Let me take a Selfie

And is there anything really wrong with that? I'm not sure and yet I think that the model that we put out there leads to a lot of wrong things. Hang with me for a second... Have you ever gotten ready to take a "selfie" only to end up taking 5 to 10 then adding in filters erasing this fixing that only to turn around and stare at the screen waiting for feed back scared that maybe this time you put the wrong one up. Your doubts come in, self-esteem issues perhaps, or maybe feeling dumb for even going there, or maybe you regret the fact you caved and gave into the newest thing, or those filters tho... Your mind starts to swirl and becomes a confused pile of mess. All for posting a picture of yourself up on Facebook/Instagram or well you pick the social media platform.

Is it really bad to take pictures of yourself? Nah I don't think so where I think we go wrong as a society is making it such a big deal to post the "perfect" picture to the world. But is that a real honest picture? Think about what you read on social media and you get 2 views the first is MY LIFE IS PERFECT look at my PERFECT house, PERFECT kids, PERFECT spouse, PERFECT everything. My NEW car, NEW house, NEW baby, NEW pet, NEW (fill in the next blank).

What it doesn't show is what that perfection cost you either personally or financially. I mean don't get me wrong when I bought my new car I shared that cause I worked hard for it. Then it turns out that now I have to work 2 jobs, move from my fancy apartment to a rental house that came with issues I don't even want to discuss. But did I post any of that on social media? Nope... why? Same as the selfie with all the filters that was picture 7... so that you would see the "perfect" life that I wish I had and yet I don't want to struggle in front of you. I want you to celebrate with me, tell me I'm pretty, I'm doing well, and that I've made it. If you actually saw the other stuff you wouldn't have been so quick to like the photo and tell me "Congrats" most of you would have lectured me, explained what was going to happen, asked if I was sure, was I ready. And you would have been right, (mind you I would have been angry, but you would have been right). Yet I went for it. I went for the praise and admiration over the sensible thing to do.

Because the other view of Social media are the ones that are always posting the negative consequences of life. The "Debbie Downers" of the internet pop up. You know the ones you have either muted them or ignore them, but they're the ones who are always "complaining" about how hard their lives are, what struggles they are going through, how tight money, how horrible the country is. And after awhile you start to realize that they're angry with their life's situation and you think, "I don't want anyone to mute me and block me because I feel the same way". Yet your life is more like theirs not PERFECT, not WONDERFUL, it only has glimpses of that PERFECT life that you always dreamed of and usually that dream comes at a steep price.

So back to the original question... is it worth it? Is it worth the front, the truth, the selfie number 10 and the only highlights on social media or is it worth being blocked to show others that life sucks. Or could there be a different way all together? (And no I'm not talking about a social media blackout although that would solve a great deal of problems)

What if we went back to our roots.
Look at Psalm 106: 13-14 for me
"But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for HIS counsel.... they gave into their cravings"
I don't know about any of you, but when I was studying the Bible this week that verse gripped me and hasn't let go. How many times in our social media driven lives have we sought counsel from others first, how many times have we sought approval from others first, how many times have we asked others to give us advice on what to do, buy, who to date, how to eat? How many times have we looked for praise from strangers first and only ran to HIM when it fails, or we don't hear what we need or desire?
How many times have we rushed into a relationship, a diet, a purchase without seeking HIS counsel only to then find ourselves stuck in a situation that SUCKS and then look up at HIM and shake our fist asking "WHY ME"

I don't want to be honest here and say that it's more times then I can count, but the LORD knows it has been. I am the first to seek other's opinions of what to do, where to go, what to buy, how to look, and then run to HIM when it falls apart wondering where did I go wrong this time...Wondering why isn't my life PERFECT like the dream, like so&so's social media page. Only to be reminded that maybe their life isn't perfect and when was the last time you truly talked with GOD? How can we expect a relationship with HIM where we get to know what HIS response will be if we only go to HIM when our lives are falling apart? When we are on selfie 15 and the car payment is 2 months behind. And then expect HIM to come up with a miracle that solves the problem immediately. When if we had sought his counsel and WAITED maybe just maybe HE would have presented another option with less filters.

Patience... Lord bless me with patience... not opportunities

Patience…

Lord why don’t I have any and why is there such a push for it? If I know that is a character flaw why do I desire it so much? Is it because we all truly want what we can’t have? What’s so great about patience and why do so many of us lack it. I’m not just talking about the patience that comes with driving and not getting mad at the guy in front of us for cutting us off (although if we are being completely transparent I could use of that kind as well). No what I’m talking about is the kind of patience that comes from love, mercy, grace. The deep stuff. The patience that allows you to be nice and civil to that one person that you really just want to strangle, yet something internally keeps you from screaming or saying that one thing you know will get them to back off because you’ve finally crossed a line. The patience that allows you to give grace in a situation where all you want to do is put that person in their place and prove to the WHOLE WORLD they’re stupid and you the calm cool collected biting your tongue person is AWESOMELY right… yet something prevents you from doing just that. Is it common sense, is it patience, or is it something else?

Have you ever met someone that you sit back later and find yourself saying, “man they have the patience of a saint”? I want to be that person and yet in order to be that person I would have to be tested and tempted and put through the burning “fires” in order to learn from the mistakes of not responding to that annoying person who won’t shut up. So that eventually when that person is talking to get a reaction from me I can have a detachment that allows me to appear to “have the patience of a saint”. Then again I want the genuine thing the kind of patience that still allows me to care for that person yet not get riled up by their ignorance. Is that even a thing that can happen?

I start to question if it’s a good idea to even write this down. I mean right now as I write this my palms are sweaty and my heart is pounding it’s almost like tempting fate asking for lightening to strike. Like ha ha now what do you have? It’s a rhetorical question I am posing here just in case the universe can read and wants to take me up on anything in this section (for the record), but hang with me for another minute. How does one develop the level of amazing grace? The patience of a saint, the kind of love for others that surpasses all logic to where a person can give up their entire weekend to help another person do something and (here’s the shocker) not complain about it. Where another person can give up their possessions and live somewhere else. Or donate all their time and money to the poor and not questions. Even better I ask you this how does a person sit in a coffee shop without ear buds in and listen to the person who sat down next to them uninvited and started talking without looking for the exits?

What is it in those people that sets them apart? Is it a gift? Is it patience? Is it grace? Or is it simply recognizing that we live in a world so broken that the only way any of us are going to heal to give those people who really need to be listened to an ear and someone who cares enough to give them 5 minutes at a shop to listen to their chatter. After all it isn’t personal they picked you because they have to tell someone. Maybe next time instead of taking things so personal or as a personal attack or an inconvenience maybe we should start looking at it as an opportunity to make that person walk away thinking someone out there in this cold world cared enough to listen for 5 minutes or didn’t escalate my being a “jerk” to an even more embarrassing situation. And in return we might experience the whole patience thing that looks really good from a third party looking in from the outside. Or give either way for one person in one moment we were the person with the patience of a saint and after all wasn’t that what this whole article started off being about?

Anger in all it's righteous glory

Ever had a time when you're angry. I mean a right proper anger for absolutely no reason? Sometimes you might be able to justify getting angry. Maybe the cashier isn't listening to your complaint for the 3rd time. Maybe your husband and kids are just being that annoying. Maybe your mother is asking for something else. Maybe your co-worker just won't shut up about her perfect life. Sometimes though you might just find yourself angry for no reason or at least no know reason that you can phantom. So you all the sudden have become the jerk we all make fun of. You know the one, the one that yells at the poor cashier for no reason, or the waitress for getting the order wrong. Or the jerk who makes fun of the co-worker with the perfect life, Your're the one lashing out and yelling at someone who in all fairness probably didn't deserve it like your husband, kids, or mother.
You are the one who can't find anything positive about the day, month, year. And before you know it you are the one sitting all alone at lunch festering in your anger, hating the world even more, and blaming them for the hand you've been dealt after all they couldn't possibly understand what you are going through.

Who would want to talk to you I mean if they do they run the risk of getting an earful of complaints, yelling, or you dragging them into an argument that no one asked for. Others may start to avoid you or worse you start to attract "that crowd" you know the one I am talking about. The ones just like you that can't find anything good to say about anything. So all you do is talk about the negative things over and over working yourselves up into a frenzy as you compare who has it worse. After all it's easier to join in on negativity then it is to find something positive.
Then there comes a point when you realize maybe this is God's fault or heck maybe you were already there. So you start questioning Him and His "almighty glory" where are you when I need you? How come you never seem to help me? Why do good people always seem to be the ones suffering?

Any of this sound familiar...

If it doesn't you are one lucky human being and I applaud you. For the others welcome to the club

The Bible is usually helpful on situations like this if we can catch it early enough in our anger to research, but usually by the time we realize we need to look at truth we maybe too far gone to look through scripture to help us. The thing about the bible that can be frustrating is it approaches anger in 2 ways. It gives us examples of God's anger and how he reacts to anger to give us a proper role model to follow and it gives us examples of human anger and what not to do to learn from. Personally I learn better from other's experiences as I am likely to have done them as well. That being said in anger I also like to see the right way to approach a situation since it feels a time that my anger will just flare up out of no where.

What was hard about this topic to write was where to begin. After all I have anger daily either through stress, sadness or worry which I found to be funny. A lot of my emotions that I experience will tie back to anger. If you make me feel unsafe or scared you will see angry Sara. If you make me worry about you angry Sara again. If I am stressed dear me angry Sara

It's starting to sound like I am always angry but I think that my emotions lead to anger as a first response, almost like my body doesn't know how to process the others. Weird I know, but there it is. Psalms 4 helps me to feel less weird in this. It shows us that anger in itself is not a sin, but can lead up to sin by our actions. When you think about that it makes perfect sense. A good friend has told me numerous times that emotions are neither good nor bad they are just like colors. And if you think about it like that anger is an emotion, one that God has as well, therefore the emotion of anger isn't bad. What gets people in the bible in trouble and us in life is how we handle that anger. It's the lashing out, the drinking, the yelling, cussing, and the fighting that becomes the sinful part of anger. Psalms 4 shows us that David's anger is actually driven from anxiety, worry and stress: holy frijoles batman it's like David and I are way too similar at times.
But unlike me David doesn't react by yelling at others instead in Psalms 4 he reminds us to examine our own hearts and be silent, then to trust in the Lord. Which Paul then takes and carries into Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin do not let the sun set while you are still angry". The first part being very important do not sin in your anger. The 2nd half I use to wrestle with a lot until an older woman at church pointed out an important thing to me, "it's because of the verse that immediately follows. If you allow your anger to fester while you sleep you give the devil a foothold and you have something to hold on to the next morning never allowing peace to enter in and heal the wound." That lady was very clever.
That's why it will feel like you are angry all the time non-stop.

If we are not taking the time to examine our hearts in silence to see what is really the reason we are angry the root cause of our anger if you will. We will have no way to turn to ask God to help us with it. If we are saying Lord take this crazy co-worker out of my life because they make me angry it doesn't really make sense. Let's say God does and a new co-worker comes in, what's to say that new person wouldn't make you just as angry or worse more angry? Instead of asking for the superficial part of the anger we need to examine our heart and find the root of the anger then ask God to help us with it. You can fix the superficial parts are day and never get rid of the anger. It isn't until you get to the root that you will start to feel better. The goal of examining your heart is to help you and the Lord work on it together. That then allows you to build up TRUST with HIM to help us with not only everyday anger, but eventually everyday issues. The sooner we do that the sooner we stop the festering of the wound. The festering of worry, anxiety, stress, hurt, it will have no place to grow because we aren't allowing it gain a foothold within us.

The interesting part about the enemy getting a foothold when we allow our anger to fester or go to sleep with it is this: The bible address feet and why they are important in Ephesians again and it's when we put on the full armor of Christ. Most of us know what this is so I will skip the parts not important to this. But the part that sticks out to the enemy gaining a foothold on us is this: A foothold is a place or support for the feet where a person may stand or walk securely per the dictionary... yet our feet is where the readiness that comes from the gospel of PEACE is located. When we carry around anger we no longer have peace. Please let that soak in for a minute the reason the anger festers the reason we lash out is our peace has been stolen by the enemy who we have allowed to gain a foothold in our lives. HE HAS STOLEN YOUR PEACE WITH YOUR PERMISSION and done so by your anger. To add insult to injury he is helping you to hold on to it by feeding you lies to "justify" your anger. The longer you allow that anger to fester and grow the longer the enemy can rob you of your peace.

When we hold onto emotions that cause sin and never look at the root cause instead allow those emotions to let us sin we lose our peace we give the enemy power and we lose control. That's why giving the enemy a foothold in our lives is such a scary thing.

Do not let the sun set in your anger. It's time to get back our PEACE and our freedom. TRUST IN THE LORD and ask for help.

Passover Today

Passover today looks a little different then it did in Exodus. Somethings are the same while a lot has changed.

Similar things:

We still eat lamb or goat (although I don't know a single person who raises the lamb or goat and keeps it themselves then slaughters it) I will admit most go to butchers for that

We do make sure there is no yeast either in the house or not eaten during the 7 days (some of us more then others)

We do remember why Passover is still so important and why we still celebrate. The story of Exodus is repeated during the meal on the 1st or 2nd night usually during Seder

Bitter herbs are eaten and we ask 4 very important questions to help guide us and remind our youths why we are doing what we are doing.

Otherwise here is what we do in a traditional Passover (1st or 2nd night)

The table is set with the finest china and silverware to reflect the importance of the meal. During this meal, the story of the Exodus from Egypt is retold using a special text called the Haggadah. Four cups of wine are consumed at various stages in the narrative. The Haggadah divides the night's procedure into 15 parts:

1. 1. Kadeish קדש – recital of Kiddush;blessing and drinking of the first cup of wine usually said by the head of the house but we all say it at mine
2. Urchatz ורחץ – the washing of the hands – without blessing
3. Karpas כרפס – dipping of the karpas in salt water (no idea why but usually we do roast egg so stinking good and honestly my favorite part! 
4. Yachatz יחץ – 3 this one works by taking 3 pieces of matzo and then breaking the middle matzo; the larger piece becomes the afikoman (which is hidden) which is eaten later during the ritual of;
5. Tzafun Maggid מגיד – retelling the Passover story, including the recital of "the four questions" ;see below and drinking of the second cup of wine 
6. Rachtzah רחצה – second washing of the hands – with blessing 
7. Motzi מוציא – traditional blessing before eating bread products 
8. Matzo מצה – blessing before eating matzo 
9. Maror מרור – eating of the maror 
10. Koreich כורך – eating of a sandwich made of matzo and maror 
11. Shulchan oreich שולחן עורך – lit. "set table"—the serving of the holiday meal 
12. Tzafun צפון – eating of theafikoman 
13. Bareich ברך – blessing after the meal and drinking of the third cup of wine In many traditions, the front door of the house is opened at this point. Psalms 79:6-7 is recited plus Lamentations 3:66. In my house we have the custom to fill a fifth cup at this point for Elijah I think the fifth cup is called Kos shel Eliyahu ("Cup of Elijah"). Over time, people came to relate this cup to the notion that Elijah will visit each home on Seder night as a foreshadowing of his future arrival at the end of the days, when he will come to announce the coming of the Messiah. Since we are Messianic Jews we leave it for the sole purpose of Christ coming. It's a weird tradition that doesn't really make sense anymore. 
14. Hallell הלל – recital of the Hallel, traditionally recited on festivals; drinking of the fourth cup of wine The remaining psalms 115-118, are recited at this point 
15. Nirtzah נירצה – conclusion : The Seder concludes with a prayer that the night's service be accepted. A hope for the Messiah is expressed: "L'shanah haba'ah b'Yerushalayim! - Next year in Jerusalem!"

These are the 4 questions we ask during Maggid

Why is this night different from all other nights?

1. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin ḥamets umatsa, vehallayla hazze kullo matsa.
Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either leavened bread or matza, but on this night we eat only matza? We eat only matzah because our ancestors could not wait for their breads to rise when they were fleeing slavery in Egypt, and so they were flat when they came out of the oven.
2. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin sh’ar y'rakot, vehallayla hazze maror.Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on this night we eat bitter herbs? We eat only Maror, a bitter herb, to remind us of the bitterness of slavery that our ancestors endured while in Egypt. Shebb'khol hallelot en anu matbillin afillu pa‘am eḥat, vehallayla hazze sh'tei fe‘amim.
3. Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip [our food] even once, but on this night we dip them twice? The first dip, green vegetables in salt water, symbolizes the replacing of our tears with gratitude, and the second dip, Maror in Charoses, symbolizes the sweetening of our burden of bitterness and suffering. 
4. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin ben yosh’vin uven m'subbin, vehallayla hazze kullanu m'subbin. Why is it that on all other nights we dine either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we all recline? We recline at the Seder table because in ancient times, a person who reclined at a meal was a free person, while slaves and servants stood.

The seder is replete with questions, answers, and unusual practices to arouse the interest and curiosity of the children at the table. The children are also rewarded with nuts and candies when they ask questions and participate in the discussion of the Exodus and its aftermath. Children are encouraged to search for the afikoman, the piece of matzo which is the last thing eaten at the seder. Audience participation and interaction is the rule, and many families' seders last long into the night with animated discussions and much singing. The seder concludes with additional songs of praise and faith printed in the Haggadah, including. 

So there you have it... Any questions let me know I would be happy to answer. This year Passover is on April 22, 2016

The Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread

Today we start in chapter 12 and with it comes the first important instruction from the Lord, "This month is to be for you, the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year old males without defect, and you make take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the 14th day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and the tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to  eat the meat roasted over the fire along with bitter herbs, an bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water but roast it over a fire - with the head; legs and internal organs. Do not leave any of it til morning; if some is left till morning you must burn it. This is how you are to it it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat in haste it is the Lord's Passover."

There is a lot of instruction on that one paragraph so let's break it down. 

When one does the Lord's Passover they are to: 

1. Each man is to take a lamb for his family (1 per household) if that household cannot eat a whole lamb they are to share with a neighbor

2. They are to pick a male lamb with no defect from either sheep or goat

3. It must be a year old and you will take care of it until the 14th day which it will be slaughtered at twilight

4. The lamb must be roasted (not boiled and there should be no blood left)

5. Some of the blood needs to mark the sides and top of a door frame of the house (this will be important in a moment)

6. The lamb is to be eaten that night with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast.

7. If any meat remains in the morning it is to be burned

8. You are not to be relaxing during the meal and joyous instead this meal should be eaten with your cloak in your belt sandals on your feet and your staff in hand ready to move and food should be eaten in haste

V. 12 is one of my favorites and brings home the point of Passover for me

"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals and I will bring judgement on all the gods of Egypt, I am the Lord"

And here is why the blood on the door is important

v. 13 "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will passover you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."

v. 14 "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord - a lasting ordinance. "

It goes on in this chapter to give further instructions that for 7 days no one is to work except to make food and no yeast should be in the house or eaten during the 7 day festival and if this happens that person should be cut off from Israel. 

Moses goes forth to tell the people what has been instructed they do as they have been told for once and v. 29 shows us "t midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt. 

v. 30 "and there was a loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead."

Moses was summoned to Pharaoh who told him to take his people and "go worship the Lord as you have requested." When the people left they took their dough before the yeast was added and did as instructed by asking the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people and they gave them what they asked for so the y plundered the Egyptians. Just like the Lord said they would. 

So the people lived in Egypt 430 years at the end of the those years the Lord brought them out of slavery. 

v. 42 is awesome "Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelities are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come. 

There are additional restrictions given for Passover at the end of this chapter which is interesting when you compare to how Passover is done today (we will go into that in a minute)

Chapter 13 Consecration of the Firstborn

FUN FACT: The firstborn principle: At the time of the Passover and the exodus of Egypt God introduced an important principle: Every firstborn male, including animals, was to be dedicated to him. Later, the Levites were established as a symbolic firstborn for all the people, with very precise accounting. 

v. 1 "The Lord said to Moses, "Consecrate to me every firstborn male, The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me whether human or animal."

Why you ask? Because of what the Lord did for them when they came out of Egypt. This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his might hand. (when he didn't have to and is giving you the land flowing with milk and honey when you don't deserve it - as a side note)

v. 14 goes into more details as to what to say when your son asks why am I consecrated to the Lord. 

Crossing the Sea 

I love this part because God has a plan and it shows that he has forethought. For example in v. 17 God knew not to take the people through the quicker road that would take them into the Philistine country because it would make them face a war, which would then make them change their minds and return to Egypt (ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW WITH THIS? God got you out of slavery and one war with God on your side and you would change your minds and go back to Egypt after He straight up just killed all the freaking firstborns? yet you don't trust Him enough to get you through a war?!?!?! Yet clearly they don't or the short cut would've been the route they took instead God had to take them on the long way through the stinking desert and the Red Sea in order to get where they needed to go)

I also love that Moses remembered to bring Joseph's bones like the Israelites has sworn they would do. 

I also love v.21 "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left it place in front of the people.
How freaking awesome is that!

So what do you think of the great Exodus? Next week is the Read Sea parting (this week was long so I will do the Passover Modern version in another post) What has been your favorite part so far?

Finishing up with the Plagues today

We start off with plague number 6 and boy is it a messy one.

Plague #6 - Boils

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land."

Something that has started to stick out from reading the plagues in more details is the who is doing the actual sign, where the sign is taking place and who is it is affecting is standing out more and more the further we dig in. Here's a handy cheat guide I had to make myself:

Plague 1 – Blood

Location: River

Who does it: Aaron strikes the water it turns to blood

Magicians are able to replicate
Both Hebrews and Egyptians suffer

Plague 2 – Frogs

Location: Palace

Who does it: Aaron with Moses’ staff

Magicians are able to replicate
Both Hebrews and Egyptians suffer
Moses is the one who prays for it to stop

Plague 3 – Gnats

Location: Palace ?

Who does it: Aaron by striking the dust

Magicians are not able to replicate it!
Both Hebrews and Egyptians suffer

Plague 4 – Flies

Location: River

Who does it: The Lord

Magicians aren’t able to replicate
Only Egyptians affected
Moses is the one who prays for it to stop

Plague 5 – Livestock

Location:

Who does it: the Lord

Magicians are unable to replicate
Only affects Egyptians

Plague 6 – Boils

Location: Palace

Who does it: Moses

Magicians can not replicate due to boils on feet
Only Egyptians affected

Plague 7 – Hail

Location: mountain

Who does it: Moses

No replication
Only Egyptians suffer and those who did not fear the Lord or take precaution
Moses is the one who prays for it to stop

Plague 8 – Locust

Location:

Who does it: Moses

No replication
Only affects Egyptians
Moses prays for it stop

Plague 9 – Darkness

Location: Palace

Who does it: Moses

Affects only Egyptians
No replication
No prayers last only 3 days

Plague 10 – Death of 1^st born

Location: All of Egypt

Who does it: The Lord

No replication
Only affects those in Egypt who do not celebrate Passover or follow instructions given by Moses
No prayer for relief

What is cool is seeing how it starts off with Aaron needing to do the signs and as Moses grows in confidence and knowledge it is he who begins to do the talking more and the signs more and the praying for things to end more. And Aaron becomes more of the second fiddle. I like it! It shows me how God is working. As he builds my confidence in what He is teaching me he is going to cut the cords a little and slowly give me the reigns. The bigger things He will handle himself yet he will still allow me to do the work I am suppose to do! Man I love Moses and Exodus. Gets the blood pumping

Anyway back to the plagues So with the boils and all the nasty that this brings once again the Hebrews are not affected. Magicians can not stand in front of Moses to attempt to replicate (because they can't stand due to boils see the irony there if you say God doesn't have a sense of humor read Exodus cause he does) Yet Pharaoh still doesn't give up on letting God's people go. 

Plague 7 - Hail

This one is just scary. It is scary for lots of reason but one is God stresses to Pharaoh in v. 15 of Chapter 9 that "I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." YIKES I don't know about you but that is not something I would ever want to hear from the Lord. 

The Lord then proceeds to warn Pharaoh that a hailstorm is coming one worst then anything that has ever fallen on Egypt so be prepared. 

What I do love is in v. 20 "Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside." They were like nope not playing around here this Lord who every he is isn't playing and I'm not falling for it again. The others ignored the word and well we all know what happened. Cause Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky and the Lord sent thunder and hail and lightening flashed down to the ground. It was the worst storm in the all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. The beautiful part of this chapter is v. 26 "The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were. 

Now what follows as it is hailing is awesome Pharaoh summons Moses to him and says "This time I have sinned The Lord is right and i and my people are wrong"

It took me some time to think on this. This means the first  plagues Pharaoh was under the misconception that either this was happening to him because God was being 1) mean, 2)cruel, 3)unfair, 4) picking on him or 5) being a bully to prove a point and didn't really need to in Pharaoh's eyes. Which is weird to me. So to Pharaoh he was thinking what have I done wrong to deserve all this punishment? I have done nothing wrong the Hebrews are fine they are happy why should this random man and this random God attack me? Or he was just thinking Moses was  really really good Magician. 

Until this plague where he realized that it is by his actions that have brought his people to this point of destruction. Because according to v. 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields - both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. This would have devastated crops and fruit.

Another thing I like about this chapter is Moses agrees to pray for Pharaoh and the people to stop the hail and destruction but, "When I have gone out of the city I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord's. But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God." Moses isn't fooled by Pharaoh's realization and he knows that this isn't over. I think Moses feels bad for what is happening. He realizes that Egypt has lost everything trees, fruit, barley and people as well as animals that hadn't been brought in. Yet he also knew that Pharaoh wasn't going to let the people go. This wasn't over yet and he was right.

Plague #8 - Locusts

This time the Lord let's Moses know I have harden not only Pharaoh's heart but his officials sot hat I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them and that you may know that I AM THE LORD. 

Moses does as he is told and warns Pharaoh if you don't let my people go Locust will be a coming the worst you have ever seen they will devour what little you h ave left after the hail. This caused the officials to be like "Dude let them go why are we putting up with this crap from them who cares?"

Pharaoh then begins negotiations about who can go where and with what" it doesn't fly with Moses who gets annoyed and annoys Pharaoh who drives them out of his presence so Moses stretches out his staff over Egypt and by morning the east wind had brought the locust. They invaded all of Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers Never before had there been such a plague. (and here is another promise we get from God) nor will there ever be again. They devoured all that was left after the hail everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land. 

Pharaoh quickly pulls out the I have sinned against the Lord and your God card again. Moses does the praying thing again and everything is fixed thing again. Yet Pharaoh's heart is hardened again.

So thus we being 

Plague #9 - Darkness

There was no warning it just happens Moses stretches out his hand and total darkness covers all of Egypt for 3 days no one could see anyone else or move about for 3 days except for the Israelites who had light in the places where they lived. Pharaoh tells Moses he can go again but he has to leave behind the herds and cattle. Moses says no they need them to make offerings so that won't work. Pharaoh gets made and says Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again@ the Day you see my face yo will die. 

Plague #10 - Firstborns

This is how we get to the Passover my favorite story and holiday. 

I will start in Chapter 11 v. 4 "About midnight I will go throughout Egypt Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at there hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt - worse than there has ever been (if you recall Chapter 1 v 16-22 when the Egyptians were killing Hebrew babies) or will be again (promise #3) But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of your swill come to me, bowing down before me and saying Go you and all the people who follow you!" 

This is hands down the scariest of the plagues and one I think if I had been Pharaoh not a plague I would have tested but the Lord harden his heart and he didn't have a choice. 

Next week will go into Passover and what the rules are, why we celebrate, what it did how the Jewish people still celebrate and what it is for. It should get us up to Chapter 14 Crossing the Sea and we might even be able to get pass that!

Let me know your thoughts on the plagues! Would love to hear feedback

The first 5 plagues

I love when we start a chapter off with
Then the Lord said cause you know whatever follows is going to be good. I mean you know whatever the Lord says is going to be major, but in Exodus whatever He says is going to pack a punch. And Chapter 7 is no exception cause this is where we start the plagues baby!

Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. (that's deep) You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with my mighty acts of judgement I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it."

Whew wee there is a lot going on here.
1. God is reminding Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart therefore he will not listen to you. I love that God pointed this out to Moses because if you remember from Chapter 6 v. 30 Moses had a doubt about that. We talked about Moses's doubts a few times (here and here) last week he straight up asked God here in v. 30 "But Moses said to the Lord, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?" God is telling him in Chapter 7 he's not going to listen because of me so stop worrying about it!
2. He stresses I will 3 times in this paragraph to Moses leaving little doubt who is actually in control.
a. I will harden Pharaoh's heart
b. I will lay my hand on Egypt and with might acts of judgement
c. I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.
3. Lastly he stresses that the Egyptians will know that I AM the Lord (my favorite saying and I believe the most we hear the Lord say I Am).

I love how in Chapter 7 we get an age check. Moses is 80 and Aaron is 83 so if you are feeling like you are too old to be used by God go back to chapter 7 in Exodus and get a reality check and don't say to me that people lived longer then cause I'm pretty sure that's an excuse (Moses)...

Right off the bat God is warning both Aaron and Moses that Pharaoh is going to want a miracle. God wants them to do the staff snake routine that was practiced by Moses earlier (Poor Aaron he missed the whole thing but hey apparently he has faith more than I and is a lot better off with snakes then Moses) cause it went down just like God said it would. Aaron throws his staff it becomes a snake. Pharaoh summoned his wise men and sorcerers and they did the same thing with their "secret art" (let's take a moment on the side crazy train and recognize that magic does exist not good magic in this context but still I'm just saying all those out there that told me it didn't you LIED what you could have said is yes there is magic it is used for good or bad. Aaron good others bad and just left it at that. JUST SAYING) So the other magic people did the same thing but here's where it gets interesting Aaron's snake straight up eats the other magician's staffs! STRAIGHT UP EATS THE OTHER SNAKES seriously. AND NO ONE BATS AN EYELASH. COME ON. I get that magic is the norm in this time frame (cause we'd be freaking the hell out if a staff turned into a snake now and days don't pretend like we wouldn't) but then to have one staff eat the other staffs come on. Yet Pharaoh's heart was harden just like the Lord said it would be and he would not listen.

And thus the plagues begin...

Plague #1 - Blood

So the first plague of Egypt was as dramatic one. All the waters of the land were turned to blood. The Nile which was a major source for drinking, food, and bathing. The vessels (even the water in their idols) were even touched by it the streams, canals, ponds and reservoirs were all turned to blood. The fish died and the river smelled so bad that Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

But here's the kicker that I was never taught in Sunday school: The Egyptians magicians did the same thing by their secret arts: SERIOUSLY WHAT THE HELL? How? where? why? And why not turn it back if you can turn it to blood? Why would you just have a spell like that? But not a reversal? Doesn't even make sense? Or was Moses and Aaron constantly going around turning it back to blood? Which I doubt b/c I think that would've been in the book don't you? So because his FREAKING magicians could do the same damn trick (which is still baffling every dang time I read this) and because the Lord had harden his heat which then makes me wonder if it wasn't the Lord who gave them the magic mayhaps?!?! Pharaoh once again would not listen to Moses and Aaron instead he turned and went into his palace and did not even take this to heart. And the poor Egyptians (who I do and don't feel bad for it's not their fault they had to do what the Pharaoh said it's not like they got to vote the man in) where stuck digging along side the Nile to get drinking water because they could not drink the water of the river.

Plague #2 - Frogs

Seven days later (which I'm not clear on if the river just got clean on its own or if the Lord cleaned it or if Moses did or the magicians finally did or if a rain storm washed away the blood or heck maybe it still was bloody my best guess is the blood eventually washed away with the tide and eventually became clear again). Every time I ask this no one has an answer so your guess is as good as mine.
Any who 7 days later the Lord said to Moses to go to Pharaoh again to let his people go or a plague of frogs happen. Doesn't sound bad until you realize they will literally be everywhere in your bed, houses, ovens, kneading troughs, etc.

Interesting enough Aaron is the one who has to do this with Moses' staff. Sadly enough the dang magicians did the same thing which means they added to the freaking problem and didn't help in anyway except to prove that their magic could do the same thing. NOT HELPFUL also baffling. Here's where it gets interesting though. Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and says, "Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."
2 things:
1. clearly the magicians could not make the frogs go away (score a point for our side)
2. frogs are clearly annoying in large numbers
Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile."
"Tomorrow" (apparently frogs are really, really annoying in large numbers)
Moses leaves and "cried out tot he Lord about the frogs he had brought on the Pharaoh. And the Lord did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses (probably not exactly what Pharaoh was seeking me thinks) since they ended up being piled in heaps and the land reeked of them. But when Pharaoh saw there was relief he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord said.
point in fact: Pharaoh lied

Plague #3 - Gnats

Aaron stretched out his hand and struck the dust and and it became a plague of gnats. Here's the interesting part of this particular plague the magicians could not replicate it with their secret art when they tried to produce it. Because of they couldn't they said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (so my prediction that God is the one that gave them the "secret art" was totally wrong cross that off the list)
Pharaoh's heart however, was hard and he would not listen.

Plague #4 - Flies 

I like this plague for only 1 reason and here it is: this is the plague that made the distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. Before now everyone was treated the same I believe, but here God makes the "distinction between my people and your people" in v. 23 What I also find interesting is that Pharaoh wants Moses and the Israelities to worship here in the land and what I didn't know the answer to (besides the fact that God doesn't want them to) is why they couldn't do just that, but Moses in v. 26-27 answers that for me.
"That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us." That was very interesting so I ask myself what about the offering was detestable to the Egyptians and I found it rather fascinating: The animals that the Hebrews would sacrifice were sacred to the Egyptians and would have caused a riot if they saw them sacrificing them.  Kind of like the Hindu and Muslims in India. (fun fact: the more you know)
Pharaoh once again promises to let the people go and offer if they don't go far away and Moses promises to pray for him. Moses agrees as long as Pharaoh is not deceitful again by not letting the people go. But we all know that pharaoh once again lied because he we have 6 more plagues.

Plague #5 - Livestock

This plague affected not only cows but donkeys, horses and camels, sheep, goats and the cattle. However, only the Egyptians once again God made the distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. He also set a date like a warning sign to Pharaoh (which isn't always good to know when things are going to hit the fan). Then the Lord did it and Pharaoh investigated all the livestock of the Egyptians died but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

So there we go the first 5 plagues to hit Egypt... what do you think was the worst of the 1st batch?
I have to go with blood then livestock personally. Although frogs seemed to annoy everyone greatly.

Next week we will hit on the next 5 and then follow up withe Passover which I do love the story of Passover!