Category Archives: Read the Bible

Read the Bible: Exodus 18

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This is a short chapter and is pretty straightforward. Jethro has heard about Moses and all that the LORD has done to Egypt and for Israel. He comes out to the wilderness to meet Moses and brings Zipporah and their two sons, reuniting the family. When Jethro sees how Moses sits all day every day hearing disputing and ruling between the people, he counsels him to delegate that responsibility.

Exodus 18

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

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Read the Bible: Exodus 17

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Water from the rock. Joshua leads Israel to defeat Amalek.

Exodus 17

The whole congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

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Read the Bible: Exodus 16

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Memory is generative. The congregation of Israel misses the pots of meat and eating bread until they were full and they wish they had never left Egypt. They do not seem to remember their taskmasters increasing their burdens or having to murder their children to prevent their population from growing. God is about to provide them with manna from heaven.

Exodus 16

The entire congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from Elim and came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after departing out of the land of Egypt.

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Read the Bible: Exodus 15

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Moses and the Israelites had stood between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and God proved both of those statements wrong. Moses breaks out into song as we begin chapter 15, and later Miriam will pick up a tambourine and join in, leading other women in chorus who play and dance. Then all it took was walking three days without finding water for the grumbling to start.

Exodus 15

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord. They said: “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

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Read the Bible: Exodus 14

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Crossing the Red Sea is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel similar to Passover for this generation. Passover is marked by an annual feast but this dramatic event is something of a final death blow for the armies of Egypt. It demonstrates not only to Egypt but the surrounding nations the power of God, the God of Israel, and for a time causes the people to fear God, trust God, and his servant Moses.

Exodus 14

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

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Read the Bible: Exodus 13

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Because the first born in all of Egypt died on the night of the Passover, all first males must be dedicated to the LORD. Moses explains that the feast of unleavened bread is to be keep each year during the first month. He stresses the importance of teaching these things to future generations so they never forget what God has done.

Exodus 13

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

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Read the Bible: Exodus 12

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The Passover is both a single event in the history of Israel and an annual feast in remembrance of that event. Pharaoh is going to let the children of Israel go – they will be made to leave quickly as a matter of fact – but he will change his mind one more time and try to get them back.

Exodus 12

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,

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Read the Bible: Exodus 11

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This chapter is really short, it’s just God declaring what will happen next. In chapter 12 he will give instructions for the first Passover, the firstborn in all of Egypt will die, the Hebrews will be driven out, and God will institute the annual Passover feast. That chapter is not short.

Exodus 11

The Lord said to Moses “I will bring one plague more on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here: and when he lets you go he will surely drive you out from here. 

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Read the Bible: Exodus 10

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This will be the eighth and ninth plagues, locusts and then darkness. After the ninth plague, Moses is told by Pharaoh that he better not see him again.

Exodus 10

The Lord said to Moses “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might perform these signs of mine before him:

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Read the Bible: Exodus 9

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The fifth, sixth and seventh plagues are in this chapter, specifically the death of livestock, boils on man and beast and hail. Hail mixed with fire that cuts down everything in the field. The kind of hail that had never been seen in Egypt since it became a nation. And we have three plagues to go yet. It’s gonna get ugly.

Exodus 9

Then the Lord said to Moses “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him ‘This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me.

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