Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Do you struggle to concentrate when reading the bible? You’re not alone. One of the things I’ve found super-helpful over the years is listening to an audio bible while reading. ESV has the exact bible reading plan that we use as a podcast! It’s called ‘Read Through The Bible’ and you can find links to it on our homepage butfirstbible.com
80% of listeners of this podcast are based in Australia. And so more often than not, the new episodes are a bit later in the day based on our timezone being ahead of North America, where ESV is based. I’ve been talking to ESV to see if they can publish it earlier in the day. But in the meantime, one thing I’ve found helpful over the years of following these reading plans is to just sit a day behind, i.e. on Jan 24 do the readings from Jan 23. That might help you too.
Today’s readings are from Exodus 7-8 and Matthew 17.
We saw in Exodus 1-2 that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have multiplied greatly, but were now living under a new Pharaoh who was threatened by the Israelites and so had them as slaves and was treating them harshly. As we saw two days ago, God heard their groaning and said he would remember the promises he made to their forefathers.
Then in Exodus 3-4 we saw God reveal his name and his power to Moses, and also his sidekick Aaron. In Exodus 5 Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh with a message from the LORD to “let my people go”, but Pharaoh only responds by treating the Israelites more harshly. In Exodus 6 God reaffirms his promise that he will rescue His people.
From chapter 7 we will see signs and wonders performed by God through a series of plagues against the Egyptians. Have a look at Exodus 7:1–5,
[1] And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. [2] You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. [3] But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, [4] Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. [5] The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” (ESV)
I want you to notice that theme of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility that we have already seen in Genesis.
In 7:3 the LORD says “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”
And yet, look at Exodus 8:15,
[15] But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. (ESV)
God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, but Pharaoh also hardens his own heart. God is not forcing Pharaoh to do anything that he doesn’t want to do.
Each of the plagues that are to follow are a sign of judgement upon Egypt and their false gods, with the goal that Exodus 7:5, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD”.
All of these events are paving the way for God’s great act of redemption when he mightily rescues the Israelites from slavery and oppression in a few chapters times.
As you read through the book of Exodus, I want you to keep looking beyond God’s rescue of Israel to God’s greatest rescue in Christ Jesus.
Let me close with Colossians 1:13–14,
[13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)
Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus.