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| Exodus 12:29-32 |
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Lesson # Exodus 12:29-32 Study Material - Exodus 12:29-32 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Ex. 12:29-32 29 Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, 'Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.' Midnight is a good representation of the darkness of ones life. When judgment comes, when you are nervous, unsure, and cannot see destruction coming in your direction, that is the condition of the soul without Bible doctrine. The judgment came as the warning stated. There was plenty of advanced warning. Even before the plagues began, God warned that He would take the first born of Egypt as they had attempted to take His first born, Israel. This warning was ignored of course, just as all the warnings were ignored. So the principle of salvation, the principle of Gods work and judgment of all those who reject or ignore Him, the principle of mans non-involvement in Gods work (no leaven, no corruption within the household, your household being your soul), the principle of Gods promise to keep judgment from those who, by faith, Heb. 11:28, trusted in Him and obeyed Him, all these and more are taught in the Passover ritual and Feast of Unleaven Bread. Egypt in general ignored the warnings and suffered the consequences of their stubbornness. Their first born died at midnight, and the lamentations and tears exploded just after midnight as all households were affected within the nation. Pharaoh lost his first born as well and he was immediately pressured by an avalanche of protesting Egyptians, to get rid of these Hebrews, 'before they kill us all', verse 33. Positive volition toward God leads to discernment, and therefore correct decisions in life. Negative volition toward God leads to darkness in the soul, and callousness of the soul that prevents discernment and limits ones judgment in matters of decision making. The obvious decisions are ignored and bad decisions are made in their place. The people, even Pharaoh still did not change their attitude. Even after all this judgment against them, they still did not see the lie of their way of life, nor did they see that their life would be far better if they turned in their worship toward God. They should have seen the truth and changed their minds about God, instead they just wanted to get rid of the Hebrews, and maybe things would get better for them if these people left. But all the while is was not any particular people that caused the Egyptians problems, but their own negative attitude and pursuit of false gods. We see a lot of documentaries about Afghanistan these days. And in them a picture emerges of a society of loosely connected and rivaling tribes, in rugged country which provides somewhat of a geographical separation between these tribes. People that change sides from day to day. People that lie or exaggerate as a normal part of their daily lives. Christianity is virtually ignored, thus the moral fabric in that part of the world is somewhat distorted. The religion of Islam is bashed and twisted. On its surface it presents the belief of a peaceful existence with people, but its practice is that of a self indulgent, self serving, deceitful, and generally corrupt society. Their economy is in a shambles. Their law and order principles are governed with a gun or a big stick, or that of a bully principle. There is no patriotism or loyalty to the country, and even within tribes that loyalty can be purchased. In contrast our country, the USA, began as a loose collection of colonies, but Christianity and a considerably higher standard or moral fabric brought these colonies together for a common purpose. Our country went on to become the power that we are today. And as far as ancient countries go, ours is virtually an infant. Afghanistan has been around far longer and still lives in the stone age. So, Christianity brings people together, for innovation, for blessing, for freedom and so much more. The lack of Christianity produces behind the times thinking, backwards living, poverty, misery, all the bad things that we see examples of in the recent news. The Hebrews were in slavery, but by faith, that slavery ended. By faith they gained their freedom and the right to self determination, that is to be able to make the right decisions in life, ie., study and grow up spiritually. The Egyptians as with many Afghan's, made and are making, the wrong decisions. They suffer from judgment. After the bombs stop falling, after the plagues cease, then it is back to the same old style of life. Back to the bribes and deceitful trading. Back to the power struggles between tribes, or in politics. Then you hear those arrogant words, 'and bless me also.' Pharaoh can make his mind up and believe in God. Pharaoh can change his whole pattern of life, but Pharaoh wants to keep that 'leaven', that corrupt aspect of his life, as well as receive blessings from God, but no such thing can happen. We cannot have life both ways. We cannot live our lives out of fellowship with God, and still expect some relationship as well as the benefits of a relationship from God. Go back the those seven descriptions of attitudes given in the book of Revelation. You are either hot for doctrine, or perhaps cold, maybe even lukewarm (neither hot nor cold but indifferent). Maybe you are on again off again when it comes to paying attention to God. What ever your attitude, there is only one way of salvation, believing in Christ, which I presume that all readers of this study have done at some time in their lives. After that, then there is only one way of the Christian life, through the daily study of Bible doctrine. That is the only means of moving forward in the spiritual life. Any other means, even in ones cool attitude, the reverse direction is happening. We lose ground when we get away from our daily study. 
Now is the time to post a prayer. End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. |
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