- araratchurch
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
40 “And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.”
Exodus 12:22-23 NKJV
When I was born, in order to save my life, they removed all of my own blood, replacing it with a transfusion. As a matter fact, the blood they gave me to stop the reaction that was killing me, came from a far distance to where I was born. Needless to say, blood is important.
Even an in-depth study of blood may leave you with more questions than answers. Blood is quite a phenomenon; and indeed, most creatures on earth have blood (although not all blood is red).
Interestingly, when the Lord gave the command to Noah that he and his family could now eat animals, as well as the green herbs, He forbade the eating of flesh with the blood still in it.
Additionally, the Levitical law codified this command:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’”
Leviticus 17:11-12 NKJV
As you can see, the reason the Lord gave for such a command was the fact that “the life of the flesh is in the blood.”
As well, we see the Lord saying that the blood “makes atonement for the soul.” Indeed, we see this truth repeated in the book of Hebrews.
“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Hebrews 9:22 NKJV
Jesus, in His last meal with the disciples (before His crucifixion), made clear that it would be His blood that would seal the New Covenant and provide for the atoning of our sins:
“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:27-28 NKJV
Today we find Moses being instructed by the Lord as to what the people should do to prevent the destroyer from killing the first born in their own families. This command would lead to the Feast of Passover and—as we noted last time—points directly to what our Savior would do for us on the Cross of Calvary.
To be honest, I don’t fully understand all of the mysteries associated with the significance of the blood. All I know is that the shed blood of Jesus Christ has made all the difference for us! His blood has set us free from the Law of Sin and Death!
“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:13-14 NKJV
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
There is power in the blood.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 2
“”And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.””
Exodus 8:22-23 NKJV
When I was a little girl, all zoos—at least those I knew about—had animals in cages. As such, when at the zoo, it was clear that you were in a place where the animals could not reach you.
As opposed to the animals-in-cages approach, now there are zoos where the means of containment for the animals is more subtle. In other words, there may be a hidden moat, or some other natural looking obstacle, that keeps the animals from interacting with people.
Now, if you were just dropped into one of these places (with the not so obvious boundaries for the animals), you might suppose that your life was in danger. But the fact is, the animals cannot get to you to harm you. You just don’t see what is restraining them.
Full disclosure: Although I hate to see animals in cages, there is some heightened sense of security when you see the barrier between you and the dangerous animals.
In fact, I think most people want to be sure that there is provision for their safety when facing dangerous situations. That is, we want to see what separates us from potential danger.
Now, here’s the problem with always wanting to see what is protecting us: In the realm of the spirit, we rarely see God’s provision of protection for us. Oh yes, after some incident in which we were miraculously saved, we may know—by hindsight—that only the Lord could’ve protected us; but we probably never saw the source of the intervention. And because this is the case, many people are afraid when they really don’t need to be afraid at all.
When we see scary things going on around us, it can shake our very core. But, we must remember that as God’s children, we have an unseen Hand of protection, care and keeping!
“A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;”
Psalms 91:7-11a NKJV
There is no doubt that we are living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ; and as such, we will continue to see scary things going on, much of which is the result of judgment.
But instead of joining in with the world’s fear, we must remember that, as Jesus said, these things must come.
“Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age].”
Matthew 24:4-6 AMP
In fact, not only must these things (judgments) come, God can actually use bad circumstances for our benefit! Think of how the Lord used Joseph’s being sold into slavery to eventually cause him to be promoted to Pharaoh’s right hand man, coming after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and gave an action plan to prepare for the coming famine. As a result of Joseph’s being in the right place, at the right time, the children of Israel were spared during the 7-year famine.
“Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.””
Genesis 41:41-44 NLT
Today we find Moses in the situation involving the ten plagues that came upon Egypt.
Interestingly, in reading the whole account of the plagues, you will find that the Lord, beginning with the third plague, makes a clear distinction between the Egyptians and His people. And with the tenth plague (death of the firstborn), the Lord introduces the Passover lamb, giving us a powerful glimpse of the work of Jesus Christ that was to come!
I’m sure it was scary for the Hebrews to be aware of what was going on. But the Lord did indeed protect His people and used the plagues to force Pharaoh to let His people go.
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
Though judgment looks scary, God protects and promotes those who are His.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
“So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.” And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?””
Exodus 6:9, 11-12 NKJV
“For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.”
Exodus 7:12-13 NKJV
It’s a rude awakening in life when you realize that no matter how hard you may try to be friendly to others, no matter how hard you try to treat everyone with equity, there will always be those who just don’t like you. Interestingly, often it isn’t about anything you’ve done; it’s about who you are. And who you are, is somebody they don’t like. Period.
Several years ago I was driving in my car, thinking about what my father had said the day before about praying for your enemies. I had said in my prayer, “Lord, I thank you that I don’t have any enemies.” The Lord then spoke to me very clearly, telling me that I did have enemies and that they were working against me. Now, some people may think that would be an odd thing for the Lord to say, after all, isn’t He all about love? Yes, He is about love; but He also knows what is in people: the good, the bad, and the ugly. And, He warns His children about potential danger.
Soon after that I found out that there were those—for whatever reason—who were working against me, putting me in a light of suspicion. I was honestly surprised as well as saddened.
Jesus explained that our relationship with Him would most likely divide us from others who don’t believe as we do.
““Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’”
Matthew 10:34-36 NKJV
But when we are rejected because we speak and stand for the truth, we should know that we are in very good company. As Stephen pointed out just before becoming the first Christian martyr, being persecuted is more often than not, the “thanks” given the prophets of the Lord:
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.”
Acts 7:51-54 NKJV
But make no mistake, there is a blessing associated with being persecuted because of Jesus!
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV
Today we find Moses in a position in which he would find himself over and over again: He would speak for the Lord, and was then rejected because of the word. At this point in his story, he has been rejected by his own people, and rejected by Pharaoh, who would go on to reject Moses’ word over and over again.
Moses has been given his commission by the Lord, even entrusted with the ability to perform mighty signs and wonders. Yet, these very things caused him to be rejected.
If in your walk with the Lord you expect everybody to welcome His word—and you—with open arms (and open hearts), you are going to be sadly disappointed.
But remember, our part is to be obedient and faithful to the word of the Lord. And—when in so doing we experience rejection—it is not an indication that the Lord is not with us, rather, that the word is doing what the word does. Indeed, God’s word challenges, separates, reveals, guides, upholds, and trains; and yes, it sometimes offends.
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
Rejection is often part of the process of following the Lord.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!