Exodus 5 - 8
To deliver means to take and hand over to or leave for another. A deliverer is one who sets free or saves another from a difficult situation. In the Old Testament (Exodus) God sent Moses to deliver the Israelites from the oppression and bondage they suffered in Egypt.
The Israelites were under heavy bondage and affliction from the Egyptians. They cried to God to deliver them from the oppression of the Egyptians and God heard their cries.
Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
God called Moses through the burning bush and told him he was going to deliver his people from bondage. God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
Exodus 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
However, God also knew Pharaoh would not agree because he had hardened Pharaoh's heart.
Exodus 7:3 -4
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, in fact, after Moses first went to him telling him to let them go, he decided to increase their labour by telling the taskmasters to ensure the Israelites make bricks without providing them straw.
Exodus 5:6 -7
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
Pharaoh wanted to make life harder for the Israelites but what he didn't know was that God was about to fight for his people. When God steps into our battles, victory is guaranteed.
God began to deal with Pharoah with disasters. The first one was blood, God turned the River Nile into blood. Pharoah sent for Moses and asked Moses to pray to God to stop the diaster but after Moses prayed and God stopped the disaster, Pharoah became stubborn and refused to let the people of Israel go.
Exodus 8:8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.
Exodus 8:12 -13
And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
The second disaster was frogs, God sent frogs and they covered the land. Pharoah did the same thing by asking Moses to pray to God to stop the disaster. After Moses prayed and it stopped, Pharoah would refuse to listen to Moses and Aaron (Moses' brother).
The third disaster was gnats. They covered the people and the animals. The fourth disaster was flies. God sent flies everywhere in Egypt. The fifth was the death of the animals. God sent a terrible disease on the animals - their horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats. The sixth disaster was boils. God afflicted them with boils that became open sores on people and animals. The seventh plague was hails. God sent a heavy hailstorm with lightning flashing back and fort th. It was the worst storm that Egypt had ever known in all its history.
Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron that they could go but only the men would go with him to go and offer sacrifice to the Lord. Moses refused because he knew that God had not sent him to set only the men of Israel free. Exodus 10: 7-11
Exodus 10:11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
The eight disaster was locusts. God sent the largest swarm of locusts ever seen and they settled over the whole country. The ninth disaster was darkness. God sent total darkness throughout Egypt for three days. Pharaoh sent for Moses and said they could go and serve the Lord but they would not go with their animals. Moses refused and Pharoah threatened that the next time he saw Moses, Moses would die.
Exodus 10:24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.
The final disaster was so devastating that Pharaoh had to let the Israelites go. The Lord killed every firstborn male both human and animal in Egypt.
Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Exodus 12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
So Moses and the people of Israel left Egypt with their animals and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes which the Egyptians gave them because the Lord made the Egyptians respect them.
When God delivers, he delivers you with blessings and abundance. The Israelites left Egypt with the wealth of the Egyptians.
Exodus 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
We can be rest assured that no matter what we are going through in life, no matter the battles we face and the obstacles in our way, God is faithful and he is powerful and is mighty to save and deliver us from all our problems.
God sent his son Jesus to die for our sins and deliver us from destruction and death. Just as he sent Moses to the Israelites, God sent Jesus to mankind to die in order for us to be set free from the bondage of sin. God rescued the Israelites from Pharaoh, he led them through the Red Sea and brought them to the promised land flowing with milk and honey.
Exodus 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Same way God has sent his only begotten son, Jesus, so that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus offers us salvation, healing, redemption, peace, love, joy, strength, faith, hope and deliverance.
John 11:25 -26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
While he was on earth he delivered those who were oppressed by the devil, he healed the sick, he raised the dead back to life and taught us to love one another. When he died and rose from the grave, he returned to heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
If you haven't accepted Jesus into your life as your Lord and saviour, I urge you to do so today. Jesus is ever ready to come into your life and make you whole, no matter your sins, no matter your past mistakes, Jesus will deliver you from your burdens.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before you today and we ask for strength as we go through the journey of life. Lord please deliver us from every burden and every pain we carry in Jesus name, Amen.
References
The Holy Bible, King James Version, Exidis 3-12, John 11, John 10, John 14
The Holy Bible, Good News Translation, Exodus 3-13
God My Deliverer, reasonsforhopejesus.com
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