Promise 29 from Exodus 12:35-36

Ex. 12:35-36 - "Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the Lord had given the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." - In the midst of mourning the death of their firstborns, the Egyptians handed their gold and jewellery over to the Israelites. You would think that it would be out of fear that they surrendered their valuables, but it wasn't. It was out of blessing because of the favour God gave to Israel. You would have to imagine being in this scene to appreciate the incredible miracle that was taking place. If man was in control, the Egyptians would have surely gone to war with the Israelites, simply because it was "their" god who caused all the death and plagues. They would have been jealous that their gods were not as mighty, that they didn't have the same favour, or even more, as the Israelites. But God was clearly in control by fulfilling what He said would happen. This happened because the Israelites did as they were told to do. They would not have experienced the miracle otherwise. I'm sure it wasn't for them to ask the Egyptians for their gold, but they stepped out in faith and God blessed them. When we step out to do the impossible, in obedience to what He instructs us to do. He will bless us!

Promise 29 from Exodus 12:23

Ex. 12:23 - "'For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.'" - It seems like such a harsh thing; God killing all the first born of the Egyptians and the first born animals. Only God knew what further damage would be done against the Kingdom if this didn't take place. Like He said in vs. 12, "I am the Lord!" He did provide a way out for His people however by saying, that He will not allow the destroyer to smite them when He sees the blood over the door posts and lintel. It's only through the blood of the sacrificial lamb that salvation can come. He promises that salvation and was very specific in His instructions about the placement of the blood. The blood becomes their shelter when it is placed above them, above the entrance of their home. Its only when we place the blood of Christ above us that we are shielded by Him and against the enemy. This is the assurance that God gives us. For He is Lord!

Promise 28 from Exodus 11:3

Ex. 11:3- "The Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt. both in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people." - Moses went from being a very unpopular man in Egypt and among his people to the most esteemed. When God uses the ordinary, unfavoured people on the earth to do His work, those people become extra-ordinary to those around them. When God sets His people apart to build His kingdom and His family, then those people stand apart or stand out from others. People notice or should notice, when God is working through someone. His handiwork is so different from our own. The greatest thing is that no one is exempt from being chosen by God. We all qualify because there is no criteria that we could possibly meet by ourselves. We are random winners, chosen by the king. Why? Simply because He loves us and He is sovereign. Just because He can!

Promise 27 from Exodus 9:16

Ex. 9:16 - "'But, indeed for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth'." - God doesn't ask for much, He just wants people, in all the earth to know Him. Pharaoh could have avoided so much grief if he would have just simply proclaimed God as God, but he was stubborn. Verse 17 says, "Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go." It is soooo difficult for people to surrender their position on the throne, to God. It's so silly how people think that if they hold onto control of their lives, that they can control the good and bad from happening. They think they can protect themselves and the environment by remaining in control, but God says, 'Let Me show you My power!" He simply wants us to know that He is big enough and strong enough and powerful enough to protect and control our environment. I'm sure we would be amazed how much happens, if we had spiritual eyes to see what is happening around us. I'm not saying that difficult and bad things don't happen to those who have given their lives to Jesus, but God's name is proclaimed more through those who do and God pours favour onto His people. This verse speaks of the Sovereignty of God. We are all in His hands, at His mercy. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Promise 26 from Exodus 8:12-13

Ex. 8:12-13 - "Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had inflicted upon Pharaoh. the Lord did according to the words of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, the courts, and the fields." - It strikes me funny that Moses cried out to God, as through he was begging God to show up and do as Moses told Pharaoh would happen. Why did he approach God with such insecurity? He knows God is in control, well.... at least he should have known. Was he afraid that it might make him and Aaron look bad if the frogs didn't die when he told Pharaoh they would? Were they concerned that the Pharaoh and/or the Israelites would kill them if the frogs didn't die? God is faithful to His people, He did just as Moses asked. I can't fault Moses and Aaron too much, because I do the same. I don't use the authority God gives me to make decisions with confidence, then when I do declare something prophetically, I find myself going to God and pleading that He'll make sure it happens. What Moses missed and what I often miss is that the words uttered "Tomorrow, may it be according to your word... the frogs will depart from you." vss. 10-11 are not really from us, it is the work of God through us. We can have the confidence to declare in faith what God puts on our hearts, because He is faithful!

Promise 25 from Exodus 7:10

Ex. 7:10 - "So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and they did just as the Lord had commanded and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent." - God gave Moses and Aaron instruction, they did what He said, and what God said would happen, took place. It takes a lot of faith to step out and do what God tells us to do; believing that what He said will happen, will. Too often I find myself questioning, "But what IF it DOESN'T happen as You say?" I know it sounds absurd to question God, but we do it over and over again. We let fear ignite doubt, which then leads to disobedience to what God asks us to do. God will bring the results He says He will bring, but He wont necessarily do that without our partnering with Him. If He chooses us to work with Him, He wants us to carry out the mission, not some substitute. He wants to build in us His Spirit and His character. He wants to reveal Himself through us to others. Because of this, He wont lead us astray by giving us a mission that will not turn out just as He says it will. Thank you Lord!

Promise 24 from Exodus 7:5

Ex. 7:5 - "The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst." - When the Lord moves, everyone knows it. Not only is God on a mission to introduce Himself to His people, but He wants the Egyptians to know who He is as well. There will be no doubt as to who He is, in the minds of the Egyptians once He stretches His hand out. When God stretches that hand out to free us, all those around sees His work and knows its Him. The best way to impact our community and nation is for us to stay within arms reach of God, as He deals with us, the shock wave of His love will blast others as well. They WILL know Him when He moves!

Promise 23 from Exodus 7:3

Ex. 7:3 - "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt." - Pharaoh didn't force the hand of God to pull out the big guns that make Pharaoh release the Israelites. He hardened Pharaoh's heart on purpose. He knew that His people needed to see the vastness of His power and love for them through the signs and wonders that He chooses to use. I believe He puts us in a place where He chooses to reveal His signs and wonders so that our faith in Him will grow and so we will understand truly how big our God is.

Promise 22 from Exodus 6:13

Ex. 6:13 - "Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt." - As Moses asked God 'How do you expect the Pharaoh to listen to me when my own people don't" and again tried to get out of the job by saying that he doesn't speak very well, God had a sit down with Moses and Aaron once again [He is just so patient]. This time He gave them 'charge' over the Israelites and Pharaoh. Spiritually, He took them out of the mire of their orphany insecurities, and focus on themselves, and placed them on spiritual thrones as kings, for which Israel and the Pharaoh are under them. He put them in authority and gave them the right and honor to carry out God's plan. That is what God does for us too, He gives us the spiritual authority over those for whom He calls us out to seek. There is no fear in this position because we are equipped by God and commissioned by Him, we can not fail. So that is the promise!

Promise 21 from Exodus 6:8

Ex. 6:8 - "I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the Lord.'" - What a great promise! The Israelites made things so difficult for themselves, which we'll see later on. How often do we hear the voice of the Almighty God say that He will hand us our dreams? That's basically what this verse is saying. The God of the universe is promising to give His people freedom. He even tells them that He will take them straight to the land. But the people don't listen [vs. 9]. Can you imagine? However, I know that often times I'm as guilty as they are; I let the things that I see, keep me from grasping the unseen, just like they did. This verse says they didn't listen to Moses because of their broken spirits and cruel bondage. Their emotions got in the way of trusting God's faithfulness. Their bondage kept them from even dreaming about freedom. I too find it difficult to dream sometimes, especially when its areas that require finances. All I do is look at my bank account and decide I can't even possible begin to dream about doing things like flying back home to see my family or to visit other friends in different countries or to attend specific conferences that I think will be amazing, so I automatically decide they are impossible. God acts so opposite of what we think. He wants to lavish His people with good things. He wants to set us free to dream. We just need to keep our eyes on Him and watch Him lead us to His wonderful gifts.

Promise 20 from Exodus 6:6-7

Ex. 6:6-7 - "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgements. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.'" - God is being very explicit in what He will do for His people. He first clarifies who He is, which establishes His authority as the One who will fulfil His promise. He says, "I am the Lord!" then He continues on to say what He will do; "I will bring you out, I will deliver you.... I will also redeem you.... I will take you for my people... I will be your God..... You shall know that I am the Lord your God." There is a clear progression here from freedom from bondage to adoption as sons and daughters. It's that redemption that bridges the gap between slavery and sonship. Not only does God free us from whoever holds us captive, but He pays the price so that there is no debt owed to our captors and He take us in and calls us His own. We are now adopted children of God. And He will make sure that we know He is our Heavenly Father, without a shadow of a doubt. He will never throw us out from His family. He is the Lord!

Promise 19 from Exodus 6:2-3a, 4a, 5a, 5c.

Ex. 6, 2-3a, 4a, 5a, 5c - "God spoke further to Moses and said to him, "I am the Lord; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty.... I also established My covenant with them.... Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel... and I have remembered My covenant." - It's amazing how often God winds up having to remind His "chosen" people His identity. The pattern is; God gives the promise, tells them His plan, they get pumped up for a short while, they get discouraged and/or question God, then God tells them again who He is and reminds them of the covenant promise. It happens every time; to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and now Moses. Joseph, the one who really had a reason to question God, is the only one that never did. God never had to remind him who He was. I don't think, however that God really minds reminding His children who He is, because He is a comforting King and a compassionate Father. He hears the cry of His children and remembers His covenant. Lord, May I not forget who You are and constantly trust in my El Shadddai!

Promise 18 from Exodus 5:22-23

Ex. 5:22-23 - "Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, 'O Lord, why have you brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.'" - It pains me to think how often I'm like Moses. I question what God is doing as soon as something goes opposite to what I believe He would or should do. Its very plain in this story that it's the evil of Pharaoh's heart that inflicted hardship on Israel, not God. The enemies of God are of course going to fight to keep the territory they hold whenever they hear that God has shown up. Of course things are going to get worse before they get better because that is what the enemy does, God just walks into town, so to speak, its the other ones that stir the pot as they scramble. They know how powerful God is and how much of a threat He is to messing up their work. But like Moses, I too get scared and ask "Why did You even put me into this situation Lord?, why did You call me?" Of course God is in control. He is the only one who knows the outcome, the end of the story, That is where "faith" comes in. We know Moses must stand firm, stay strong and continue his mission as God has given. God already told him the outcome. Moses needs to believe that what God said, will come true. Just like I need to stand firm, press in and believe that God will complete what He has promised in my life.

Promise 17 from Exodus 4:30-31a

Ex. 4:30-31a. - "And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed." - Usually when we think of the Moses / Pharaoh story we think of Moses as the one who performed all the miracles, but it wasn't just Moses. Aaron spoke the words that Moses had given him, just like God said he would do, and ... remember vs. 16? It says that Moses would be as God to him. Well that happened too... Moses imparted the power of miracles and wonders to Aaron just as God had done to Him, so now, it's Aaron who is performing the miracles in front of all the Israelites elders. Look what happened... they believed and they saw that this was from the Lord so they fell down and worshipped God. This is what God does... He gives to us... we pass it on to others..... and God's kingdom is expanded; He gets the glory!