Theme: THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
Text: “…The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.” – Exodus 5:3-5.
Comment: Pharaoh did not want the children of Israel to go because he wanted them to remain as source of cheap labour for his numerous projects. Even after seeing the signs Moses showed him, he still did not fear God but preferred to use his magicians to challenge the power of God. Requests for him to release the Jews even moved him to punish the people the more. – Exodus 5:6-9.
After several plagues, the magicians of Egypt confessed that “This is the finger of God”. (Exodus 8:19) The last straw was the death of the first born, following which Pharaoh told Moses they were free to go, urging him to bless him also. The Egyptians themselves “were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.” (Exodus 12:29-33) Pharaoh represents satan the devil (Exodus 9:16) The triumph of God Almighty and His people over the antitypical Egypt is now impending. (Revelation 11:8; Revelation 7:9,10,13-17).
The songs of praise rendered by the children of Israel after the famous crossing of the Red Sea, has an eternal significance, acclaiming the majesty and power of God Almighty and His faithfulness in delivering His people from the devil’s oppressive hands. “…I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation… Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:1-3,11.
