Monday, March 10, 2025

LENT: EXODUS 5

 Lenten devotions: Exodus 5 

(please read the chapter before reading this devotion).

This chapter is one of the pivotal points in the story of Exodus. The book begins with a new pharaoh arising to power who knew no Joseph (Exodus 1:8). This phrase is a “euphemism” (if you will) for a lack of recognition of the heritage that Joseph left behind. His gift to Egypt was true religion, faith in the LORD, the Living one. The pharaoh who didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors decided to abandon the faith, be new, be progressive.

Then he died, and God sent the messengers to the new pharaoh – Moses and Aaron came to ask for permission of worship. People of Israel would go into the wilderness, for three days, and worship their God – YHWH, the Living One, the LORD. But the new pharaoh, who probably was a “classmate” of Moses at some point said something that practically sealed his doom: Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go?” (Exodus 5:2).


Knowing in the Bible constitutes a deep connection between the parties, an intimate connection. The parade example of this can be seen in the relationship of Adam and Eve which resulted in her pregnancy with their firstborn son (Genesis 4:1). The Holy Scripture never alludes to the ritual sex, but it talks about a profoundly deep interaction between God and the believer.

Pharaoh rejected this connection, and we know how the story ended. Hollywood can imagine whatever they want, but he did not survive the chasing after Israelites during the crossing of the Red sea (Exodus 15:1). Unlike him, Jesus fully trusted His life to Father’s care in His time of wilderness, ministry, and even the cross. He knew the Father like no one else, He knew His good and gracious will.

Looking at this story, helps us to be focused on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). He is the Savior of the world, surrounded by the witnesses of His victory. There were many who joined this cloud of witnesses, there are many now, and there are many more to come, for the faith is passed on from generation to generation (Ps. 78:5-8).

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