KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 16:3 ” And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

(Pls read Exodus 16 :1–36)

The children of Israel murmured against Moses because they had no food in sight to eat. They murmured and spoke abominably to Moses and Aaron. These people who cried under the horrible treatment the Egyptian task masters gave to them, said, it would have been better they died in Egypt. Why couldn’t these Jews consider any of the mighty works of God, to show a little trust in Him? These people were self-centered. No man can express any trust in God if he is self-centered.

The bible described these people as not entering into their rest.( rest ,is a state of peace and confidence, knowing that everything is under control) Hebrews 4:2 reads “For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit  them not being missed with faith in them that heard it”. We are also warned to be cautious not to fail to enter into God’s rest. God’s intention for every child of His inspite of whatever he or she may be experiencing is to live a life of rest or to be at peace with himself. It is only in a state of a peace of mind and heart that God works to bring to pass His perfect will and intention for His children.

In Exodus 16:4 the Lord responded to the position of these complaining Israelites by saying he would rain bread from heaven for them. He instructed on the procedure for their collection of this bread. The Lord answered these people and gave them manna although they were in doubt and unbelief. Why did He do so since it was against His general principle of doing things for people who had no faith in Him? The Lord brought manna not as an answer to the complains and murmuring of the people but as an answer to the faith of Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 16:6).

God has stated throughout the counsel of scripture that he responds to the faith of men. Hebrews 11:6 ” But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and   that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. “. Life from God’s point of view should not be stressful and miserable but through trust in the word of God man will lead a life of rest and peace although he may be faced with challenging times. Man cannot live without challenges   but God has planned a life of peace and rest that makes us live above every one of  these challenges  through faith or trust in Him.1 John 5:4 ” For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

CONFESSION

God’s word is the light that leads me in this life, it is the key that opens every door I face, it is the medicine that heals every ailment that attacks me, and the best counsel for every decision I have to make. I am a winner in this life because I live by God’s word.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Hebrews 4:9-10 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 15:22 ” So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.”

After the joy and celebration of their victory over Egypt, they were faced with another challenge of faith. This time there was no drinking water. The Christian life is a walk with God. Walking with God is a school of learning about God and how He relates with His children. God is invincible to the natural eyes. It takes faith to get Him into the affairs of our life. Challenges of life as they come our way are in no way dangers or matters to destroy us from our Father’s point of view. Not so with the devil. He intends to destroy you, so stand with God. They are simply the schooling process of getting to know and experience God. God’s idea of passing his children through these processes brings his children into a state of knowledge that nothing becomes a problem to them anymore. This is how apostle James put it. James 1:2-4 “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers’ temptations knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing”.

Please did you see why these challenges come.?  The ultimate state that our beloved father wants you to come into, is that, you would want nothing. When a man gets to know God, he would no more fret about any need.

In our story, Moses led the people from the Red sea and for 3 days, they had no water. After the third day, they came across water but it was bitter. The bible said, the people murmured against Moses saying. What shall we drink.? Please note: the word murmur means in the Hebrew to lodge, stop over, or abide. It simply means the man who is murmuring has stopped moving with God but stuck to wherever he or she has decided to be. Their action put a lot of pressure on Moses. Moses could have focused on their pressure and gotten despair. Many challenges put a lot of pressure on us. They turn to make us focus on the problem. Moses did not focus on them, He rather turned to God and asked for help or solution. The Lord showed Him a tree which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

Out of this incident the Lord said to Moses to tell the whole of Israel that if they would only trust Him and hold diligently to his word, they would never have any of the diseases He put (allowed) on the Egyptians for He is the Lord our Healer.

CONFESSION

God and His word are one I wholly depend on whatever He says. He cannot fail, His word will always proof faithful.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Romans 10:11-12 ” For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

Romans 8:28 ” And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 15:1 ” Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea”.

Moses sang about the victory of the Lord over the Egyptians. Our Father desires that we offer unto Him praise. Hebrews 13:15 says “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name”.

Please note that, it must be done continually and He calls it fruits of our lips. Fruits are always the delight of every person.

In the song of Moses, he talked about how the mighty deeds of God brought the land of Egypt and her people to their knees. He praised the lord for all he had done. He was quite specific in describing details of this mighty victory of the Lord. After narrating all that the Lord did to deliver them, he asked “Who is like unto thee o Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises doing wonders”? Exodus 15:11. As much as such songs are praising God, they also establish the faith of whosoever is offering them.

Moses and the children of Israel were ministering to the Lord. It is also a means to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Whenever we fellowship with the Spirit this way, we are filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18-19 “And be not filled with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Holy Ghost: Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord”. The Spirit also added we must give thanks always for all things unto God…”

Any Christian who does not do these things is getting dried up in the Spirit. It is a simple sign to check how much the Holy Spirit is operating in your life. Please note the instruction in Ephesians 5:19, He says speak or say these songs to yourselves. He is not referring to the second party, but to your very self. That is, as you sit alone you say these psalms, hymns, words of praise, thanksgiving unto God, to yourself as well.

Remember that in Acts 16:25 after Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into jail with their feet in stocks, they prayed and sang praises unto God. The result was a supernatural pandemonium causing the earth to quake whiles their chains were broken.

This even led to the salvation of the Jailer who had wanted to take his life because he taught the prisoners had escaped.   PRAISE GOD TO BE RAISED UP.

  CONFESSION

Praise is very beautiful unto God, I continually praise the Lord and this establishes His kingship over my life, which also drives out every strange king from me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 16:25-26 ” And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

Psalms 147:1” Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 14:9 “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon“.

When the king of Egypt and his servants got to know that the Israelites had left, their hearts were turned against them. Satan would never want the freedom of any subject of his. It is up to every child of God to know that the devil is defeated and must insist on that to stay free. They asked themselves why have we allowed Israel to go?

Every child of God must know that, if Satan could not hold you under his grips and you had your liberty to be born again. How can he and his defeated devils now torment you? They could not hold you when you were under their full grips, but allowed you to be born again. Can they now come over and make you slaves of theirs again.? This is what you must not allow to happen.  Pharaoh and his people are on a mission impossible, and are searching for more trouble. Right under their power and supervision these Israelites left. Would they be able to take them captive when they are no more under their control?

The children of Israel became fearful when they saw the chariots of Egypt come up against them. They got so fearful that they spoke against Moses and the Lord. Why this turn of events? Psalm 103:7 reads “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israelites”. The children of Israel only knew God by what he did. Moses knew Him by whom He was and HOW he did His things.

The different between those who are able to stand and overcome in difficult trying times, and those who give up when times are rough is that; the first group have meditated on his word, practiced the word and known that God would always do what He has said. Such a man knows the ways of God. Those who can’t stand adversity might have seen the deeds, signs or miracles of God but have not acted on the word to know how faithful God is. They only know the acts of God. These people would only fret and murmur because they know their end has come.

Moses said unto them “Fear not standstill and see the salvation of the Lord….”. He added the Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace….”. (Exodus 14:14,15). Moses spoke in faith not knowing what to do. God responded by telling him what to do, out of his faith declarations.

Faith in God is our sure access for a release of the power of God unto salvation. You may not know what to do in a moment of crisis Like Moses express your faith in God by speaking in faith with a corresponding action. God would always respond to your faith in Him.

 CONFESSION

I am doer of the word of God, and so, I am not moved by any situation. God will show up because I trust Him by doing what He has said.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.

Exodus 14:21 ” And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 12:12 ” For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.”

The Lord ordered Moses to instruct the whole of Israel to undertake the Passover. The Lord asked them to kill a lamp without blemish and sprinkle its blood on the lintel and on the two door posts. The Lord said he will pass through the land of Egypt including Goshen where the Israelites dwelt, and every house that had no blood on the lintel and side posts, will have the first born being killed.

In our key scripture He said he would strike every first born and All the gods of the Egyptians. Israel according to God’s word is His first born and Egypt must also lose her firstborns for touching God’s firstborn (Ex 4:12 & 13) We are also God’s firstborns as joint heirs with Jesus. James 1:8 “Of His own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruit of His creatures”. The first fruit is the same as the first born. The first fruit always held a double share of the father’s inheritance. He is the greatest delight of the father. Anything that attacks or touches the first fruit receives the total fury of the Father. God always judged anyone or anything that took his first fruit. Jericho was the first in the towns that were conquered by Joshua, and therefore although they destroyed every man, the silver, gold, vessel of brass and iron were all to be put in the house of the Lord. These items were the first fruits of the wars and it was solely for the Lord. It became a curse to any man that touched it.

Achan disobeyed and took some of the gold he came across. Achan took God’s first fruits from Jericho and had to suffer for doing so (Joshua 7:25,26). We are God’s first fruits, anything that attacks us would be attacked by God.

During the night of the Passover of the angel of death, (Exodus 12:23) any house including those of the Israelites that did not have the blood as a token, would have the firstborn in that house being killed. This was a vivid picture of our Lord Jesus who would be killed as God’s Passover lamb for the whole world. Anyone who would accept Him or believe in Him would be saved. He would not have to die in his or her sins. When the Lord observed the Passover meal with His disciples, He took the cup and said “for this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins” Matthew 26:28.  The scripture said for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that anyone who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

CONFESSION

Our Lord Jesus is God’s Passover lamb, that took away the sins of the whole world. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me. I am now God’s first fruit and nothing can attack me without God also attacking that thing.

FURTHER STUDIES

Exodus 4:22-23 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Hebrews 9:22 ” And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 10:21 ” And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.”

The Lord asked Moses to stretch out his hand towards heaven that there would be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. Please learn that God did not cause these things to happen by Himself. He had to employ a human being to work through. God will always need MEN who would believe and act for him. In the beginning God gave the right to do things on the earth in the hands of men (Gen 1:26–28). It would be illegal on His part to just take actions on earth without a human instrumentality. This is the reason for prayer. Prayer gives God a legal ground to act on man’s behalf. Man must always pray for God to intervene in the affairs of men on this earth. Be a partner with God to effect changes in the affairs of men.

When Moses stretched forth his hand there was so much darkness that, one could feel it. They could not see one another. This was a blinding darkness. There was no darkness in the dwelling place of the Jews. Why the darkness at this time around? The sun was the chief god of the Egyptians. The sun was worshipped as a mighty god who could never fail in offering it’s light. This time it could not shine for three days. All these happened at the command of a man on behalf of the God of the Jews.

There is no God like unto our Lord. He is the almighty. Every other god that men worship is nothing. A critical look at these judgements on the Egyptians was a judgement on their gods and idolatry. The Lord further established that idolatry is a failure on all grounds. Turn from every idol to serve and worship the creator of all things. (Note: An idol is anything that takes the place of God almighty in our lives) God has revealed himself to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the eternal word of God who is also God (John 1:1,14). He became man. He demonstrated to us the God kind of life. He revealed that man can reign in this life depending on the Holy Spirit. He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by Him (John 14:6). There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved (Acts 4:12).

To accept Him you must repent of your unbelief and sin, and believe on Him, confessing Him as your Lord.

CONFESSION

Lord Jesus you are the only way to life. I believe you died for my sins and rose up on the third day. I accept you as my saviour and Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Colossians 2:8-9 ” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Colossians 1:16 ” For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 10:7 And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, how long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?”

Once again Moses and Aaron kept the heat on Pharaoh. Dear child of God, don’t stop the heat and resistance you put up on the devil against any negative thing he is doing in your life.

This time, the servants of Pharaoh who had no right to correct the king on his actions and choices spoke. Out of desperation they spoke. The said unto him, how long shall this man be a snare unto us…? Are you a snare unto the devil? Your relentless prayers and intercessions can be a snare unto the devil. If you are not involved in any form of prayer warfare, then you have given the devil holiday or a great degree of freedom to operate in. Christians who maintain a consistent prevailing prayer times keep experiencing  steady advances in life.

In verse 8 the bible said, Pharaoh asked Moses and Aaron to go with the Israelites and serve the Lord but he asked, who are they that shall go?”. He was not prepared to allow every one of them to go. Satan never wants the ultimate freedom of the children of God, He wants you to have partial freedom. Please note this God never plans for partial freedom for his sons. He always wants total and absolute freedom for you. Always go for total liberty. Never settle for anytime incomplete. Don’t give any place to the devil. Give yourself wholly to the master. Partial dedication is bondage. Satan does not need to have everything at first time. He only needs a little bit of it and the whole will ultimately be his. Some serve God with their body but not their money. Others may give their money or big donations but you would never find them personally committed to any work of God. They do not even have the time to wait before God in prayer.

In verse 10, he (Pharaoh) asked them to go yet he said, evil was before them. He even drove them out of His presence. Pharaoh was still defiant and proud. God was also angry with him and asked Moses to stretch his arm with the rod unto the heavens and cause the locust to fill up the Land. The scriptures say God resists the proud. Your mouth may be saying one thing and your actions will be doing something different. The locust came swiftly unto the Land of Egypt to destroyed the land.

CONFESSION

I will keep my prayer power I will never stop praying as a warrior because I continually experience victories.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.”

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 10:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

All throughout the story of Moses we come across this statement “I will harden the heart of Pharaoh “This implies God hardened him so he could punish him and receive glory from that. If this act from God is interpreted literally as it stands then, it would mean God made him do wrong so He could punish him. This does not rhyme with the total revealed nature of God.

James 1:13&14 says “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted of evil, neither tempteth he any man. (To tempt means to prompt one unto sin). But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed”. It is one’s own lust that draws him or her away. God allows the individual to pursue in his error. The book of Romans 1:18 &20 will give us some light into this. Romans 1:18” for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Verse 24 adds” Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves”.  Please note that it is the mercy of God that withholds evil from taking over men. When a man sets up his face to be mischievous, God gives that person up to the power of evil. This is exactly what happened to Pharaoh, God gave him and his people up to the power of evil to be more rebellious. This is an aspect of the wrath of God. He gives you over to be totally dominated by evil. God’s nature cannot be contradicted. Certain scriptural expression must not be taken at face value. They must always be compared with the total counsel of scriptures. The Bible says in James 1:17” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there’s no variableness neither shadow of turning”. God is light and there’s no darkness in him at all. He cannot cast shadows or any degree of changing. He does not change. Malachi 3:6. He cannot do evil and evil cannot be found in him. He is the holy one.

 CONFESSION

God is light, he is holy and cannot sin and does not cause anyone to sin. He may allow a man to the power of evil yet he does not cause evil.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Romans 1:26-28 ” For this cause, God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”;

KEY SCRIPTURE:

Exodus 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.”

Moses announces the next plague or punishment that the Lord would visit on the Egyptians. This time he declares. ….” Behold tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now”. Hail is stones that come down from the heavens like rain. All animal life or human can’t stand a hail storm. The Bible describes it as a land that has not befallen Egypt in all of its generations.

In verse 19 Moses reveals his nature as a considerate leader even towards a people who have been very hostile to them for a period over four hundred years. He advised them.” Send therefore now and gather thy cattle and all that thou hast in the field, for upon every man and beast shall be found in the field and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die “. Moses knew how the Egyptians had terrorized the Jews for all these years, yet cared for them. Numbers 12:3 describe Moses as “now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were on the face of the earth”.

Moses, before his encounter with God killed an Egyptian. This does not show meekness anyway. The process of going away from Egypt, taking care of Jethro’s sheep and having an encounter with God took away that violence from him and placed in him that meekness. Dear child of God, if you have been born again then a great transformation has taken place within you. The Lord admonishes us to love our enemies in Matt 5:44” But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you “. How wonderful our homes would be if all children of God would adhere to this command from our master and Lord. Love your enemies. The person you feel does not like you, or do everything to humiliate you, or even hurt you, love him or her. How could it be possible? It is possible because of the Holy Spirit in you. He is the spirit of love.

Tell yourself I have the love of God in my heart by the presence of the Holy Spirit. I am born of love and can love all those I have to relate with.

 CONFESSION

I am a meek person. I am not violent; I do not demand my pound of flesh. I forgive all who offend me. Indeed, I am at peace with myself.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 12:19-20 ” Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exodus 9:10 ” And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.”

Moses took ashes from the furnace and sprinkled it up towards heaven and it became boils on all the Egyptians both man and beast.

How could ashes become boils? The spiritual always have control over the natural and physical. Hebrews 11:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

“. This scripture shows us the power of the spoken word in faith. The ashes became boils because the Lord God had said to Moses that if he threw the ashes into the air, it would become boils on all Egyptians including animals. He believed and obeyed, so it happened.

The Lord said to his disciples. In Mark 11:23, “For whosoever shall say to this mountain. Be thou removed and be cast into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith”. This is one of the laws of life that causes things to happen for us. The Lord did not distinguish who should say such words. He said whosoever. This means anybody can say this. All that is necessary is to meet the conditions. The condition is to believe in your heart and not to doubt what you said. This same principle applies to receiving salvation from the Lord. Romans 10:9 and 10 reads “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. God is good and does not make sophistication of what is so vital as salvation or experiencing spiritual realities in our lives. He’s made it very simple, such that everyone and anyone can experience it

Moses saw so much about God, that he acted on a childlike faith. He was not afraid to stand before Pharaoh and tell him that God would do this or that. What was his secret? He had had an experience with God. The secret of strong faith is experience through acting on God’s word. Moses did not just run to Egypt to tell Pharaoh and the Israelites what God has told him. He asked for more evidences, giving him a strong bases to trust him.

May we also look for undeniable experiences with God by acting on what He tells us privately.     

CONFESSION

God is always ready to show His power, as i trust and act on His word.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Mark 9:23 ” Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Romans 10:8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”