"For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
Hebrews 3:15-19[/b]
God accentuates four truths that relate to redemption by commanding Israel to remember certain rituals that emphasize their impotency without God.
First, the Passover feast was to commemorate the night that God encased in love, grace, and mercy every household that had bloodstained doorposts. Doorposts sheathed in lamb"s blood constituted Israel"s response to grace in the obedience of faith. Second, circumcision was required by God for any man to participate in the Passover feast. Circumcision was a continual reminder of the spiritual blessings associated with being in a covenant relationship with God. Third, the feast of unleavened bread was a reminder of the deliverance from Egypt. This feast had redemption written all over it. It was bathed in the blood of sacrifices and pointed to the redemptive blood shed by the Lord on Calvary. Fourth, God claimed for His own the firstborn males of both man and beast as another memorial of Israel"s freedom. Later God sanctified the Levites and their cattle as substitutes.
God"s efforts to cultivate a spirit of loyalty in those of the first generation who departed from Egypt were futile. They are characterized by unbelief, ingratitude, and rebellion. Four instances of national infidelity occur during their journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. 1. Exodus 14:8-13[/b], upon seeing the armies of Pharaoh the Israelites begin to doubt God. They claim that Moses had lead them out into the wilderness only to be killed. 2. Exodus 15:23-24[/b], they murmured against Moses because of the bitter water of Marah. 3. Exodus 16:2-3[/b], after only one month out of Egypt, and being witness to all that God had done for them the people again complain when their desire for food is not instantly supplied. It is remarkable that God in His infinite mercy and forbearance flooded the heavens with manna instead of silencing their murmuring lips in death. 4. Exodus 17:1-7[/b], they again murmur against God and Moses over a lack of water. Their call to God to prove Himself is a staggering expression of rebellious unbelief, consider Psalm 78:40-43. These two months reveal so many negative things about this generation of Israelites. They are void of knowledge about the God of the universe. They are a continual burden and problem for Moses, and they have no confidence in God even as He proves Himself again and again.
1. The Passover feast reminded the Israelites of what event?
2. What was the purpose of circumcision?
3. Were Gentiles ever allowed to partake of the provisions of Judaism? How did they make themselves acceptable?
4. What was the purpose of the feast of Unleavened Bread?
5. What happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread that pointed to the coming of Christ and His sacrifice?
6. Why was Israel fearful when they saw the armies of Egypt approaching?
7. When Israel murmured against Moses were they also murmuring against God?
8. What do you learn from the rebellious way Israel continued to act toward God?
9. How do we keep ourselves from acting the same way?
10. How did the first generation of Israelites respond to God"s efforts to
cultivate in them a spirit of loyalty?
11. Are we like the Israelites in any of our ways?
12. Why do we forget the importance of faithful obedience?
13. How can we respond to God so that we keep His will for our lives?
I may only be seeing it through the eyes of a secular humanist, but it strikes me that the murder of the innocent Egyptian children was a monstrous crime that, for some perverted reason, God takes enormous pride in.
I may only be seeing it through the eyes of a secular humanist, but it strikes me that the murder of the innocent Egyptian children was a monstrous crime that, for some perverted reason, God takes enormous pride in.
Caldoc
Let me know what golf course your playing on, I don't want to be anywhere near you, especially during a lighting storm..
If God kills me for my postwouldn't it just prove my point that God is vengefull and vindictive and that his love is always totally conditional.
Caldoc
You are right, what part of that do you not understand... I guess He is supposed to be just head over heals crazy about one that mocks Him! You certainly need to read some Bible, before you criticize and see the righteous judgment of God!
The divine acts of judgment God inflicts on the Egyptians is #1 because of their sin, and their choice to disobey Him. #2 it is to show the whole of mankind His power and authority, Ex. 9:16. According to the Bible those who die in innocence go to heaven. Those children would have grown up to be just like their parents and reject the truth of God's glory. So in one sense He saved them from a terrible fate. God also had patience with many nations on whom His wrath eventually was released. Remember Ninivah, and in Genesis 15:16, He let's us know that the iniquity of theAmorites was not yetfull. He gave them time to change, He showed them miracles to confirm His truth, but they continued to reject Him, and His servants.
Portrait of God 6
