Exodus

​Rabbi Irving Greenberg in his article “Why The Exodus Was So Significant” wrote, “The Exodus transformed the Jewish people and their ethic . . . Christianity and Islam adopted the Exodus at their core, almost half the world is profoundly shaped by the aftereffects of the Exodus event.”

I believe that the book of Exodus is critical for us to read and study because it teaches us five valuable lessons about:
1.  Deliverance.   God rescued the Israelites from oppression in the land of Egypt.  He helped Moses overcome his own feelings of inadequacy by providing Aaron.  He consistently saved people from harm and destruction easing them past deep-set fear.
2.  God’s Omnipotence.  Exodus is the epic book in Scripture in revealing God’s power.  It tells the story of the burning bush and other signs God used to bolster Moses’ faith and confidence.  Yahweh struck Egypt with ten devastating plagues culminating with the Passover.  He parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape and then released that same water to drown the Egyptian army in pursuit.  He provided millions of people in the desert with manna from heaven, quail, and all the water they needed to survive.  
3.  Man’s Depravity.  Pharaoh is the quintessential example of what a hard heart looks like. The Israelites reveal a rebellious spirit manifested in complaining, defiantly worshiping a golden calf and constantly questioning God and Moses’ leadership.
4.  The Law.  The Lord on Mount Sinai gave Moses the Ten Commandments and instructed him in building the Ark and the Tabernacle.  Moses received laws, rituals and religious observances meant to establish an orderly nation honorable in God’s sight. 
5.  Leadership.  God fulfilled His promise to successfully liberate His people from the hands of Pharaoh and then shepherded them toward the Promised Land.  Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, teaches us about the importance of delegation.
 
Meditation
Exodus 15:11—Lord, who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
 
When we grasp what it means to be delivered and led by an all-powerful Father in our undeserving condition, the appropriate response should be worship!  No one is like our God.  Hallelujah! We revere Him in praise and we resolve to live so that He is glorified.  
 
Inspiration
Only to sit and think of God,
Oh what a joy it is!
To think the thought, to breathe the Name
Earth has no higher bliss . . .
 
How beautiful, how beautiful
The sight of Thee must be,
Thine endless wisdom, boundless power,
And awful purity!
 
Oh how I fear Thee, living God!
With deepest, tenderest fears,
And worship Thee with trembling hope,
And penitential tears.—Frederick William Faber
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)