One More Time

O.T. #159  "One More Time"
Oct. 31, 2013
Exodus 11-Part 1
Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country.  Exodus 11:1

LET IT GLOW

How many times do I have to lend this to my neighbor? One more time? Really?
In Matthew 5:42 and 44 Jesus answers, Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

The nine plagues of God upon Pharaoh and their Egyptian gods ended. Each plague showed God to be more powerful than their man-made gods. He displayed miraculous signs among them. If you missed studying them, I advise going back and reading the previous posts. The nine plagues were: water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock dying, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness.  Today we study about the final and tenth plague. All of this was done so the Hebrews would know that God is the LORD.

Plague #10 Death of the Firstborn

The LORD told Moses that He was bringing one more plague, one more blow. During the process, Moses probably didn't know how many plagues there would be. This time was different. The Hebrews would actually be let go and Pharaoh would thrust  them out. This is the first mention of the word thrust.
Thrust means  drive out from a possession. (Strong's Concordance)

Sounds like good news to me-after being slaves for over 400 years, the Hebrews would finally get to leave for their Promised Land. However, God took drastic measures for this to be accomplished.

New Living Translation says it this way, In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.

Are you eager to leave this world and go into the everlasting one? Where will you be spending your eternity-heaven or hell? Do we stop to think about it? Do we ask others?

LET IT GROW

The Israelites were instructed to  borrow (meaning to request in Hebrew) from their Egyptian neighbors articles of silver and gold. The LORD had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites. Also, Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt and was respected by Pharaoh's officials and the people alike. No longer was Moses looked down upon and ignored. Thus, these gold and silver articles would be the Hebrews' wages during all those years of slavery. Also, these items would be used for the building of a temple in the wilderness.

Do we share with our neighbors when they request something? Better yet, do we give to the Lord when He requests something of us?

LET IT GO

Let go of anything that is more important than God.

When He asks something of us, gladly let go of it.

Lend to and love my neighbor.