Author Archives: Jefferson Vann
Exodus: distinction
Exodus 8:20-9:12 The second cycle of plagues highlights the distinction between Egypt as a whole, and Goshen, where the Israelites are living. For the purpose of this contest, God prevents his judgments from doing major harm to the Israelites. This … Continue reading
Exodus: contest
Exodus 7:14-8:19 Pharaoh’s first resort when challenged to free the Israelites was to go home and ignore Moses and Aaron. When that didn’t work, he treated the plagues as a contest. He sent his magicians to imitate the plagues. Sometimes … Continue reading
Exodus: hardening
Exodus 6:10-7:13 Even with his brother’s help, Moses found it difficult to get through to Pharaoh. The great king was being hardened in his own obstinacy. This happened so that once the exodus took place and the Israelites were freed, … Continue reading
Exodus: pressure
Exodus 5:1-6:9 Neither Moses nor the Israelites expected the immediate result of his ministry to be what it turned out to be. Pharaoh increased the pressure upon the slaves by making them produce the same amount of bricks, but also … Continue reading
Exodus: reluctance
Exodus 4 In spite of his new experience with the LORD, Moses was reluctant to go on the mission he was being sent on. Zipporah was reluctant to circumcise her son, a sign of commitment to the Abrahamic covenant. Perhaps … Continue reading
Exodus: God saw and knew
Exodus 2:23-3:22 40 years in the Midian desert taught Moses that he was not qualified for the mission God was sending him on. Let us not think that this was false modesty on Moses’ part. It was recognition that the … Continue reading
Posted in deliverance, evangelism, plan of God, sovereignty of God, will of God
Tagged Exodus 2
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Exodus: opportunities
Exodus 1:22-2:22 Certain events take place in our lives that present opportunities for us to act — to make a difference. Pharaoh saw an opportunity to prevent rebellion among the Hebrews. Jochebed saw an opportunity to rescue her son from … Continue reading
Exodus: The flip-side of blessing
Exodus 1:1-21 The climate in Egypt had turned from favor to fear. God continued to bless the Israelites by making them numerous and strong, and it was that very strength that set the stage for slavery and conflict. Perhaps the … Continue reading
Joseph: key to forgiveness
Genesis 50:15-26 Knowing that Joseph had appealed to Jacob’s authority before Pharaoh, his brothers sought to do the same thing to prevent Joseph’s revenge. But they did not have to. Joseph had already forgiven them. Even though he acknowledged that … Continue reading
Joseph: permission for a funeral
Genesis 50:1-14 Joseph appeals to Pharaoh’s household for permission to go and bury his father outside Egypt. He makes it clear that he is doing this at the request of Jacob himself. Calvin asserts that this was Joseph’s way of … Continue reading
