This week was all about the Children of Israel. On Monday we talked about the plagues that God sent on the Egyptians. On Tuesday we discussed the Passover and how Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave. On Wednesday we discussed the crossing of the Red Sea and how God rescued the Israelites. On Thursday we talked about how the Lord provided food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness.
The audience was amazed at how God worked. They could see His control as the dealt plague after plague to the Egyptians while keeping the Israelites safe. They could see that how the Passover lamb died in the place of the firstborn. They could see that God determined that at each house there must be a death. If the death wasn’t already accomplished before He arrived that night and the telltale sign of blood on the doorposts was not visible, He would have to enter and cause the death of the firstborn. There had to be a death and the Israelites could choose whose death it would be, either a lamb or their firstborn. The blood on the doorpost was a sign that at this house a death had already occurred and God was satisfied and left the firstborn alive. It was good timing as the Easter/Passover weekend is upon us and they will understand some of the historical significance for the first time.
They could see the terror of the Israelites when they saw the Egyptians chasing them. They could also see that God had led them to that spot and God had brought the Egyptians there for the purpose of dealing them a final blow. They could see His hand of protection as they crossed the Red Sea while God kept the Egyptians at bay. They were amazed that God would lead 2 million people and their many animals into an area that offered no food or water. Clearly God had to help them or they would be in deep trouble. They recognized their own tendencies when we talked about how the people complained to Moses and Aaron as if the two of them had the ability to provide food and water for 2 million people. They also recognized their own tendency to seek help for their problems from spirits and forces that don’t have the ability or desire to help them. They could see how God was setting up a situation where the Israelites had to recognize that they were completely dependent on God.
Next week we will only teach for three days and our goal is to drive home the complete inability of the Israelites to please God in their own strength. Pray that these important lessons will hit home.