September 6th, 2022
Slaves Can Be Delivered
Truth About God: God circumvents efforts that seek to keep us enslaved.
Truth About My Life: I will act on God’s provision of deliverance.
Focus Verse – Hebrews 3:14
"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."
Lesson Text: Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 3:1–19
Biblical Overview:
It is said that some people are born for greatness. In the ancient world, the events of early life often showed a child’s promise before the child took a single step or uttered the first word. The story of Moses mirrors several other narratives from multiple cultures. In fear, Moses’ mother put him in a basket, and Pharaoh’s daughter found him and adopted him before Moses grew up to deliver the Israelites. In a similar story, a drawer of water rescued Sargon of Akkad from a basket in the water, and the helpless baby grew up to become a mighty king. In the epic known as the Mahabharata, something similar happened to Karna. But his humble origins did not prevent Karna’s gifts as a warrior and a speaker from shining.
However, Moses achieved far more than these other legendary figures by leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and by receiving the Torah directly from God. Through the one whose name means “drawn out of the water,” the Lord turned the waters of the Nile to blood, parted the waters of the Red Sea, and brought forth water from a rock.
Although Moses was an instrument of the miraculous, he also faced many troubled waters while dealing with the rebellious nature of the children of Israel. The Book of Hebrews remembers the anger Moses experienced on a regular basis due to the Israelites’ disobedience. The generation who experienced the miracle at the Red Sea also tested the Lord’s and Moses’ patience at Massah and quarreled at the waters of Meribah. Massah means “test” and Meribah means “strife or contention.” The Israelites left their praise at the Red Sea and chose to complain rather than worship. They ultimately failed to find rest in the Promised Land.
God had delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, but they remained bound in their minds. Their shackles held them mentally and spiritually. We must receive salvation and avoid returning to a sinful mindset. We can act on God’s provision of deliverance by embracing Jesus—the greatest liberator with the humblest origins.
Exodus 2:1–4
1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
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.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
Biblical Insight:
Biblical scholars often look for information outside of the Bible to provide key facts about Scripture. Often these extrabiblical items can help us more fully understand the history of the Bible. Trouble for the Israelites started in Exodus when a king arose who did not know Joseph. There may be a lot more to this situation than meets the eye. Some scholars believe Joseph rose to power because a group of Semites known as the Hyksos controlled Egypt at that time. The Hyksos introduced horses and chariotry into Egypt, preparing the stage for future events at the Red Sea. While the Israelites lived in Goshen, the native Egyptians returned to power and cast out the Hyksos. This led to a crisis for the children of Israel. Since the Egyptians had just removed the Hyksos, they likely had grave concerns about the Israelites dwelling in their land.
Daily Devotion:
A quick scroll through our news feed will reveal many leaders who neither know nor follow the Lord. Many of them reject His ways and at times promote and push beliefs that are against God. This affects us because our world is still greatly tainted by sin and evil.
Although this may trouble our souls for a moment, Daniel wrote of our God that “he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). It is difficult for us to grasp why God would allow leaders in our world who do not follow His Word. Nevertheless, we must always trust that God is still in control and all power belongs to Him, even when we feel powerless. Don’t be discouraged if the world around you feels dark with sin. God will always triumph over evil, no matter how dark and long the night may seem. There is no darkness that His glorious light cannot overcome.
SPEAK (Scripture, Prayer, Examine, Apply, Keep):
Truth About My Life: I will act on God’s provision of deliverance.
Focus Verse – Hebrews 3:14
"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."
Lesson Text: Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 3:1–19
Biblical Overview:
It is said that some people are born for greatness. In the ancient world, the events of early life often showed a child’s promise before the child took a single step or uttered the first word. The story of Moses mirrors several other narratives from multiple cultures. In fear, Moses’ mother put him in a basket, and Pharaoh’s daughter found him and adopted him before Moses grew up to deliver the Israelites. In a similar story, a drawer of water rescued Sargon of Akkad from a basket in the water, and the helpless baby grew up to become a mighty king. In the epic known as the Mahabharata, something similar happened to Karna. But his humble origins did not prevent Karna’s gifts as a warrior and a speaker from shining.
However, Moses achieved far more than these other legendary figures by leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and by receiving the Torah directly from God. Through the one whose name means “drawn out of the water,” the Lord turned the waters of the Nile to blood, parted the waters of the Red Sea, and brought forth water from a rock.
Although Moses was an instrument of the miraculous, he also faced many troubled waters while dealing with the rebellious nature of the children of Israel. The Book of Hebrews remembers the anger Moses experienced on a regular basis due to the Israelites’ disobedience. The generation who experienced the miracle at the Red Sea also tested the Lord’s and Moses’ patience at Massah and quarreled at the waters of Meribah. Massah means “test” and Meribah means “strife or contention.” The Israelites left their praise at the Red Sea and chose to complain rather than worship. They ultimately failed to find rest in the Promised Land.
God had delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, but they remained bound in their minds. Their shackles held them mentally and spiritually. We must receive salvation and avoid returning to a sinful mindset. We can act on God’s provision of deliverance by embracing Jesus—the greatest liberator with the humblest origins.
Exodus 2:1–4
1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
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.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
Biblical Insight:
Biblical scholars often look for information outside of the Bible to provide key facts about Scripture. Often these extrabiblical items can help us more fully understand the history of the Bible. Trouble for the Israelites started in Exodus when a king arose who did not know Joseph. There may be a lot more to this situation than meets the eye. Some scholars believe Joseph rose to power because a group of Semites known as the Hyksos controlled Egypt at that time. The Hyksos introduced horses and chariotry into Egypt, preparing the stage for future events at the Red Sea. While the Israelites lived in Goshen, the native Egyptians returned to power and cast out the Hyksos. This led to a crisis for the children of Israel. Since the Egyptians had just removed the Hyksos, they likely had grave concerns about the Israelites dwelling in their land.
Daily Devotion:
A quick scroll through our news feed will reveal many leaders who neither know nor follow the Lord. Many of them reject His ways and at times promote and push beliefs that are against God. This affects us because our world is still greatly tainted by sin and evil.
Although this may trouble our souls for a moment, Daniel wrote of our God that “he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). It is difficult for us to grasp why God would allow leaders in our world who do not follow His Word. Nevertheless, we must always trust that God is still in control and all power belongs to Him, even when we feel powerless. Don’t be discouraged if the world around you feels dark with sin. God will always triumph over evil, no matter how dark and long the night may seem. There is no darkness that His glorious light cannot overcome.
SPEAK (Scripture, Prayer, Examine, Apply, Keep):
- Scripture: Read the passage of scripture
- Prayer: Prayerfully re-read the scripture, asking God to reveal His Word to you
- Examine: What stands out to you in today's reading? Dive deeper into it.
- Apply: How is God calling you to walk out what you have examined through obedience today?
- Keep: Keep yourself both accountable to the revelation & application of God's word today.
- Share the revelation that you received today through God's Word with someone (maybe share it on social media to your followers, send a text or call a friend, etc.)
- (If appropriate) Share with your friends what how God is calling you to live out His Word in practical obedience.
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