I always knew about Moses and the sea. Having it be stated and known throughout the world, no matter whether you believe in it or not, I knew about it. What I did not know, in terms of explaining my lower-than-low ignorance, was the actual detailed story behind it.
Sure, I knew he was escaping from the Egyptians, but I had yet to figure out the reason was because they were being held as sort-of slaves, and no matter what Moses did -----having his staff become a snake, turning river-water into blood, unleashing a stampede of frogs to clog all living head-quarters, have darkness impede the all-guiding light, and killing all the Egyptian first-born babies. You know, the usual---- the stubborn Pharaoh never let them “go sacrifice for the Lord for three days,” no matter how many times he said he would; he would always go back on his word.
I also never quite had the story defined for the existence of the curren jewish holiday ‘Passover’ (which I know has to do with eating food, or not eating food. Beat me). That is, until know. I am guessing now it still has to do with Unleavened bread, considering it was when the Lord was to kill every firstborn Egyptian baby, and painting their wooden doors with sheep’s blood (gross) in order for the Lord to know to “Pass over” their houses. I felt so excited knowing I had learned something new today.
But there are some things that took me awhile to figure out. AS in why in the world the Lord kept making the Pharaoh’s heart cold in order for him to refuse the Israelites from going to the dessert to sacrifice for Him. It’s like, “why do you want problems, God?! Can’t you make the guy have a warm heart and let them go so this can end peacefully?” Apparently, he is not too big on ‘peacefully.’
But then, I found out the answer to my question. In Exodus 14:4, the Lord says, “And I will harden the pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
It turns out, the reason he did all these things was to have a reason to build up some proof so that the Israelites could truly, with all their heart, have no doubt that he was the Lord, the Almighty, powerful one, as it says so in 14:31:
“And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”
I noticed that in this quote, and probably before as well, the ‘he’ is not capitalized when they are referring to the Lord. Is it because it’s the more human form instead of the God form?
Then comes the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites (cool name, by the way) in which whenever Moses has lifts his hands, the Israelites are winning, but when he gets tired and puts them back down, the Amalekites start to win.
That’s when Moses says:
“For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war completely against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
I wonder if that’s why when you worship at church, most people put their hands up. And no, this is not an ignorant question, considering I go to church myself and just see that done when you are truly into it and are up-taken to worship him with all your being. Lifting our hands just works like that, in church reference.
But I wonder if maybe when you do that, it is sort of an invitation and the pass to have the Lord with you at all times, battling out everything with you, helping you throughout the way.
In the sense that, by raising your hands, you’re accepting him, and in return, he is there to help you and guide you at all costs.
Deep, huh?
Finally, in chapter 22 it goes to list The Ten Commandments. For your information, it includes not stealing.
So, people who are participating in the occasional five-finger discount in your local mall in normal stores just because you’re too lazy to take out your plenty-filled wallet out in, you are deceiving God!
Just saying.
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