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Post by Quia on Jun 19, 2014 16:55:37 GMT
Hey guys,
So before I say what stood out to me, I wonder if anyone can answer this. This chapter said in v.21 that Moses would ask for the people to be let go, but God hardened Pharoah's heart? The only thing that I can think is to make an example out of Pharoah to illustrate that God is that powerful?...I dunno.
So anywho, what stood out to me today was v.2-10. We see that God told Moses that to illustrate his power, he could turn the rod into a snake, heal the leprous hand and turn the water into blood respectively. In all these things, Moses responded immediately. He didn't hesitate, he didn't question God, he was simply obedient. When we get to v. 10, we see the shift in Moses action. God tells him that he will give him the words to say, but Moses is clearly uncomfortable with speaking. He begins to come up with reasons for why he can't perform the task and angers God. This is one thing that we talked about in my discipleship class and how oftentimes God will tell us to speak to a certain person or do something out of our comfort zone, and we freeze up. We begin to talk about why we can't---I just didn't have time; she would've looked at me like I'm crazy; I don't know him etc. I find it interesting though, that in this God STILL provided a way for Moses to carry out his task. This vignette illustrated God's mercy and the grace that he will give us to perform duties for His glory. The bottom line is, when we are called to do something, we are called to do something and no excuse will stop God from accomplishing that in our lives.
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Exodus 4
Jun 20, 2014 2:56:53 GMT
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Post by R .Parker on Jun 20, 2014 2:56:53 GMT
Hey y'all hope everyone is doing well!!! Sorry for my absences...
I with Kia on this one.I have a question of my own??Idk this is a difficult chapter for me.However in Exodus chapter 4 we are told God sought to kill moses for told God sought to kill moses for not circumcising his son in accordance with the law give to Abraham in.
24Along the way they stopped for the night.The Lord met Moses and tried to kill him.25Then Zipporah took a flint knife,cut off her son's foreskin,and touched Moses feet with it.She said,You are a bridegroom of blood to me!26So the Let him alone.It was because if the circumcision that she said at that time,You are a bridegroom of blood!
While i full well understand that God does not need to explain his reason,God must have had his reason for doing it this way, So does anyone know what the reason is???
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Post by amboyd on Jun 20, 2014 4:24:52 GMT
That is a good question Tek. I think that it is a mixture of God showing His power and testing Moses's strength and courage by making it harder for Pharoah to release the Israelites. He chose Moses to do the work and may want to see how obedient Moses can be despite His fears. I believe God does this to us as well. When things get hard He makes them harder, not for the fun of it but because He knows how much we can really handle. He does not put more on us than we can bear but He wants to push us to the limit a little so that we can see ourselves the ways He sees us.
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dee07
New Member
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Post by dee07 on Jun 21, 2014 16:06:21 GMT
21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
To Kia's question, based on my interperation and previous context, I believe God chose to hardern Pharaohs heart was to press upon Moses to carry forth the tasks at hand despite of Pharaohs reistence to let the Israletites go. All through out Chapter 3 and beginning of Chapter 4 Moses continues to doubt and question God as it relates to his ability to lead the Israletities out of Egypt. Therefore, I think God pressed upon Pharaohs heart to be as resistent as possible to test Moses ability to see the task through in the midst of strong opposition.
Thus, showing all believers that no matter what opposition is against you, when god has selected you and his Favor is with you, you will reap what God has called you for and/to do.
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Post by cspain03 on Jun 23, 2014 17:33:58 GMT
Hey y'all, ok, I'm back (literally) time to play catch up.
Kia, when I read that and that put in context the situation, my interpretation was that God harden Pharaoh's heart because God wanted there to be NO doubt that is was He, "I am that I am" who rescued the Israelites and, for all intensive purposes, 'beat" Pharaoh. If you recall, in later verses/the rest of the Exodus Bible Story, Pharaoh's magicians were able to repeat all the things that Moses did (even though Moses's staff after theirs and they couldn't turn the river of blood back to water) but eventually God "out did" the magicians and showed His power, there was a point where GOD's power, real power, was so much greater than the magicians and Pharaoh HAD to give in (after losing his first born). There wasn't any question it was God and the word spread throughout the region, the once all powerful King of Egypt was powerless against the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and He used "slaves", the lowly to do so, he used a man that was too afraid to speak to Pharaoh and brought a whole people to freedom.
Ron, I think this was included to show that Moses and his family weren't excluded from the expectation God has for His Chosen People. Now that Moses was stepping into his destiny and working to fulfill his calling, God needed to show Moses that he wasn't excluded and couldn't continue in the ways on those not chosen (the Egyptians or the Midians). I think it also showed how truly supportive Moses' wife was in her willingness to know the ways of Moses' people and follow without second thought (to save their lives) she wasn't stuck in the ways of her people, she knew and trust the great calling Moses had on him and was willing to do whatever it took to support that/him.
For me, v. 12-14, again, highlighting what Kia said about how Moses was suddenly afraid once he was challenged outside of his comfort zone (speaking) inspite of God doing such wonderful signs, but for me, I also notice that God already had something in motion to cover Moses doubt in himself and it was his brother Aaron at that, not a stranger, but his own blood. It reminds me that, again like Kia has mentioned before, we never know why we're brought into someone else's life, but we can be the "mouth" they need for God to do a great thing through the both of us for others (even if just one person). I don't think we should "support" not following God's instruction, but I think we can be comforted by knowing that God will always to provide so that His Will can be complete, but we should trust Him so that we can be used to our fullest extent and not doubt what God has put inside us, even if we are called out of our comfort zones.
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Post by R .Parker on Jun 24, 2014 18:17:25 GMT
Thanx Court for the clarification!I appreciate you
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