Exodus 12

 Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, "This month shall be the beginning of months for you ... "

When God steps in, even time is changed, redefined.  His mercies are new every morning.

‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. ...'   

In the midst of declaring the climax of the plagues, the pending deaths of Egypt's firstborn, God sets up a celebration for all generations of His people.  

Lord, help me to remember to celebrate You even in the hardest and most confusing of times.  Let me never forget how You have dealt with me and the grace You have bestowed on me and my family.  What steadfast love You pour out on Your children.  Teach me to celebrate God-style.

Exodus 11

Moses departs from Pharaoh's presence in "hot anger."  The cost of Pharaoh's hardened heart is going to be great and painful.  Maybe that's why Moses leaves in such a fashion.

Lord, I know that the cost of not responding to You is great and painful.  I understand what You say will happen to those who do not come to You in faith; help me to be stirred to action, to choose to advocate You rather than my comfort and leisure.  Please don't let me sit - unconcerned, aloof and remote while those in my circle of influence choose to ignore You.  God, if I need to have hot anger, then give it to me.  Enrage me against the success of the enemy that I might be useful to Your Kingdom's cause.  It's not all good; don't let me live as if it were.

Exodus 10

The darkness comes without warning.  There was light then there was darkness.  Palpable blackness.  

Pharaoh presumed he had light, maybe even thought he was light - the sun god Ra. When darkness came, he was stuck.  And pridefully, refused the only option for light, God.

Lord, may I never presume to be in Your light.  May my life be a gracious response to the Light You have given me.  May I reflect Your light and share the Source with all You entrust to me. 

Exodus 9

God had said the many wonders would not be effective in attaining the release of the Israelites - their salvation.  Those miracles were part of the establishing the division or distinctiveness of God's people.  God had spoken that salvation would require the death of the firstborn son.  Then a three day journey into the wilderness before the worshiping could happen.

Reminds me of another Firstborn Son who performed many signs and wonders - which did not bring salvation.   Like the earlier works, these incredible events served as a way of culling out those who were God's people from those whose hearts were hardened.  Similarly, it was the death of the Firstborn Son which was required to establish salvation.  So, too, a three day journey of sorts before the celebration could begin.  

Father, I praise You.  I thank You that You desire to make Your people distinctive, Your work is to draw them from the world and to You.  I praise You for Your wisdom in the wonders and the wildernesses.  I praise You that worship and jubilee in Your Name follow those three day journeys into the wildernesses of the unknown.  I praise You that You teach us to walk in freedom, You draw us to worship You apart from this present darkness.  Strengthen me for the days of Your splendors and for the peregrinations leading to praise and adoration.  I praise You that there is no condemnation in You. 

Exodus 8

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

Eighty years earlier, a princess went down to the river and encountered the babe to be named Moses.  Four hundred years of slavery, 80 years of one man's life and it seems that it was about people being set free and worshiping their God.  His ways are not my ways, His timing is not my timing; but He is always right in all He does.  Lord, please grant me vision and patience for Your good works.  May I be useful to You in Your plans - liberty and worship.

Father, I don't understand why the magicians tried to duplicate Your miracles.  It seems to me that the more useful thing would be to try to undo them, that they might look better to Pharaoh.  I know that You allowed them some amount of success in replicating what You had done through Your men; but why on earth would they want to add more bugs to a plague?  Is it because the world does not have holy sight; they can only try to be like what they witness You to do?  Lord, help me to never fall for the sloppy seconds that come from man.  Holy Spirit, please help me to not be deceived by the smoke and mirrors of this dark world.  Renew my appetite for You, Lord Jesus; for Your work, for Your heart, for Your plan.  And may I bring You glory.

Exodus 7

What an odd scenario; to have an audience with the Pharaoh and to whisper to your brother what the King of the Universe has told you and let your sibling relay it to the king.  This just strikes me as ridiculous.  Wonder what impact it had on Pharaoh.  Lord, help me to be very careful to not seek help when You have not instructed me to receive it.

Secondly, the Lord is warning again that the Pharaoh and the Egyptians will struggle in believing and responding rightly to what God is saying through Moses and  Aaron.  Moses, in his dialogues with God appears to struggle, too.  How hard it must be for the world and those in my circle of influence to believe when I can resist the Sovereign Lord as well as Moses did?  Father, I know I don't have perfect faith or even much at all; but I don't ever want my defiance, my bucking Your excellent authority, my demurring or even a misgiving to hinder another.  I know You use all things for Your glory; but I want to give You good things.  Please help me to speak when You say speak, wait when You say wait and go when You say go.  Lord, may I do all of these things in an appropriate, faithful and loving response to You  ... the first time.  I desire to delight in You, even in the difficulties.  May You be praised.

Exodus 6

These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. ...  The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. ... These were the clans of Levi according to their records.  Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

Levi to Kohath to Amram to Moses, four generations.  Just like He said.

God's records are so complete and specific.  Thank You Father for Your amazing attention to all of the details.  Thank You for pointing this out, that even in the midst of slavery and extremely harsh circumstance, records were being kept; because every generation matters.   People in every generation matter.  People matter.  May I pay the right kind of attention to the right kind of details, to the praise of Your Name.

Now, what's up with Hebron? The others have a family trail here in Exodus; but he doesn't until Numbers 26.  Lord, I praise You for Your mysterious ways.  I love how You keep my interest and make me wonder.  May I always be captivated by You, Your ways and Your Word.