even in your life.
If you know someone who doesn’t know Jesus, He will continue revealing Himself to them in miraculous ways and subtle ones.
We can know Him if we humble ourselves.
Thankfully He doesn’t stop pursuing us with His grace and mercy!
Conclusion:
This whole portion of scripture is a God telling Moses about the last plague He will inflict the Egyptians with.
The Plague will be death!
God issues His righteous punishment.
Through it He shows grace to those whom are His.
We should see and understand how far He is willing to go for His children and if necessary by His authority and power.
Be encouraged by this account of History.
God will keep His promise to the Hebrews to deliver them from slavery.
God is going to redeem them from the idols they were worshipping in Egypt.
Just like He redeemed Abram when He called him out of Ur and made a covenant with Him.
He is keeping the promise and this is another step in that direction.
In one night all of Egypt’s cries will be heard throughout the land, mimicking the 400 years of cries from the Hebrews in God’s ears.
Finally Pharaoh and all of Egypt are where they need to be for the Hebrews to leave.
There is a day coming when Jesus said He will come and get His bride, the church, but until that perfect day He is always preparing everything for us to leave.
He will keep His promise just like He did with the Hebrews. That is a sure thing to hope for.
- Pray!
