What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/
from the series
Stories of Faith
Moses
The Servant of God
Part One
Portions from the Pentateuch,
the King James Version by The Holy Spirit through Moses
with notes by Katie Stewart
"And they sing the Song of Moses the servant of God,
and the Song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvellous are Thy works, LORD God Almighty;
Just and True are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints"
(Revelation 15:3).
by Katie Stewart
5-11-2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART ONE
GENESIS
Chapter 1
In The Beginning God created the heaven and the Earth. 2 And the Earth was without form, and
void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon
the face of the waters. 3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light
from the darkness. 5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and
the morning were the first day."
God Himself called Moses His "servant" many times, and on many occasions,
even in the very Last Book of His Word, the Book of Revelation.
"And they sing the Song of Moses the
servant of God,
and the Song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvellous are Thy works, LORD God Almighty;
Just and True are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints"
(Revelation 15:3).
Moses and the Lamb love to sing the same Song. "Great
and marvellous are Thy works, LORD God Almighty." And their works on this Earth
reflected the depth of FAITH which they had in their Heavenly Father's Will, a "FAITH
which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6). Moses, the creature man, and Jesus, the Creator Incarnate Man,
both desiring to "praise the Name of God with a Song, and... magnify Him with
thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:30). "Let us exalt His Name together" (Psalm 34:3).
Moses testified to the Truth of God's Word by his faithful recording of it, via the
Holy Spirit. "1
That which was from The Beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our
eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life;
2 (for The Life
[Jesus Christ] was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto
you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 that which we have seen and
heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1John 1:1-3).
As we open the cover of our Bibles and begin to read from the very First Book, the
Book of Genesis, we immediately see the faithful servitude of Moses towards his God.
As the human tool used in the hand of God to author the first five Books of the Old
Testament, called the Pentateuch, Moses had to truly be "the servant of God"
(Revelation 15:3).
The LORD had to have a man who would trust Him so completely and believe Him so fully
as to put on parchment the Record of an event that no human being could have witnessed
personally and still credit its veracity as being from God. And this man would need
to associate his name and person with it. It is this Record that God's people have
lovingly ever after called, "The Creation".
"26 And God
said, Let Us make man in Our Image, after Our Likeness: and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth. 27 So God created man
in His Own Image, in the Image of God created He him; male and female created He
them. 28 And God
blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
Earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the Earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I
have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the Earth,
and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall
be for meat. 30
And to every beast of the Earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing
that creepeth upon the Earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb
for meat: and it was so. 31
And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the
evening and the morning were the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the Earth were finished, and all the host of
them."
It took FAITH to be used of God in this way, and Moses was God's choice. Even today,
with all the understanding we have of the world we live in, testifying loudly of
the LORD's truly AWESOME Creation, men refuse to give God His due. "The heavens
declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). So-called science
explains away ALL that our eyes behold, ALL manner of life that surrounds us and
fills our planet, as being products of their own perverted understanding and origins.
"The God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, Which is blessed for evermore,
knoweth that I lie not" (2Corinthians
11:31). They would rather tout the devices of egotistical
presumption than admit the Record of God's faithful servant, Moses. "And God
saw every thing that HE HAD MADE, and, behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Their vain
imaginings are a PROOF in themselves, that God's Word is True. "Every man is
brutish in his knowledge" (Jeremiah 10:14).
The more men understand of the Truth, the more inexcusable they are for not obeying it, and the deeper the sin into which they will sink. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). "This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from Me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten Me, and trusted in falsehood" (Jeremiah 13:25). Denying the Truth in the Record that Moses gave us of Creation and of man's "Beginning" (Genesis 1:1), has been a foundation for calling God a liar and has led the way to ALL manner of uncleanness. Notice how the passage above (Romans 1:18-25) continues, in context, with the following reasoning:
(Romans 1:26-32)
"26 FOR THIS
CAUSE God gave them up unto vile affections:
for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 and likewise
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward
another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves
that recompense of their error which was meet.
28 And even as
they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to
a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate,
deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32 who knowing
the Judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same, but have PLEASURE in them that do them."
The denial of Moses' Record of Creation and man's origin
has led to our present day sea of reprobation, with men committing all that is abominable
in God's sight; "as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and
to iniquity unto iniquity" (Romans 6:19). Replacing the Omniscient, Omnipotent Creator with man's invention
of evolution as "The Way, The Truth, and The Life" (John 14:16), has left us, today, with
a substructure of moral morass which has reached quicksand status, all the while
lending credence and respectability to all manner of perversion and deviant behaviors.
This is "the time of the end: [when] many shall run to and fro, and knowledge
shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4), and yet with all this "knowledge", men do "not like
to retain God in their knowledge" (Romans
1:28), and so Judgment MUST come. [Please read selections from Prophecy For Your Information (PFYI):
"The Tribulation: The Seventieth Week of Daniel" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Prophecy/PFYI.Tribulation.html
-- to understand more of the soon coming Judgment
of the Tribulation.]
EXODUS
Chapter 1
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful,
and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land
was filled with them.
8 Now there arose
up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children
of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it
come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies,
and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
11 Therefore they
did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built
for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.
And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14 and they made
their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner
of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with
rigour.
15 And the king
of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah,
and the name of the other Puah: 16 and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women,
and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be
a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt
commanded them, but saved the men children alive... 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born
ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."
The midwives refused to obey the king because he had commanded something of them
that was not his to command. "7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute
is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man any thing, but
to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.
9 For this, Thou
shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other Commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. 10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling
of the Law" (Romans 13:7-10). We are "to be subject unto the higher powers. For there is
no Power but of God" (Romans 13:1), but only if the "higher powers" are "due" the
obedience. If we are to obey them, they must rule "for the LORD's sake"
(1Peter 2:13),
as "unto the LORD, the Most High God, the Possessor of Heaven and Earth"
(Genesis 14:22).
If they demand of us disobedience to our God-- our love for God overrides their demand.
"If ye love Me, keep My Commandments" (John
14:15). The midwives, "Shiphrah, and... Puah",
would NOT be intimidated, even by the confrontation of "the king of Egypt".
Therefore, "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear Him [God Almighty] which is able to destroy both soul and body
in Hell" (Matthew 10:28).
Exodus / Chapter 2
There went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi."
The name of the father of Moses was Amram. The name of his mother was Jochebed. "And
Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses:
and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years"
(Exodus 6:20).
"2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink."
It is so truly hard to imagine one's self in this situation. How could a mother bring herself to this point of absolute FAITH in God? Though Jochebed was in a desperate situation in seeking safety for the life of her infant boy, we have reason to believe that the action she choose was NOT performed in desperation. The LORD had prepared His servant. "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD" (Proverbs 16:1).
1. The people of Israel had been told of the Pharaoh's plan by the Hebrew midwives. "15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives... 16 and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live" (Exodus 1:15-16).
2. Jochebed and Amram had nine months to seek the LORD for their child's double deliverance, all the while being molded and formed themselves by the Creator, "the Author and Finisher of our FAITH" (Hebrews 12:2).
3. These parents had three amazing months of successfully hiding their child! "By FAITH Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment" (Hebrews 11:23). Only the Providence of God could have guided them to see that kind of triumph. "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36).
4. The plan that Jochebed had could only have succeeded if God had intervened. Knowing this fact, we must conclude that the plan was revealed to this faithful mother by her All Wise God. Of course, if God was in this with her, then Jochebed could joyfully place her child in this blessed basket, the child He had formed and placed in her bowels. "The LORD that formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him" (Isaiah 49:5).
Yes, this act took strong FAITH. "O woman, great is
thy FAITH: be it unto thee even as thou wilt" (Matthew
15:28). But the LORD had prepared His servant for this
exact moment. "Righteousness shall go before Him; and shall set us in the way
of His steps" (Psalm 85:13). He gave her His plan, and she had confidence in Him. "Commit
thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5). While making
the cradle-ark for her precious baby boy, Jochebed might well have whispered her
baby's intercession, certainly included the reminder, that from the danger of an
infant being placed alone in the water, he must surely be delivered from a death
by drowning. "17
He sent from Above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters; 18 He delivered me from my
strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me"
(2Samuel 22:17-18).
After all, Jochebed's justification in following this extreme exploit was her persuasion
that this was truly God's Master Plan to secure the deliverance of her baby's life.
"By Thee have I been holden up from the womb" (Psalm
71:6). Jochebed knew God's hand guided her, and we know
this also, because "wisdom is justified of her children" (Matthew 11:19).
"4 And his
sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river;
and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among
the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the
babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews'
children. 7 Then
said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the
Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called
the child's mother. 9
And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me,
and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and
she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his
name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water."
Scripture records the reason for the choice of the infant's name. Based upon
the occasion of his being pulled (literally, the Hebrew word "drawn") from
"the water", the Word of God reveals the LORD's willingness to answer
a mother's prayer. "When the time was come about after Hannah had conceived,
that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him
of the LORD" (1Samuel 1:20).
Again, only the Providence of God could have turned man's wrath into this perfection
of praise. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath
shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10). The baby's sister, Miriam, followed the ark, ready to offer her
mother as a nurse to her own brother. "God is my Strength and Power: And He
maketh my way perfect" (2Samuel 22:33). Miriam's prayer, while following her baby brother's Divinely protected
ark, might have been, "For Thy Name's sake lead me, and guide me"
(Psalm 31:3).
As all intercessory prayer is by it's very nature, Miriam's intercessory plea would
be what Moses would pray for himself, if he could. "Deliver me out of the mire,
and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the
deep waters" (Psalm 69:14). (Read our article, "Intercession Promises: Casting the Net" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Promises/Intercession.Promises.html
--.)
The LORD preserved Jochebed's maternal influence in her son's life by the truly miraculous
deliverance of her baby being sheltered in her homemade ark. It shouldn't surprise
those of us who know God's Character, that His Grace would provide for a mother's
love to nurture and guard the fruit of her own womb. "9 Take this child away, and nurse
it... And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew..." (Exodus
2:9-10). The Understanding LORD, Who nurtures and suckles
His Own children, answered this mother's plea. He saved the life of her child from
certain death many times during the short existence. He allowed the mother and child
to bond their God-given and God-preserved relationship by the natural sustenance
of milk nourishing the child from his own mother. "Thou art He that took me
out of the womb: Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts"
(Psalm 22:9).
It makes Spiritual sense to assume that this bond would be preserved even longer,
thus allowing for the Spiritual training of Moses. "Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). There is no
Biblical proof of accuracy in the popular "Hollywood" account of Moses'
early life being devoid of Godly influence. In fact, the Bible Record upholds the
Spiritual assertion, that since the mother's rights were honoured and preserved in
the child's early development, so could they be preserved even longer. "Provoke
not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the
LORD" (Ephesians 6:4).
The Scriptures lend much proof that the parents of Moses had the responsibility of
raising their son to be "the servant of God" (Revelation
15:13), for this is the job of all Godly parents. "I
was cast upon Thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother's belly" (Psalm 22:10). Parents are
given children from the LORD "that He might seek a Godly seed" (Malachi 2:15).
And considering the kind of man that Moses turned out to
be, Godly parents must have contributed to his upbringing. Again, "wisdom is
justified of her children" (Matthew 11:19).
"11 And it
came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren,
and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of
his brethren."
Notice, Moses knew that he was born a Hebrew. Also notice his compassion and sense
of justice. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to
you, do ye even so to them: for this is the Law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12). Someone must
have taught Moses what pleased the LORD, for he did "learn to do well; seek
Judgment, [and] relieve the oppressed" (Isaiah
1:17).
"12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there
was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day,
behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the
wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest
thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely
this thing is known. 15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the
face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well."
Moses tried to be a peacemaker between two of his Hebrew brethren. This is more Scriptural
proof that Moses was taught the Ways of God. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for
they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew
5:9). Moses also correctly discerned which of the two
men had sinned, for Scripture states clearly that Moses addressed "him that
did the wrong", indicating a sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are Spiritual, restore
such an one in the spirit of meekness" (Galatians
6:1). As the LORD says by His Own mouth, concerning
His servant, Moses-- "Now the man Moses was VERY MEEK, above all the men which
were upon the face of the Earth" (Numbers
12:3). Moses felt a necessity to intercede, compelled
as a Spiritual man would, because "he that is Spiritual judgeth all things"
(1Corinthians 2:15).
He was passionate for the oppressed, making him a perfect candidate for the LORD's
use in freeing the children of Israel from the grip of Egypt.
The Israelite who snapped back at Moses was angry that Moses had "judged"
him, i.e., "Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?" (Exodus
2:13), and that Moses was interfering where he wasn't
wanted, i.e., "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?" (2:14). The erring Hebrew then
lashed out at Moses with an accusation of hate, i.e., "Intendest thou to kill
me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?" (2:14). The wicked hate the righteous. This sinning brother had been approached
by Moses with the best intentions of love, seeking restoration and peace for him.
"19 Brethren,
if any of you do err from the Truth, and one convert [changes direction, or
turns] him; 20
let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall
save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20). Moses must now "suffer
for righteousness' sake" (1Peter 3:14). He realized that his good deed in helping the beaten slave by killing
the oppressor is known by this backsliding "brother," and that if others
don't already know it also-- they will soon. "14 Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses"
(Exodus 2:14-15).
Moses has to run. As the Patriarch Joseph said to his erring brothers, "As for
you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as
it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis
50:20).
"The moment that Moses came to years of discretion we read that he 'refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.' Take that as the starting-point of the life of service. If your circumstances are making it impossible for you to carry out what would otherwise be the will of God, then drop your circumstances as Moses did; it rests with you to do it. Refuse any longer to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. You have been in the courts of men; you may have stood high in the favor of the people of this world, and your heirship may look exceedingly brilliant. You must choose whether you will take the heavenly inheritance or the earthly. There comes a point in every man's history when, if he wishes to be a sanctified vessel, meet for the Master's use, he must decide to drop everything that prevents a holy career and a life of perfect service among the people of the Lord. Would the devil be what he is if he did not gild his bullets, and if he did not find something to boast of to offset the glorious attraction of heaven? Of course Pharaoh's court, with all its grandeur, its learning, its talent, its science, its magnificent prospects and possibilities and power, attracts men, and they are drawn into its snare. Moses, the servant of God, calculated well, and he concluded that it would be better to endure the reproach of Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt. Put the two side by side, the things of the world in one scale-pan, and the things of God in the other, and see which kicks the beam. Make your calculation, and say deliberately, 'I esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of the world.' -- H. W. WEBB-PEPLOE." --from "For Each New Day"
"16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and
drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove
them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel
their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19 And they said,
An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough
for us, and watered the flock.
20 And he said
unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him,
that he may eat bread."
Again, we see the Godly character of this man, Moses. "Take My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me; for I am Meek and Lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls" (Matthew 11:29).
His compassion for the weak and the wronged stirs up the groundwork of Righteous
Justice and Judgment that had been cultivated in him, equipping this meek man and
constraining him to action. He intercedes for the oppressed, i.e., "Moses stood
up and helped them, and watered their flock" (Exodus
2:17).
At this point, we must make a detour from the story line, and ask the question, "What
is meekness?" We are not looking for a dictionary definition here. We want to
know, "What saith the Scripture?" (Romans
4:3).
Very simply put-- true meekness defends God, not self. "Great peace have
they which love Thy Law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165). The Godly
meek of the Earth defend God's Word. "Receive with meekness the engrafted Word,
which is able to save your souls" (James
1:21). The truly meek defend God's Character. "The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians
5:22-23). The meek promote God, not self. "Who
is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation
his works with meekness of Wisdom" (James
3:13). And God promotes His meek ones. "Blessed
are the meek: for they shall inherit the Earth... the meek shall inherit the Earth;
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11). With such
a man, a man God Himself called "very meek", i.e., "Now the man Moses
was VERY MEEK, above all the men which were upon the face of the Earth" (Numbers 12:3), is it any wonder
that, with such a SERVANT as was this man Moses, that God had just the human interface
He needed to free a whole nation-- enslaved and beaten-- from the clenched fists
of the most powerful nation, at that time, on "the face of the Earth."
From a Biblical perspective, it was Egypt that benefitted from "the famine [which]
was over all the face of the Earth" (Genesis
41:56), lasting seven years, in which "all countries
came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in
all lands" (Genesis 41:57). The citizenry of Egypt became servants of the monarchy. The revenue
of all Egypt went into the coffers of the government.
The revenue from the world poured into the financial resources
of the Egyptian monarchy. This made Egypt quite imposing by monetary standards. So,
by the time "there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph"
(Exodus 1:8),
this Pharaoh could easily have been recognized as the most powerful ruler in the
world. In this light, we are not surprised to find egotism that sets "taskmasters
to afflict [the Israelites] with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure
cities, Pithom and Raamses" (Exodus 1:11).
It was this stronghold of wickedness, lying in the grasp of one man-- the King of
Egypt-- that must be overcome, if God's people were to be set free. The LORD God
needed a man to be His instrument of righteous Justice and Judgment, compassionate
to those mistreated. The man must represent God only-- not himself. The man MUST
be a meek man-- the meekest man "above all the men which were upon the face
of the Earth" (Numbers 12:3). God chose Moses!
Continuing with the story narration...
"21 And Moses
was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son,
and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange
land."
"23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died:
and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their
cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His Covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect
unto them."
Exodus / Chapter 3
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he
led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even
to Horeb. 2 And
the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a Flame Of Fire out of the midst of a
bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with Fire, and the bush was not
consumed. 3 And
Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not
burnt. 4 And when
the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of
the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy
feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover He said, I Am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid
to look upon God. 7
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt,
and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8 And I am come
down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of
that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;
unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites,
and the Hivites, and the Jebusites."
In verse 1, we are told that "Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law,
the priest of Midian". Many may try to use this verse as an occasion to discredit
the Word of God as being inconsistent. In their eyes, God is two-faced. "Why
did God honour a man like Moses, who married an unsaved woman, and yet destroyed
the Earth by a flood for doing the exact same thing?" In our story of "Noah's
Ark" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Noah_s.Ark.html
-- and The Flood, we remember, that in those days:
"'It came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the Earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.' The LORD wants us to take special notice of the type of sin that was the most common just prior to the world's judgment. 'The sons of God' thought so little of the Almighty that they would actually join themselves in the most intimate way, to God's enemies. God's people are NOT to choose their spouses from among the ungodly. We are talking about two separate worlds, with opposite motives, antagonistic values, and NO common ground. Men obey God-- in ALL things-- or they don't. There is no middle ground. There are no shades of gray. There is only Divine Light, or darkness forever."
The passage in Numbers, chapter 12 -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.2.text.html#wife of Moses --, reveals the LORD's anger, when Miriam and Aaron try to usurp Moses' authority by claiming he did sinfully wrong in marrying an "Ethiopian woman" (Numbers 12:1). Again, the LORD appeared unprincipled and unjust to those who don't understand. Yes, the LORD defended the actions of Moses. "7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all Mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?" (12:7-8). But, to those of us who trust the LORD God, His Word, and His Character, the LORD's defense of His "faithful... servant Moses" conclusively proves that Zipporah was NOT an heathen woman, and that "Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian" was NOT the priest of a heathen religion.
"The center of the Midianite country, where Moses sojourned, was on the east shore of the Gulf of Akaba, through they roamed far to the north and west. In Moses' day they controlled the rich pasture lands around Sinai. Moses married a Midianite woman, named Zipporah, daughter of Jethro, also called Reuel (18; 3:1). Jethro, as priest of Midian, must have been a ruler. Midianites were descended from Abraham, through Keturah (Genesis 23:2); and must have had traditions of Abraham's God." --from "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley.
In Exodus 2:18, we are told that the daughters of Jethro "came to Reuel their father".
"Reuel, which means friend of God, seems to have been his personal name, and Jethro, his excellence, to have been his honorary title... After the passage of the Red Sea, which conducted the Israelites into the vicinity of Jethro's country... he rejoiced in the deliverance of the Israelites, [and] offered sacrifices to Jehovah." --from "Davis Dictionary of the Bible" by John D. Davis.
God's opinions are stated clearly when it comes to His people choosing the daughters of the heathen -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.2.text.html#Midianite heathen woman -- and in this case, Midianites included.
"9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come
unto Me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come now therefore,
and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children
of Israel out of Egypt.
11 And Moses said
unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth
the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12 And He said,
Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent
thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon
this mountain.
13 And Moses said
unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them,
The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is
his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said
unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of
Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my Name for
ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations. 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them,
The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared
unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in
Egypt: 17 And
I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of
the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites,
and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 And they shall hearken to thy voice:
and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye
shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us
go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice
to the LORD our God. 19
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty
hand. 20 And I
will stretch out My hand, and smite Egypt with all My Wonders which I will do
in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favour
in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall
not go empty: 22
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her
house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon
your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians."
Exodus / Chapter 4
And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken
unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
2 And the LORD
said unto him, What is that in thine hand?
And he said, A rod.
3 And He said,
Cast it on the ground.
And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before
it.
4 And the LORD
said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail.
And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5 that they
may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into
thy bosom.
And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was
leprous as snow.
7 And He said,
Put thine hand into thy bosom again.
And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold,
it was turned again as his other flesh.
8 And it shall
come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the
first Sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter Sign. 9 And it shall come to pass,
if they will not believe also these two Signs, neither hearken unto thy voice,
that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and
the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land."
It is a wicked people that need a Sign BEFORE they say they'll believe the LORD.
"38 Then
certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see
a Sign from Thee. 39
But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh
after a Sign; and there shall no Sign be given to it, but the Sign of the prophet
Jonas: 40 For
as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of
Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in
Judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the
preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a Greater than Jonas is here" (Matthew 12:38-41). The "Sign"
that the LORD spoke of is given to the wicked because of their need to repent. It
is given by God to show that repentance is necessary. Jonah bore his sin in the belly
of the whale-- a Sign from God the Father that he needed to repent. Jesus bore the
sin of the world in the belly (or "heart") of the Earth-- a Sign from God
the Father that the world needed to repent..
"10 And Moses
said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou
hast spoken unto Thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11 And the LORD
said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the
seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee
what thou shalt say."
The LORD God always prepares His servants for the work He gives them. He sends them
in the Power of His Spirit. "12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates,
and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall
say: 12 for the
Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say... 21:14 Settle it therefore in
your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries
shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke
12:11-12; 21:14-15).
"13 And he
said, O my LORD, send, I pray Thee, by the hand of him whom Thou wilt send."
Moses continued to sidestep the LORD's Will by suggesting that "the hand of
him", Moses, whom God chose, could choose someone else to go in his stead. And
even though the LORD was angry with Moses, God showed His mercy and grace.
"14 And the
anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said, Is not Aaron the Levite
thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to
meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15 And thou shalt speak unto him,
and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth,
and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be,
even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead
of God."
The LORD allowed Aaron to be the mouthpiece of Moses, but Moses was still to be the
mouthpiece of God
"17 And thou
shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do Signs.
18 And Moses went
and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee,
and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive.
And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for
all the men are dead which sought thy life."
The LORD prepared the way before His servant, providing for the servant's safety.
"All the men are dead which sought thy life."
"20 And Moses
took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land
of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt,
see that thou do all those Wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand:
but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go."
Again, the LORD prepared His servant, Moses, by telling him what to expect. Pharaoh
was to be the unwilling tool in the hand of God.
"22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is
My son, even My firstborn: 23
and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let
him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
27 And the LORD
said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in
the mount of God, and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the Words of the LORD Who had sent him,
and all the Signs which He had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of
the children of Israel: 30
And Aaron spake all the Words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the Signs
in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited
the children of Israel, and that He had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed
their heads and worshipped."
Exodus / Chapter 5
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God
of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.
2 And Pharaoh
said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I
know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."
Truth is Truth, no matter who repeats it. And Pharaoh spoke God's Truth when he said
that he didn't know God. For to know God is to obey Him. "Know ye not, that
to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto Righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).
"3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go,
we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our
God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4 And the king
of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their
works? get you unto your burdens. 5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and
ye make them rest from their burdens. 6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people,
and their officers, saying, 7
Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go
and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall
lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they
cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein;
and let them not regard vain words."
To the wicked, the Word of God is foolishness, and the teaching of the Word-- worthlessness.
"Let them not regard vain words." It is only the Word of God that
has Eternal Value.
"20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came
forth from Pharaoh: 21
and they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made
our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants,
to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
22 And Moses returned
unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast Thou so evil entreated this people?
why is it that Thou hast sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy Name, he hath done evil
to this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all."
If there was one character area that Moses needed to heed as "the sin which
doth so easily beset" (Hebrews 12:1) him, it would be that of having patience. Then Moses would "run
with patience the race that is set before [him]" (12:1).
With the constant backslidings from the Israelites, Moses
was OFTEN tested in the area of having patience. "There arose not a prophet
since in Israel like unto Moses" (Deuteronomy
34:10). Most of the time, he passed his tests, as any
child of God is required to do [read "What the Bible Says About Temptation" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/What.Bible.Says.Temptation.html
--]. But we will
read later, of a time when
Moses lost his temper -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.2.text.html#Meribah
--, and this provocation from the children of Israel
caused Moses
to NOT enter into the Promised Land -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.2.text.html#Meribah
and Moses --.
Exodus / Chapter 6
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for
with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them
out of his land. 2
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I Am the LORD: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto
Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the Name of God Almighty, but by My Name JEHOVAH was I
not known to them. 4
And I have also established My Covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan,
the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning
of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered
My Covenant. 6
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I Am the LORD, and I will bring you out
from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage,
and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with Great Judgments: 7 And I will take you to Me
for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I Am the LORD your
God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto
the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I Am the LORD. 9 And Moses spake so unto the children
of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for
cruel bondage."
The Israelites were a suffering people. They had "23 sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came
up unto God... 24
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His Covenant with Abraham, with
Isaac, and with Jacob" (Exodus 2:23-24). If the LORD had not intervened for them, He would not have been
able to fulfill the Promise He had made to Abraham. "13 And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be
a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict
them four hundred years; 14
and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they
come out with great substance... 18 In the same day the LORD made a Covenant with Abram, saying, Unto
thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the
river Euphrates: 19
the Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 and the Amorites, and the
Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites" (Genesis
15:13-14,18-21). And so, for Abraham, the LORD kept
His Promise, and proceeded with His plan to free Israel, even though "they hearkened
NOT unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage."
"10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children
of Israel go out of his land. 12 And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of
Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised
lips? 13 And the
LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of
Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the
land of Egypt. 28
And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
29 that the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying, I Am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all
that I say unto thee."
The LORD's "charge" to us stands fast, whether it appears as if anyone
will listen to us, or not. The LORD's Word is the only Absolute that needs to be
considered. This is the position of FAITH. "And He said unto them, Where is
your FAITH? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of
Man is this! for He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him"
(Luke 8:25).
Exodus / Chapter 7
And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god [or, as God] to Pharaoh:
and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother
shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh's
heart, and multiply My Signs and My Wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken
unto you, that I may lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring forth Mine armies, and My
people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by Great Judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know
that I Am the LORD, when I stretch forth Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the
children of Israel from among them. 6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
7 And Moses was
fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto
Pharaoh.
8 And the LORD
spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you:
then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it
shall become a serpent.
10 And Moses and
Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and
Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a
serpent. 11 Then
Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they
also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents:
but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them;
as the LORD had said."
Satan is the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience" (Ephesians
2:2), and as such, God has allowed Satan to have a limited
amount of liberty in his arsenal. His abilities imitate the "Only Wise
God" (1Timothy 1:17).
Satan's imitation of God is NOT to glorify God-- but to usurp God altogether. "For
thou [Satan] hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God" (Isaiah
14:13).
Pharaoh's sorcerers imitated God's Power, but possessed
no Divine power in themselves. Their power was a counterfeit, for "the working
of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2Thessalonians 2:9) could not defeat
Moses. This is illustrated in the fact, that, "Aaron's rod swallowed up their
rods." When that happened in front of Pharaoh's very own eyes, he was reminded
of his finiteness, his limitations-- and it soured in his stomach and "hardened"
his heart. This Divine Power of the Holy Spirit constantly limits Satan, and restrains
his devouring egotistical desires from overstepping the purposes that God maintains.
This has a tremendous hardening effect on the heart of Satan, making him-- of ALL
creatures-- "most miserable" (1Corinthians
15:19).
"14 And the
LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people
go. 15 Get thee
unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand
by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt
thou take in thine hand. 16
And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee,
saying, Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness: and, behold,
hitherto thou wouldest not hear. 17 Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I Am the LORD:
behold, I will smite with the rod that is in Mine hand upon the waters which are
in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall
stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river. 19 And the LORD spake unto
Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of
Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all
their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout
all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone."
In the Book of Revelation, one of the "two witnesses" (Revelation 11:3) (we think he shall
be Moses, with Elijah being the other witness) shall again turn the waters to blood.
"Moses and Elijah are most probably the Two Witnesses indicated in this verse because of the similarity of their previous earthly ministries to the deeds of these Two Witnesses. Elijah 'shut heaven, that it rain[ed] not' (11:6), i.e., 'And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word' (1Kings 17:1). Moses had 'power over [the] waters to turn them to blood' (11:6), i.e., '[Moses] turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish' (Psalm 105:29). Moses is remembered for the multitude of plagues that he called down upon Egypt, i.e., 'And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet' (Exodus 7:1), while Elijah is remembered for calling down fire on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. '37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the LORD God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench' (1Kings 18:37-38)." -- from our "Commentary on the Book of Revelation" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/The.Holy.Bible/index.html#Revelation --, Chapter 11: The Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/The.Holy.Bible/Commentary.Revelations.11.html --. [And for more background on Elijah, please read our "Elijah and the Prophets of Baal" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Elijah.Prophets.of.Baal.html --.]
"20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted
up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh,
and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were
turned to blood. 21
And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could
not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land
of Egypt. 22 And
the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was
hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. 23 And Pharaoh turned and went
into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 24 And all the Egyptians digged round
about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the
river. 25 And
seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river."
Notice the magicians could NOT lift the curse of God. They could only mock God's
Almightiness in imitation, using Satan's Divinely-limited power.
Exodus / Chapter 8
And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the
LORD, Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy
borders with frogs: 3
and the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into
thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy
servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
4 and the frogs
shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
5 And the LORD
spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the
streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the
land of Egypt. 6
And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up,
and covered the land of Egypt. 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up
frogs upon the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the
LORD, that He may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will
let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD."
Again, notice that the LORD allowed Pharaoh's magicians to add to the frogs, but
not to take the frogs away. This God devised for the purpose of hardening Pharaoh.
For the LORD "hath made the Earth by His Power, He hath established the world
by His Wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by His Understanding" (Jeremiah 51:15).
"9 And Moses
said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: WHEN shall I entreat for thee, and for thy
servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that
they may remain in the river only? 10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word:
that thou mayest know that there is NONE LIKE unto the LORD our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart
from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they
shall remain in the river only."
Moses was a man of FAITH. God had worked it in him just for this service to which
he was now called. "And the LORD said unto him [Moses], Who hath made man's
mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the
LORD?" (Exodus 4:11).
To proclaim something to be in fact, that is not yet seen with eyes, takes FAITH.
"And [Jesus] turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are
the eyes which see the things that ye see" (Luke
10:23).
For the Law of the Kingdom has ordained, that it is "according to your FAITH be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).
"'And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour' (Matthew 8:13). This passage of Scripture brings before us one of the principal laws of the kingdom of heaven. In order to understand God's ways with His people, and our relations with the Lord, it is needful to understand this law thoroughly and not to deviate from it. Not only does God give or withhold His gifts according to the faith or unbelief of each, but they are granted in greater or lesser measure, only in proportion to the faith which receives them. God respects the right to decide which He has conferred on man. Therefore He can only bless us in the measure in which each yields himself up to His divine working, and opens all his heart to Him. Faith in God is nothing else than the full opening of the heart to receive everything from God; therefore man can only receive divine grace according to his faith; and this applies as much to divine healing as to any other grace of God." --from "Divine Healing" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/Murray.Divine.Healing.html -- by Andrew Murray.
For Moses to attribute the doing of it by Someone Whose face "no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and Power everlasting" (1Timothy 6:16), but Who is seen ONLY with the heart, this is "FAITH IN GOD" (Mark 11:22).
Note: No earthbound man has seen the face of God the Father. Not even Moses. And yet... -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.2.text.html#face to face --
So, when Moses insisted that Pharaoh choose the time "when"
(Exodus 8:9) the
frogs would leave, he was allowing Pharaoh this honour for one reason only. "Be
it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is NONE LIKE unto
the LORD our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee" (10-11). This honour was actually a
challenge. "Pharaoh, you pick the day. I'll ask the LORD God. And then you'll
see for yourself, 'that there is NONE LIKE unto the LORD our God.' For the LORD will
do what you can't do. And to show you that it's NO MERE COINCIDENCE, the LORD will
let you choose when."
"12 And Moses
and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs
which He had brought against Pharaoh. 13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the
frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. 14 And they gathered them together
upon heaps: and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart,
and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said."
Events happened just "as the LORD had said." That's why Pharaoh "hardened
his heart"-- he coveted the Power that God possessed. Pharaoh was "of [his]
father the Devil, and the lusts of [his] father" (John
8:44) he did. The Devil covets all that God Is, and
so, also, did the Devil's child, Pharaoh. Instead of "glorifying and praising
God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them" (Luke 2:20), the wicked father and son "coveted after [God]... and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows" (1Timothy
6:10).
"16 And the
LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of
the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 17 And they did so; for Aaron
stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the Earth, and it became
lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout
all the land of Egypt. 18
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they
could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. 19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh,
This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened
not unto them; as the LORD had said."
SIDE NOTE: Discontent Hardens a Heart. "Set Me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame" (Song of Solomon 8:6). With violence, the wicked refuse to be content. "34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will NOT spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will NOT regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts" (Proverbs 6:34-35). Covetousness and pride were two of the offending sins that cast down Satan from his glorious position. "15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee... 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee" (Ezekiel 28:15,17). When the LORD's Judgment fell, it was swift. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven" (Luke 10:18). "How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12). He and his following "angels which kept not their First Estate, but left their own habitation, [Almighty God] hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day" (Jude 1:6). "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?" (Proverbs 27:4).
Even so, "if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto Judgment" (2Peter 2:4), then neither will He spare mere mortals that persist in sinning. "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23). For God does truly have a time when Judgment falls. "And Mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (Ezekiel 7:4).
And the Time of Judgment is near at hand! "For then shall be Great Tribulation -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/WStS.Timeline.html --, such as was not since The Beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21).
"20 And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and
stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith
the LORD, Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21 Else, if thou wilt not let My people
go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon
thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of
swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. 22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which My people
dwell, that NO swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that
I Am the LORD in the midst of the Earth. 23 And I will put a division between My people and thy
people: to morrow shall this Sign be."
The LORD Creator of Heaven and Hell "put a division between" His people
and the Devil's, "a great gulf fixed: so that they [in Hell] which would pass
from hence [in Hell] to you [in Heaven] cannot; neither can they [in Heaven] pass
to us [in Hell], that would come from thence [in Heaven]" (Luke 16:26). Heaven is a Holy Place,
"and there shall in NO wise enter into it ANY thing that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but [only] they which are written in the Lamb's
Book of Life" (Revelation 21:27). God demonstrated to Pharaoh this Truth repeatedly, "that ye
may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and
Israel" (Exodus 11:7).
The LORD sets The Standard, and even Himself, of course, lives by It. "That
be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked:
and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be FAR from Thee: Shall
not the Judge of all the Earth do right?" (Genesis
18:25). And, since "the disciple is NOT above his
Master, nor the servant above his LORD" (Matthew
10:24), the Master requires His people to also LIVE
BY The Standard.
"24 And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies
into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of
Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies. 25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and
for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
26 And Moses said,
It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians
to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before
their eyes, and will they not stone us? 27 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice
to the LORD our God, as He shall command us.
28 And Pharaoh
said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness;
only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.
29 And Moses said,
Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies
may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let
not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice
to the LORD."
Moses already knew what Pharaoh would do, because the LORD Omniscient told him that
Pharaoh's heart would be "hardened." But Moses wanted to let Pharaoh know
that he understood completely, Pharaoh's methods, and that he therefore warned him,
"Let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more." When the LORD's people obey
God in discerning the wicked, then they are prepared for battle, "lest Satan
should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2Corinthians 2:11).
"30 And Moses
went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. 31 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and He removed
the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there
remained not one. 32
And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the
people go."
People who will not listen-- even with repeated opportunities-- are people who will
never listen, and who therefore conclude their trial on Earth with an everlasting
imprisonment in Hell, "whose damnation is just" (Romans
3:8). The only Scriptural way to PROVE that you
ARE one who listens, is by present obedience. "And hereby we do know that we
know Him, if we keep His Commandments" (1John
2:3). [Please
read "That Ye May Know That Ye Have Eternal Life, Or, The Biblical Doctrine
of the Assurance of Salvation, Or, Only Those Who Abide in Christ May Know That They
Have Eternal Life -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/That.Ye.May.Know.That.Ye.html
--", for more on this topic.]
Exodus / Chapter 9
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD
God of the Hebrews, Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 For if thou refuse to let
them go, and wilt hold them still, 3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the
field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon
the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain (a highly infectious disease of
cattle, e.g., anthrax)."
Each Judgment that the LORD sent against Egypt increased in severity. The Tribulation
Judgments shall progress in intensity, also. (Read
"Commentary on the Book of Revelation" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/The.Holy.Bible/index.html#Revelation
--.)
"4 And the
LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and
there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. 5 And the LORD appointed a
set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land. 6 And the LORD did that thing
on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children
of Israel died not one."
This production was staged by the LORD. The decisions are His alone. He decides what
lives and what dies. He decides to whom it will happen and to whom it will not. He
decides the timing and He alone carries it out. "The LORD is known by the
Judgment which He executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own
hands" (Psalm 9:16).
"7 And Pharaoh
sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead.
And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did NOT let the people go.
8 And the LORD
said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and
let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it shall become small dust in
all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and
upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and
Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains
upon man, and upon beast. 11
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the
boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 12 And the LORD hardened the heart of
Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
13 And the LORD
said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say
unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let My people go, that they
may serve Me. 14
For I will at this time send all My plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants,
and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the
Earth. 15
For now I will stretch out My hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence;
and thou shalt be cut off from the Earth. 16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to
show in thee My Power; and that My Name may be declared throughout all the Earth."
If the LORD cannot receive praise from a heart that loves Him, then He will use the
hateful heart for His Own Purpose. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm
76:10). In Pharaoh's case, God used Pharaoh's
wrath as a target for the demonstration of His Divine Power, establishing His Mighty
Name as a Witness "throughout all the Earth." This is the reason that God
even allowed Pharaoh the chance to be born-- "for this cause" and "for
this same purpose"-- that God's "Power" and "Name" be "declared
throughout all the Earth" (Exodus 9:16;
Romans 9:17).
Side Note Question: Why doesn't God just force our wills to do whatever He wants?
"But do any of you object and say, why does not God make us willing? Is it not because he has reprobated us, that he does not change our hearts and make us willing? No, sinner, it is not because he has reprobated you; but because you are so obstinate that he cannot, wisely, and in consistency with the public good, take such measures as will convert you. Here you are waiting for God to make you willing to go to heaven, and all the while you are diligently using the means to get to hell; yes, exerting yourself with greater diligence to