Exodus was written by Moses. I know, shocking since the whole book is about him. But man I didn't realize all of the stories I knew and how they correlated with each other. Obviously I remember the story of the newborn Israelite children to be killed, and that one of them was put in a basket and pushed down the river, only to be saved by the Pharaoh's daughter. I kind of forgot that that was Moses (see, this is what I'm saying when I say I know the stories, but don't really understand them).
I remember when I started reading Exodus back at the beginning of the month (July 6th to be exact) that I was just praying that God open my eyes to different things that I had never seen before.when God told Moses he would be going to speak to Pharaoh, but Moses said he physically couldn't speak to crowds of people without getting tongue tied. So God sent him Aaron to speak for him. As I was reading this I became overwhelmed with emotions. Not that I'm a bad public speaker, but Moses would be going to be trying to convince Pharaoh of how great his God is and to be letting a LOT of slaves of Egypt leave. As I thought over this I wrote this prayer:
"Lord, if I can't speak proper words to express something of your will, give me an Aaron. Give me just the right tools to communicate with others, whether it is another person, a blog post someone else has written, or just sharing the word of God."
In 2016, it is extremely hard for even some of the most biblically wise people to share the word of God with others, because like Pharaoh their hearts have been hardened. So I just continue to pray that if I don't have those right words to help spread the gospel, I am able to step back, realize that, and use someone/something to help me.
Anyways, back to the book of Exodus.
So now that Moses has Aaron to help him, they go to Pharaoh and say "Let my people go". *Cue me singing different Sunday School songs on this topic*. So rather than just giving up, God shows Moses all of these amazing things to try and convince Pharaoh how amazing God is (turning a staff into a snake, turning The Nile into a river of blood, etc.). And even after all of that, Pharaoh just kept getting harder and harder a heart.
So what's the reasonable thing to do? Plagues! Of course! Let's send a plague of Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Kill all the Egyptian live stock, give everyone boils, send hail, locusts, darkness so dark you can feel it for three days, and then finally the death of each first born son.
Woah God, a little harsh? But he is trying to make a point and he certainly makes it. He told Moses that no matter what he did Pharaoh's heart would just keep hardening. I bet that Moses is pretty discouraged at this point that he still can't leave Egypt, and probably feels bad that all the people of Egypt have had to suffer. But the killing of the first born sons was what got me. I obviously knew the story of Passover and how you put blood around the door and stay inside and so the Angel of Death doesn't take your son. I didn't know however that this was one of the plagues given across Egypt before Moses was finally able to leave.
Great now Moses has gotten his people out of Egypt into safer land. God calls him upon Mount Sinai and gives him the 10 commandments (again, forgot that these two things went along side each other) and a BUNCH of other rules basically saying if you do something wrong against someone, or one of your livestock kills someone on purpose, you must die. Obviously that isn't all he commands, but if you're looking to see them all, they can be found in Exodus 21 and 22.
And then we get to Exodus 23 and you can find me crying a LOT. Verse 26 says there will be no more miscarriages or infertility in your land.
Now I obviously know they're talking about that particular group of people and not ever in the world, but knowing God spoke those words and that for those people those words were true and they had no more infertility gives me such hope. And that's what I wrote in my journal. That I felt so hopeful for those words to be my truth too.
So the remainder of Exodus (Chapter 25-40) is pretty much God giving Moses the exact measurements and how everything is to be built and placed in the Tabernacle. It says exactly how the robes must be made, worn, when incense are to be burned, what kind of offerings go where. It is beautifully orchestrated. But poor Moses, by the time he comes down off Mount Sinai, his people were worshiping a golden calf that Aaron had made. But eventually they realize God is the TRUE GOD and they build the tabernacle exactly as it should be.
In our lives are we building our lives exactly the way God commanded us to, or have we strayed in the waiting to hear what to do next and worshiped idols or just flat out turned from God? For over two years I have been battling between the two when it comes to our infertility. I know that God will show us exactly the right plans on how to build our lives, but it's so much easier to turn and make things the way we want them.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, join me in committing that we will not turn. We will keep following and waiting for those very detailed instructions. We will build our tabernacles exactly how God has intended them.
Lord, thank you for all you've taught me through Moses and through Exodus. Help me to continue strongly in reading your word and not to be distracted. Help me to daily make time to read Leviticus and that it may too help me to know you more, know the life of Moses more, and to know your plan for me.
Xoxo
Amanda
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