Saturday, February 18, 2017

The departure of the Israelites and the slaying of the first-born of all Egypt was the ultimate test of God's power to set the people free. On the night of the "Passover" feast of Israel. That night Moses began to lead the slaves to freedom, as God killed the first-born of Egypt and spared the first-born of Israel through the sprinkling of the blood of the "Passover" lamb.

This pointed to the day when God's own Lamb would come into the world to deliver, by His own blood, all of those who put their trust in Him, setting them free from sin and death.

Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ Jesus; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake. - 1 Peter 1:18-20 -

Now before we came of age we were as good as slaves to the elemental principles of this world, but when the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born of a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted sons and daughters. - Gal. 4:3-5 -

The next day, seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, "Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. - John 1:29 -

The "Passover Meal" first instituted by God for the deliverance of the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews from, slavery, became one of the local points of Israel's/Jacob's faith. Truly, it served as the base on which the Lord Jesus Christ instituted and developed "Last Supper" (Holy Eucharist/Holy Communion/Holy Mass) as a leading memorial for His apostles, disciples, followers and believers. 

With clear insight into the "Passover Meal" "Holy Eucharist" "Holy Communion" "Holy Mass" the message of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible and the meaning of the life of Jesus Christ dawns with greater understanding for all Christians. Amen!

The crossing of the Red Sea is one of the most dramatic events in all the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible; the scriptural/biblical writers repeatedly refer to it as the utmost sign and the most significant sign of God's love for Israel.

The Exodus from Egypt began, with the whole company (Hebrews/Israelites/Jews) under Moses being directed by a "Pillar Of Cloud" during the day. At night they were guided by a "Pillar Of Fire" which led them away from Etham, probably in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, facing Baal-zephon. 

At this site a body of water stood in the way. To the Egyptians this spelled the doom of a group of runaway slaves that had become thoroughly confused about their location as they struggled to get out of the Goshen area. This misunderstanding was part of God's plan to destroy the Egyptians armies. They closed in on the Israelite camp, eager to recapture their escaped slaves. While the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews assembled and rushed to the edge of the water, the "Pillar Of Cloud" moved to the rear of the fleeing Israelites/Hebrews/Jews, preventing the movement of the Egyptians armies.

Pharaoh's forces pursued them to the Red Sea (some scholars say the Sea of Reeds) threatening to destroy them before they could cross. "A Pillar Of Cloud And Fire" however, stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians, protecting the Israelites until they could escape. When Moses stretched his hand over the sea, the waters were divided and the Israelites passed to the other side. When Egyptians attempted to follow, Moses again stretched his hand over the sea, and the waters closed over the Egyptians army. The miracles of the Exodus were thus completed by the destruction of the Egyptians armies. - Ex. 14:1-31 -

A helpless slave people had been delivered from their enemies by their powerful Redeemer God. They celebrated their victory with a song of praise or song of victory that emphasizes the theme of the Exodus. It was then that Moses and the Israelites sang this song in honour of Yahweh:


Yahweh I sing: He has covered Himself in glory,
horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
Yahweh is my strength and my song,
He is my salvation.
This is my God, I praise Him;
the God of my father, I extol Him.
Yahweh is His name.........
...............................................
Yahweh will be King for ever and ever. - Ex. 15:1-21 -

Israel In The Desert - Moses made Israel move from their camp at the Sea of Reeds, and they made for the wilderness of Shur where they travelled for three days without finding water. They reached Marah but the water was so bitter they could not drink it; this is why the place was named Marah. The people grumbled at Moses. 'What are we to drink?' they said. So Moses appealed to Yahweh, and Yahweh pointed out some wood to him; this Moses threw into the water, and the water was sweetened.

There it was he charged them with statute and with ordinance, there that he put them to the test.

Then He said, If you listen carefully to the voice of Yahweh your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to his commandments and keep his statutes, I shall inflict on you none of the evils that I inflicted on the Egyptians, for it is I, Yahweh, who give you healing.'

So they came to Elim where twelve water-springs were, and seventy palm trees; and there they picked their camp beside the water. - Ex. 15:22-27 -

From Elim they set out again, Moses led the people toward Mount Sinai, in obedience to the word of God spoken to him at the burning bush. During the long journey through the desert, the people began to murmur because of the trials of freedom, forgetting the terrible trials of Egyptians bondage. Through it all, Moses was patient, understanding both the harshness of the desert and the blessings of God's provision for them.

In answer to Moses' prayers, God sent bread from heaven - Manna and quail to eat. In the Wilderness of Sin, when they again had no water, and through God's power, Moses performed a miracle by striking a rock, and water came out of the rock. This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. The place was named Massah and Meribah because of the grumbling of the sons and daughters of Israel and because they put Yahweh to the test by saying, "Is Yahweh with us, or not?" - Ex. 16:1-36, 17:1-7 -

Again by God's power, Moses and the people of Israel defeated the Amalekites. The Amalekites came and attacked Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, 'Pick out men for yourself, and tomorrow morning march out to engage Amalek. I, meanwhile, will stand on the hilltop, the staff of God in my hand.' Joshus did as Moses told him and marched out to engage Amalek, while Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage; when he let his arms fall, the advantage went to Amalek. But Moses' arms grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him and on this he sat, Aaron and Hur supporting his arms, one on one side, one on the other; and his arms remained firm till sunset. With the edge of the sword Joshua cut down Amalek and his people.

Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Write this action down in a book to keep the memory of it, and say in Joshua's hearing that I shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven.' Moses then built an altar and named it Yahweh-nissi because he said, 'Lay hold of the banner of Yahweh! Yahweh is at war with Amalek from age to age!' - Ex. 17:8-16 -

The Exodus became for the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews the supreme occasion when God acted to deliver His people from harsh captivity, binding them to Himself by a solemn 'Covenant.' Even today when the Jews/Hebrews/Israelites celebrate "The Passover" they are reminded of God's mighty deliverance in that long-ago time.

When Moses and the people of Israel/Jacob reached the land of Midian, Moses' father-in-law........

                                                                
                                                                         Page 12
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -



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