In this passage, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh with God’s demand: “Let my people go”. In response, Pharaoh takes away the straw they use to make his bricks, making the daily labor of God's people even more cumbersome. Pharaoh also refuses to let God’s people worship their God and demands that they work for him instead. The Israelites blame Moses and Aaron for their added hardships, while Moses in turn accuses the Lord of failing to deliver his people as promised. Everyone seems to be wondering, will God deliver as he promised? In this dialogue, God takes the opportunity to remind his people of his commitment to rescue them.
Exodus 4 // God's Work - God's Way
Moses and God continue to dialogue about the call for Moses to deliver God's people. Moses is doubtful: "No one will listen to me. I can't speak well enough. Send someone else!" In this passage, we see how God meets his doubting servants with patience and grace, showing that it is his power, not ours, that accomplishes his mission.
Exodus 3 // The Burning Bush
Exodus 2 // The Birth of a Deliverer
In Exodus chapter 2 Moses is introduced to the story. He will serve as the God-appointed deliverer of the people. We also read of God’s protection of his appointed deliverer from Pharaoh’s wicked edict of death. Moses is rescued through the faith of his parents, who hide him and entrust him to God’s providential care. Such faith is exemplary for us today. To walk in faith is to trust in God, even though we cannot see him. We trust in him, knowing that the God who has delivered us in the past will deliver his people again.
Exodus 1 // Days of Darkness
Exodus chapter 1 establishes the difficult reality faced by the nation of Israel. At the end of Genesis, Abraham's descendants were finally safe. In this passage, they become prosperous and expand rapidly. This, however, resulted in fear and hatred from the native Egyptians, who enacted a program of slavery and infanticide against the Hebrews. By God's grace, the Egyptian Midwives intervened and rescued the Hebrew children. This sets the scene for the arrival of Israel's greatest leader, the prophet Moses
Exodus // An Overview
Exodus tells the story of God's miraculous deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt. The story of the Exodus is a prototype of how God rescues his people throughout history. This picture of redemption finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. As we study the book of Exodus, we are invited into the drama of redemption - God's salvation of sinners.
Esther 7:1-10 // The End of Haman
Esther exposes Haman for the wicked man that he is. As Haman is executed, God's deliverance of his people begins. In Haman's demise, we see that one part of God’s keeping his promises to his people involves the judgment of evil. For God to fail to judge evil would mean he is unfaithful to his promises. The great reversal of Haman prefigures a much greater act of deliverance from a much greater spiritual enemy.
Esther 6:1-14 // The King Honors Mordecai
Elyse Fitzpatrick writes of this passage: A seemingly inconsequential night of restlessness results in deliverance for God’s people as Ahasuerus is reminded of Mordecai’s faithfulness and Haman, who has just constructed gallows on which to hang Mordecai, is forced to exalt him instead. Two gospel reminders are embedded in this event. First, we see once more that God is working behind the scenes for the good of his people. The king just “happened” to have a sleepless night, and just “happened” to hear of Mordecai’s saving of the king! Second, we remember that God humbles those who exalt themselves, yet he delights to exalt those who humble themselves.
Esther 5:1-14 // A Bold Step of Faith
As we come to Esther 5 we see Esther’s resolve begin to turn into action. She boldly approaches King Ahasuerus successfully and then hosts her first banquet for the king and Haman. Esther is planning to expose Haman's wickedness. The narrator of the story is preparing us for the great fall of Haman. We are starting to see God's providential positioning of Esther as she uses her influence to save God's covenant people.
Esther 4:1-17 // For Such A Time As This
After mourning the devastating news of Haman's plan, Mordecai and Esther plan to intervene. We see in this chapter the weak and vulnerable believer going into the place of ultimate power to mediate and plead for the deliverance of her people. The rescue of the entire covenant people hinges on the decision Esther makes. The events of the rest of the book flow from Esther's decision in this chapter. Had she not resolved as she did, the story would have been very different indeed