Dig a Little Deeper

  Where did we come from? This is one of the greatest questions that man has wrestled with. Various cultures have developed religions to explain our origins. Another version of this question is: Which came first–the chicken or the egg? We have an understanding that we have parents, and that our parents had parents. But our minds can’t grasp the concept of where it all began. The ancient Egyptians believed Khnum formed the human body on his potter’s wheel. Heqet, they believed, assisted him in this process breathing into them so that they would come alive.  It is interesting how close they were to understanding the truth–almost as if some demonic spirit tried to lead them astray but couldn’t come up with an original idea. What we do see is that God tells us where we came from in the early chapters of his word. Our True Origin Story In the book of Genesis, we read the account of God's handiwork.     Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and bre...

In the ongoing confrontation between God and Pharaoh, we witness a battle of wills and power. Despite God's command to release the Israelite slaves, Pharaoh not only defied God but also increased the burden on the Hebrew people. God responded by displaying his power through the serpent confrontation and by unleashing the first plague, turning the Nile River into blood . Hapi's defeat showed God as the true sustainer of life. Even still, Pharaoh refused to release the Hebrews, and God responded with the second plague. The Plague of Frogs The Nile River had been a source of trouble for Egypt, symbolizing both their deliverance and now their affliction. The second plague brought forth swarms of frogs from the river, invading the land of Egypt. Heqet, a goddess associated with fertility, childbirth, and renewal, was often depicted as a frog or a woman with a frog's head. The ancient Egyptians sought her assistance for safe deliveries and healthy children. They believed that Kh...

Throughout our series, God Over All: Nations Will Bow, we witness the confrontation between the God of Israel and Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God, in his mercy, gave Pharaoh opportunities to repent and release the Hebrew people from bondage. However, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and as a result, God unleashed a series of plagues upon Egypt. This cosmic war began as God struck the first blow: turning the Nile River into blood. This devastating event not only demonstrated God's power over the false Egyptian deities, specifically Hapi, but it also foreshadowed the deliverance of his people and the disaster awaiting his enemies. The River of Blood Exodus 7:14-25 tells us about God striking the Nile River, the lifeblood of Egypt, turning it into blood. The source of sustenance and fertility became a horrifying spectacle of death and decay. The fish died, and a putrid stench permeated the air, bringing devastation to Egypt. This plague cannot be explained away by "the redness ...

As America faces economic challenges, it is helpful to remember who our true provider is. As we study the first plague poured out on Egypt, we realize that their entire way of life was disrupted. The Nile River, a symbol of prosperity and life for the Egyptians, was transformed into a source of turmoil and suffering as it turned into blood. Suddenly, their worldly supply of life was stripped from them, and they were facing an economic disaster.  Similarly, America's economic landscape can be unpredictable and subject to fluctuations. Inflation and recession can cause hardships, impacting individuals and communities. Like the Egyptians with the Nile River, we may think we have stability in our finances. But as our history has shown, trusting in our money can turn to despair in a moment. In God We Trust The first plague reminds us that our worldly sources of stability are fleeting. However, God’s provision is never failing. While finances may fluctuate–or be taken from us altogether–...

Ancient Egyptians were known as a people of “great learning” and “superior in science to any nation upon earth” (Bryant, 164-5). Unfortunately, they squandered their remarkable gifts. Driven by a desire for mystery and refinement, they veiled their knowledge in symbols and gradually lost touch with the truth. Egyptians believed the sun-god Ra reigned supreme. He was not only the most powerful deity but also considered the father of Egypt's earthly kings. Pharaoh’s firstborn son, destined to become the future king, “was sired by Ra, the human father being no more than an intermediary” (Blumenthal, 256). Pharaoh, as the ruler of Egypt, believed himself to be a god and wore a serpent on his crown as a symbol of divine protection. The Egyptians, despite their advanced society, worshiped a pantheon of gods. However, God's judgment would soon come upon Egypt and its gods, revealing Pharaoh's false claims of deity. Pharaoh: The Son of Ra The story of Exodus unfolds with the rise o...

  But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue." Exodus 4:10 I have seen this verse used many times over to teach that Moses had a stutter. This was something I always understood as common knowledge, and this was why Aaron went with Moses to stand before Pharaoh.  However, as I have dug deeper into the text over the years, I can't help but question if Moses actually did have a stutter. This is the only verse in Scripture that mentions Moses having any type of speech impediment, and when we understand who is speaking, who is being spoken to, and the context of what is being said, I can't help but wonder why Moses ever uttered this phrase. Raised in Pharaoh's Court It is important that we remember that Moses was raised in Pharaoh's court, and would have received the best education of his day. Charles Aling said this concerning Moses's education: “T...

****Note: This post is intended to be an invitation to join me as I think through our sermon series and their connection to current events. Think of it as you hearing me "think out loud." This is not intended to be any type of prophetic statement, and it even ponders some assumptions concerning Satan's thoughts and emotions that the Bible does not address. This is not a thoroughly researched article. Just raw thoughts written out as I think them through. Enjoy!  ******   Thoughts on Pharaoh's Order to Execute Hebrew Babies The prophecy in Genesis 3:15 had Satan working overtime to thwart God's plan. The Seed of the Serpent would be ultimately defeated by the Seed of the Woman. This "seed" has both singular and collective meanings.  Singularly, this verse is saying that Satan would be defeated by a man born of a virgin ("seed" is passed down from the father, however, this prophecy claimed it would be the seed of a woman). Collectively, this ver...

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. Romans 9:16-17 One of the most debated questions in Christian theology is "Was it fair for God to harden Pharaoh's heart?"  That question is one that theologians have debated for centuries, and this brief post certainly will not settle it. However, there are a few things that are important for us to keep in mind as we wrestle with this question.  Divine Justice The punishment for sin is death. Any breath that we take after we sin is only because of God's grace.  When the Man and the Woman sinned, God allowed a substitute to die in their place (God sacrificed an animal to provide garments of skin in order to cover their shame; Genesis 3:21).  Ho...