shinewriter

Joseph and his brothers have now died. A new generation has risen up in the land of Goshen. A new Pharaoh is also on the throne. He knows nothing of Josephs contribution in the famine years. Neither does he care.

This King now sees the Israelites as more of a threat, than an asset. He turns them into slaves and the oppression begins. Like it or not, they find themselves becoming apart, of the Egyptian building programme.

Such were the Israelites, they out numbered the Egyptians. Pharaoh had ordered a cull. Every Hebrew male was to be killed at birth whilst females were allowed to live.

One male child was born with special qualities. No-one could bring themselves to hand him over. His mother hid him for three months. In the end she placed him in a reed boat. As it drifted down the Nile, Pharaoh’s daughter saw it.

She got her maid to fetch it. When they opened the basket they were captivated with the child’s beauty. Knowing full well where he came from she decided to raise the baby, naming him Moses.

As Moses grew he became more and more attracted to the Israeli camp. Eventually he found out who he really was. One day he saw an Egyptian harshly treating a Hebrew. Moses beat him to death and hid his body in the sand.

Much to his dismay everyone in the Hebrew camp knew about it. Moses left Egypt in a hurry. Whilst roaming around the desert he came to a place called Midian. Here he met up with Jethro and married one of his daughters.

Whilst out caring for the sheep he saw a burning bush that was not being consumed. As he got closer to it a voice spoke to him. “Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is Holy Ground.” Ex 3v5NIV

God gave him a commission to lead his people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. A place that flowed with milk and honey.

Moses returns to Egypt to secure the release of Gods people. Pharaoh refuses and so God goes about softening the Kings heart. Several plagues are cast upon Egypt. Only when the eldest male of every Egyptian household dies, does Pharaoh give in and let the Hebrew’s leave.

With such urgency they left right in the middle of the night. Pharaoh then changed his mind, he summoned his army and chased them to the Red Sea. Just as he thought he had them in his grasp, the waters of the sea opened and the children of Israel walked through.

Once the waters had closed behind them they had reached the point of no return. There would be no going back to Egypt. Ahead of them lay many adventures where God miraculously provided for them.

As they travelled to their new home God revealed to them how He wanted things done. In the midst of this ‘The Ten Commandments’, were given to man. The closing chapters deal with ordinances and other directions for His peoples conduct.

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