Thurs.’s Devo - The Last Straw

Read: Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; PSalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11 God explained to Moses why Pharaoh wouldn’t let them go. It was the Lord who had hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and it was so God could display his miracles. They would tell these stories to their grandkids about the power of God on their behalf. *** Moses went back to Pharaoh and warned him that if he didn’t let Israel go, the land would be covered with locusts who would devour what was left after the hailstorm. Even Pharaoh’s officials begged Pharaoh to just let them go to worship their God. He agreed and sent for Moses and Aaron to ask them who they would be taking with them. When he heard it was all of them, he refused to let the children go. (That shows us how crazy this man was. Who was supposed to keep all those children for three days? He had clearly lost all cognitive thinking skills.) Pharaoh was so obsessed, he threw Moses and Aaron out. So, Moses lifted his staff over Egypt and the locusts came all through the night. They ate everything in sight. *** This time Pharaoh immediately summoned Moses and Aaron back. He did his repentance thing and Moses prayed. God blew the locusts into the Red Sea. (I wonder if the people saw those dead locusts when they crossed through the sea weeks later?) Once again, Pharaoh changed his mind and refused to let them go. God told Moses to lift his hand toward heaven and the land of Egypt was covered with darkness. One of their greatest gods was the sun. This was a darkness that was felt and lasted three days. But, in Goshen, there was light. *** Pharaoh gave permission for Moses and all the people to go, but they had to leave their flocks and herds in Egypt. Pharaoh refused to give up his power over them. Moses told him they needed their flocks to sacrifice. He refused to give Pharaoh an inch of power over them. Pharaoh threw him out again. He told Moses he would not see his face again and if he did, he would die. Moses agreed that he would not see Pharaoh’s face again, and left. *** God told Moses, He had one more big thing he wanted to do before he could let them leave Egypt. Then, the Pharaoh would be so glad to let them go, he will throw them out. He was pretty good at that! The people were to go to their Egyptian neighbors and ask for silver and gold. God would cause them to generously give to them. *** Moses went and made an announcement to Pharaoh that at midnight, that night, God would pass through the heart of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons in every family in Egypt and the firstborn of their cattle. The cry of mourning would be heard throughout the land, but in Goshen, they would sleep in peace. Then, Pharaoh would know that God makes a distinction between them and the Israelites. Then they would come to Moses and bow, begging them to leave. Only then would Moses go! Moses left burning with anger. He showed Pharaoh who was in charge! *** God had told Moses that this month, the seventh month, would be the first month for them. So the end became the beginning. On the tenth of that month they were to take a lamb per family. On the evening of the fourteenth day, they were to to slaughter their lamb at twilight. They were to smear some of the blood on the sides and top of their door and then eat the meat. along with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The meat had to be cooked over fire and completely eaten or burned. They were to eat it dressed for travel because this was the Lord’s Passover for them. The Lord’s Passover for the Egyptian was completely different. This was salvation and life for Israel and judgement and death for Egypt and their gods. When God sees the blood on their doors, he would pass over them and not strike them with death. *** This is the picture of salvation. Jesus is the lamb and when we have tasted his death in our inmost being, we are saved. They had to eat it dressed for action because faith without works is dead. They were about to walk out of bondage and into freedom which is what happens when we get born again. They got a new calendar beginning because they were reborn. Our new life starts the day we are crucified with Christ. Glory! *** In Matthew, Jesus gave the parable about the workers who all got the same day’s wage no matter how short or long they worked. Salvation is ours the day we embrace it and our new life begins. Salvation is a gift of grace, not works. *** As Jesus and his 12 disciples were going to Jerusalem, again Jesus told them the plan. He would be persecuted, crucified and rise on the third day. *** James and John’s mother asked if he would let her two sons sit on either side of his throne when he came to his kingdom. Jesus told her, she didn’t understand what she was asking, because the way to exaltation in his kingdom was by drinking the same cup of suffering he was about to drink. The men said they were ready to do that. Jesus told them they would indeed drink from this cup, but he had no say so in who would sit where. God made those decisions. *** The other disciples were pretty upset when they heard what they were talking about. Jesus explained the way of God’s kingdom. It was not the way it was with the earthly kings. In God’s kingdom the leaders came from those who were willing to serve others. *** Lord, may were remember that this life on earth is our testing ground. We are living for eternity, not for our rewards on earth. With all we are given, may we glorify and testify of you and your kingdom.