Episode 364 - The Plague of Darkness - Exodus 10:21-29

October 10, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

As mentioned in an earlier episode, the first nine plagues reveal a pattern in groups of three. The third plague in each group offers Pharaoh no warning. The LORD simply tells Moses what to do and what will happen. In this case, complete darkness will cover all of Egypt except where the Hebrews are living.

I won’t speak for anyone else. But this one would freak me out. When I’m going to bed at night, I prefer the room to be very dark. But if I have to get up at night, it’s uncomfortable if I cannot see anything at all. I remember my days in high school, when I was in the photography club, and we had a darkroom at school where we could develop film and make prints. There were stages in the process when the room could have no light. It is a bit unsettling for that short amount of time. Three days of continuous total darkness would drive me insane. Notice how the LORD describes this darkness in verse 21. It is “a darkness to be felt.”

I cannot help but think that this plague is given at this time to tell Pharaoh that if he doesn’t want to acknowledge the LORD, then the LORD will give him a taste of what it would be like if the LORD never addressed the darkness and chaotic nature of the universe before the LORD created light. The first few verses of the Bible describe the complete darkness that existed until the LORD spoke light into existence. I love Genesis 1:4. After God created light with his spoken word, it reads, “And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Gen 1:4 ESV) Not only did God pronounce the light good, but He also separated it from the darkness, suggesting that darkness was not good.

Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt were sovereignly deprived of this fundamental good thing for three days, something they had taken for granted and enjoyed. If the LORD created light and could remove it for three days, it seemed possible for him to remove it from them completely. I don’t even want to imagine that.

This plague may also be showing Pharaoh and Egypt that the LORD is greater than Re (alt. Ra), the Egyptian Sun god.

Once again, this plague has affected Pharaoh to the point where he seemed willing to now let women and children go with the men to worship the LORD. However, he would not let the animals go. Again, Pharaoh tried to set conditions on what he would concede to the LORD. Moses refused to accept the conditions, and Pharaoh drew the line.

Pharaoh foolishly thinks he is offloading the burdens brought by Moses by telling him to not show his face again, and even threatening death to Moses. In reality, he is sealing his own fate.

I cannot stress enough that the primary lesson we can take from the account of these plagues in Egypt is the need to be humble before the LORD. Such humility means recognizing that the LORD often demonstrates patience and shows us grace and mercy to bring us to the good things he has for us.

Episode 363 - The Plague of Locusts - Exodus 10:1-20

October 03, 2026 by David Largent

Ex. 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”

Ex. 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, 5 and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, 6 and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

Ex. 10:7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God. But which ones are to go?” 9 Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” 10 But he said to them, “The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. 11 No! Go, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

Ex. 10:12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15 They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the LORD your God only to remove this death from me.” 18 So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the LORD. 19 And the LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

Let’s begin our look at this plague with a confession. It has driven me crazy at times, wondering who is hardening Pharaoh’s heart. Is Pharaoh hardening his own heart, or is the LORD hardening Pharaoh’s heart? The text seems to indicate that it’s both. Sometimes Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart, and other times, as here, the Scriptures indicate that the LORD is hardening Pharaoh’s heart.

Of course, this raises other questions, such as why the LORD would harden Pharaoh’s heart, and why Pharaoh needed any help hardening it when it seemed he was quite experienced at doing so on his own.

This section seems to shine a light on what’s happening in the LORD’s divine plan and purpose for everything happening through these plagues. Notice the LORD's threefold purpose for hardening the hearts of Pharaoh and his servants. First, the LORD says, “that I may show these signs of mine among them.” (v. 1) This is consistent with what we’ve read before. The LORD is revealing his power and authority over creation. The Egyptians needed correction, especially after the LORD had graciously provided for them through Joseph’s interpretation of a previous Pharaoh’s dreams.

However, the Egyptians aren’t the only ones who need to witness and correctly respond to the LORD’s works. In verse 2, the LORD, speaking to Moses, explains that these signs are done among the Egyptians, “that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them.” (v. 2a) The Israelites also need to understand the LORD’s power and authority over all creation. This should accomplish at least two things among the Hebrews. First, it should lead them to a reverential fear of the LORD that should foster their trust and obedience to his word. Second, it should instill a sense of confidence that the LORD will judge those who do not respect the LORD or the people with whom he has made a covenant promise. If you recall the Abrahamic Covenant, God told Abraham that he would bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed Abraham. The LORD had already blessed Egypt through the Pharaoh who trusted the LORD’s revelation in the dream, interpreted by Joseph. Now, the LORD was judging the new Pharaoh and those who oppressed the Hebrews. As we’ll see as we continue the story of Exodus and the Hebrew Scriptures, the LORD will likewise discipline the Hebrew people when they rebel against the LORD. These signs the LORD is bringing against the Egyptians are not just discipline for their rebellion; they are to be a lesson to the Hebrews and their descendants. That is summarized by the statement, “that you may know that I am the LORD.” The focus here is on the Hebrews knowing who the LORD is so that they may worship him alone.

There is not much else in this section that appears all that different to me other than there are some in Egypt who seem to get it. As in the plague of the hail, some of Pharaoh’s servants feared the word of the Lord and responded by bringing in their livestock and servants to shelter, so here also some of Pharaoh’s servants are encouraging Pharaoh to concede and let the men of Israel go worship the LORD. Pharaoh appears willing to let only the adult men go, but would not allow women and children to go to worship. The LORD does not compromise his demands and would not cut a deal with Pharaoh.

A lesson we take away is that the LORD’s righteous words are perfect as they are. We cannot expect to cut a deal with the LORD to have things the way we want them. Secondly, the LORD holds everyone to the same standard.

Episode 362 - The Plague of Hail - Exodus 9v13-35

September 26, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

The Seventh Plague: Hail

Ex. 9:13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”’ 20 Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

Ex. 9:22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” 23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

Ex. 9:27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’S. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.” 31 (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.) 33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the LORD, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. 34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

So far, the focus has primarily been upon Pharaoh and his hard heart or defiant spirit against the LORD. His people, the Egyptians, suffered the consequences of Pharaoh’s rebellious spirit against the LORD. But the narrative of Exodus seems to suggest a complicity by the Egyptians in Pharaoh’s policies against the Hebrews. In this seventh plague, the people are given an opportunity to mitigate their personal losses from the coming hailstorm if they “feared the word of the LORD.” Some of them responded positively. After six devastating plagues that brought great suffering and loss, one would think that everyone would respond positively to the LORD’s grace in forewarning the people. Once again, if we read these accounts thinking the LORD is being unduly harsh or even sadistic, we miss the evidence of his grace. Notice the LORD’s message to Pharaoh in verse 15. His first point is, “I could have wiped out your entire nation by now, but I haven’t.” Then, the LORD revealed that he had a purpose for Pharaoh. The LORD raised up Pharaoh, revealed his power to him, with the result that the LORD’s name would be proclaimed throughout the nations. The issue is not that the LORD hates Pharaoh. The issue is that Pharaoh is rejecting every good thing the LORD has for him. The LORD is going to accomplish his will one way or another. Pharaoh could become a powerful testimony to the LORD’s power, goodness, and grace, or Pharaoh could become the “poster child” of what becomes of someone who consistently exalts themselves and rejects God’s grace. Pharaoh’s actions are consistent with those of the devil himself. His pride is his own enemy.

We get a glimmer of hope for Pharaoh’s repentance when he confessed that he had sinned. He had offended the LORD. He knew and confessed that he had done wrong. Tragically, however, he refused to repent. Repenting is simply turning away from the problem and doing the opposite of what you know is wrong. This is what Peter meant at Pentecost when he told the crowd to “repent”. What were they to repent of? Peter had explained that they had crucified God’s Messiah. When the Holy Spirit convicted them, they realized their error. Peter explained that they needed to turn away from rejecting Jesus and trust in him.

Christians today ought to pray for others around them that they not only acknowledge the power and goodness of God, but also respond in humility and be used by God to make the name of Jesus known to others.

Episode 361 - "Humbled Before God" - Exodus 9:1-12

September 19, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 9:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, 3 behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. 4 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.’” 5 And the LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.” 6 And the next day the LORD did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

Ex. 9:8 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. 12 But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

In this episode we’re looking at the fifth and sixth plagues the LORD brought upon Egypt. This plague the LORD sent upon the Egyptians' livestock offers a few interesting details. First, the LORD’s message, delivered through Moses to Pharaoh, includes a warning that a “very severe plague” would fall upon the Egyptians’ livestock but not touch those of the Hebrew people. A very severe plague? Weren't the other plagues very severe? I suspected this was perhaps an interpretive discretion by the English translator. But it is a literal rendering of the Hebrew text. The point is that it should get Pharaoh’s attention, correct? How much worse could it be?

Next, the LORD set the time for when it would happen. It’s not Moses giving Pharaoh the opportunity to challenge the LORD by letting him dictate the time of the plague. This is the LORD telling Pharaoh, “It’s going to be really bad if you don’t let the people go, and the clock is ticking.”

Finally, Pharaoh sent delegates to confirm the LORD’s promise that the plague would not affect the livestock of the Hebrews. I’m surprised he bothered. When had the LORD failed to do what he has promised? Why would a person not finally relent and respond to the LORD’s grace when time after time the LORD had proven himself faithful to his word? The same question applies to us today.

What stands out to me in the plague of the boils is that Pharaoh’s magicians could not stand before Moses. The LORD’s discipline is clearly meant to humble those who oppose him. This is not the LORD being mean. It’s intended to correct the rebellion.

We observe an apparent problem in the sixth plague since it would affect animals as well. Weren’t “all” the livestock killed by the fifth plague? I think there are at least a few possibilities to explain this. First, as we read through this, it feels like each plague starts soon after the previous one ends. But the text makes no such claim. Plenty of time could pass between, allowing them to acquire more livestock and work animals. Pharaoh may even have “acquired” livestock from the Hebrews, since their livestock weren’t affected by the fifth plague.

As we’ve walked through six of the ten plagues, I hope you’re getting the picture that God is not a sadistic divine force who enjoys bringing pain upon both humanity and other living things. Rather, this is a God who is making himself known and worthy to follow and worship. If we position ourselves against him, he can and will find ways to keep us from standing in opposition to him.

Episode 360 - "Swarms of flies (But not upon the Hebrews)" Exodus 8:20-32

September 12, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 8:20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. 23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” 24 And the LORD did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

Ex. 8:25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 31 And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

As discussed in our previous episode, the first plague of each group of three begins with the LORD telling Moses where to go and what to say to Pharaoh, followed by a warning of what would happen if he doesn’t obey the LORD. In this plague, there would be swarms of flies. This time, the LORD announced through Moses that the Israelites would not experience this plague. It makes me wonder whether Pharaoh kept thinking that he and his people could endure the plague if the Hebrews could. Maybe he thought that, by his obstinacy, he could wear down the LORD and his people.

Pharaoh initially seems to be the one being worn down. He tries to bargain with God and then relents when Moses rejects his condition. Once again, Moses tells Pharaoh when the plague will be lifted, but this time he instructs Pharaoh not to renege on his promise. But Pharaoh hardened his heart again and did not follow through on his word.

I am struck by the seriousness of this kind of rebellion. What Pharaoh reveals is not simply pride or lack of faith. He manifests disdain for the LORD and the Hebrews. One might even observe that he has no concern for his own people in allowing, even inviting, these plagues to come upon his people. This is a far cry from the Pharaoh in power when Joseph was alive. The LORD had revealed himself by using Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Pharaoh not only trusted the interpretations. He recognized the wisdom the LORD had given to Joseph and blessed him with authority to preserve his family and all of Egypt. What a contrast between these two leaders of Egypt. Surely, Moses wrote this history to remind the Israelites that they must also respond appropriately to the LORD’s revelation and obey his word. Rejection and disdain for the LORD will result in judgment. This is a sobering thought for us today. Is it not?

Episode 359 - "It is the finger of God" - Exodus 8:16-19

September 05, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 8:16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

A few interesting things stand out about this third plague. First, did you notice there is no warning to Pharaoh? In fact, scholars have observed a pattern in the unfolding of these ten plagues. In the first nine plagues, the pattern repeats for each group of three plagues. The first two plagues of each group of three provide a forewarning to Pharaoh. But only the first plague of each of the groups is given the time of “in the morning.” Finally, the instructions to Moses and Aaron also follow a repeating pattern: the first plague in each group of three is “Go to this location and tell Pharaoh . . .” For the second plague in each group, Moses and Aaron are to “Tell Pharaoh . . .” The third plague in each group only provides the instruction on how to initiate the plague, with no warning to Pharaoh. It’s difficult to say whether this was an intentional pattern by the LORD to make a point to Pharaoh, or whether Moses recorded the details using this pattern as a didactic method for the Israelites who received this written account. Regardless, the LORD made it clear that all Egypt would understand that the God of the Hebrews was the LORD God, and that he was more powerful than all their gods.

The plague itself is simple enough. The dust became gnats so thick that they covered man and beast alike. So many gnats must have even darkened the light in the day and made it both miserable and impossible to do anything.

Pharaoh’s magicians attempted to replicate the sign, but could not. We are not told that the LORD prevented them from doing it. They certainly tried. But their inability to perform the same sign emphasizes the power of the LORD over the powers and skills of Pharaoh’s magicians. The narrative could have stopped there, describing the magicians' failure. But it doesn’t. Moses records the magicians’ response to their failure. They attribute the sign Aaron performed to “the finger of God.” According to my search, this phrase appears only four times in all of Scripture. The first is here. The next two in Exodus 31 and Deuteronomy 9 speak of the Ten Commandments being written by the finger of God. The final occurrence is in Luke 11 when Jesus was accused of casting out demons by Beelzubel, the prince of demons. Jesus responds that he casts out demons by “the finger of God”, signifying that the Kingdom of God has come upon them (and they’ve missed it). What does this mean? I believe we get a clue through the parallel account of Jesus responding to his accusers in Matthew 12:28, which reads, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” This suggests that “the finger of God” is a figure of speech representing the Holy Spirit.

My question is, is it possible that the magicians recognized that this sign could only be produced by the Holy Spirit of the LORD? It would seem that the LORD’s purpose to reveal himself to Egypt is having its effect. But sadly, their confession does nothing to draw Pharaoh to obey the LORD. In fact, there’s no indication the magicians gained faith in the LORD; only acknowledgment of his unique and awesome power.

A consistent theme is that the LORD makes himself known and that he is always faithful to his word. I believe this is an important fact of reading and studying the Scriptures. Sometimes people treat the Scriptures as though they provide an answer for every single question that might pop into their heads. I don’t believe this is the intent at all. Rather, the Scriptures reveal God's character. If God demonstrates that he is faithful to his promises, we can trust him.

Episode 358 - "Frogs everywhere" Exodus 8:1-15

August 29, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. 3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’” 5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Ex. 8:8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh. 13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

As we will see going forward, the LORD will bring ten plagues upon Egypt that will ultimately cause Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. This will be in accordance with what the LORD told Moses and Aaron would happen. It’s an odd variety of plagues. Some scholars argue that each plague corresponds to a specific god worshipped by the Egyptians, and that each plague reveals the LORD is greater than those gods. Others point to the lack of evidence for those claims. The text itself does not name any particular gods the Egyptians worshipped. Yet, later in Exodus, during the final plague, the LORD says, “and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments.” (Ex. 12:12). I think the purpose of each plague is to reveal to all that the LORD is the supreme God of all. According to the LORD, he is one God with no equal.

The second plague begins with the LORD’s instructions to Moses to deliver the same mandate to let the Israelites go, with the consequences of failing to obey the LORD’s command being an overwhelming infestation of frogs. I find it interesting that the text seems to skip the part where Moses delivers this message and Pharaoh's response. Instead, immediately after the LORD gives Moses the instructions, the LORD told Moses to have Aaron stretch out his staff over the waters, and the frogs started coming from everywhere. While Moses’ interaction with Pharaoh is not recorded here, I think Moses did everything the LORD commanded him. But Pharaoh didn’t give him the time of day.

It seems to me the LORD is turning up the heat, so to speak, with this plague. The water turned to blood would have been terrible. But frogs coming from everywhere and going everywhere would have been a nightmare. It was an unrelenting attack on the people. I suspect they had a difficult time sleeping, eating, or doing anything with so many frogs around.

Once again, the magicians were able to duplicate the miracle in some measure. It’s important to note, however, that Pharaoh pleaded with Moses to have the LORD stop the plague. If the magicians were able to produce frogs themselves, why didn’t Pharaoh ask them to make the frogs disappear? I would guess that Pharaoh recognized that what the LORD had done was greater than what the magicians had done. At least, this was the first time he seemed to consider letting the people go if the LORD had stopped the plague.

Moses clearly wanted to capitalize on Pharaoh’s apparent softening and told Pharaoh to give him a specific time for the LORD to stop the onslaught of frogs. This should not only have revealed the LORD’s power to Pharaoh, but also point out that the LORD would listen to and grant Pharaoh’s request. Yet, when the LORD stopped the frogs, Pharaoh refused to honor his promise. This narrative reveals a sharp contrast: the Israelites did not trust the LORD to fulfill the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites. But the LORD was demonstrating himself as faithful while Pharaoh was untrustworthy and faithless himself.

One last observation about this plague is that while the LORD stopped the onslaught of frogs, he did not completely remove their impact. The frogs that had entered their homes died where they were, and the effects of Pharaoh’s rebellion lingered on. It seems to me that this reminds us that while the LORD forgives sin and shows people mercy, he doesn’t make the negative consequences disappear. The good thing is that it can remind us of the consequences of our sin.

Episode 357 - "Water to Blood" Exodus 7:14-25

August 22, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 7:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” 19 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”

Ex. 7:20 Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.

Ex. 7:25 Seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.

When the LORD previously told Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh and tell him that the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, was instructing him through Moses and Aaron to let the Hebrews go, the LORD told him that Pharaoh would ask for a miracle to prove their authority. The LORD told Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh would consistently refuse to let them go. In Exodus 7:4-5 the LORD told Moses and Aaron that at a certain point he would stretch out his hand and bring great acts of judgment upon Egypt. The “hand of God” is a significant theme in Exodus. Keep an eye for occurrences of this imagery.

The purpose of the LORD’s instructions to Moses and Aaron is twofold. First, it meant the LORD would finally bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Second, the LORD explained that at that time, the Egyptians would know “that I am the LORD.” One important principle revealed throughout Scripture is that the LORD makes himself known. The problem is that people refuse to acknowledge the LORD’s self-revelation.

Pharaoh refused to obey the LORD’s command after Aaron obeyed the LORD and performed the miracle demanded by Pharaoh. Now, the LORD would bring on the acts of judgment.

The LORD had Moses and Aaron return to Pharaoh and pronounce the first judgment the LORD would bring upon Egypt. The water would be turned to blood. It’s significant that the LORD told Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh in the morning when he would be near the Nile River. Why is this important? The Egyptians worshipped the Nile as a god. The Nile brought nutrients for their crops and sustained them. The LORD is making a point that he is a greater God than the gods of the Egyptians.

Did you notice that the LORD told Aaron to stretch his hand over the water? It would seem that the LORD is using Moses and Aaron as agents, physical representatives of what God is doing. God is the one working the miracle. Moses and Aaron could never have done this on their own. This is another important truth we must learn as followers of the LORD. We have no power within ourselves to do anything significant or efficacious for the LORD. Why should be bother then? Simply, because the LORD chooses to use people to be agents for his work. The wonderful thing about this is that we don’t fail if the outcome isn’t what we would like to see. We fail if we refuse to obey the LORD’s instructions.

Pharaoh’s magicians worked a similar “miracle” by their dark arts. Pharaoh hardened his heart and did not respond to the LORD’s command. Moses and Aaron didn’t fail. They succeeded by obeying the LORD’s instructions to them.

Episode 356 - "The LORD's Purposes are Revealed" - Exodus 6:14-Exodus 7:13

August 15, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 6:14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans.

Ex. 6:26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.

Ex. 6:28 On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the LORD said to Moses, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh

Ex. 7:1 And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Ex. 7:8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

The Bible has many genealogical lists. Have you considered why this particular list is given here? Remember that this book wasn't written at the time of the Exodus. Moses delivered this to Joshua shortly before he died, and Joshua was his successor, who would ultimately lead the people decades later into the Promised Land.

The point is to show the authority the LORD had granted Aaron and Moses to speak the LORD’s message to Pharaoh and to Israel. As descendants of Levi, the LORD is revealing his sovereign choice for the priestly line. Aaron’s descendants would carry on the responsibilities and authority of Israel's priesthood. In short, this genealogical record shows to the future generations of Israel that Moses and Aaron were not maverick leaders, but ordained by the LORD for this specific role.

After the genealogical record is given, Exodus 6:26-28 explains that the LORD has given these men this responsibility, and they obeyed the LORD’s command even though Moses still revealed his doubts that he was the right person for the job.

In chapter seven, the LORD told Moses specifically what to say and do. He also told Moses that Pharaoh would not obey the LORD’s command. Think about that for a minute. What would you think if you believed that God had given you a responsibility, but informed you that you would be completely ineffective in accomplishing that? Likely, it would be discouraging, and we might not be so motivated to do it. I believe this is why the LORD continued to reveal his plans to Moses. I believe he’s telling Moses that he is certainly going to deliver the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. However, it will not come as easily or painlessly as Moses or the Israelites might have hoped for. Why not?

I believe the LORD reveals in Exodus 7:5 that he has a broader plan and purpose than what anyone might have expected. The LORD told Moses, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” Do you see that? God wants Egypt to know who the LORD is, and that he is greater than all the so-called gods they worshipped.

Exodus 7:8-13 describes Moses and Aaron going to Pharaoh and following the LORD’s instructions. Pharaoh demanded a sign to validate their claim to be speaking for the LORD. Aaron cast down his staff, as instructed by the LORD, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh called in his magicians, and they performed the same sign. It was as if Pharaoh was mocking the LORD by revealing that his magicians and gods could do the same thing and were equal. But the LORD then revealed something that perhaps no one expected. Aaron’s staff (serpent) swallowed those of the magicians. That’s a powerful message, yet Pharaoh ignored it.

The theological principle revealed in this text is God’s sovereignty. He is in control. He chooses who will be his priest and prophet. Furthermore, God's actions often reveal his power to many people, not just one person or one group. God makes himself known so people might respond positively to that revelation.

Episode 355 - The LORD Upholds His Reputation - Exodus 6:1-13

August 08, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 6:1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with ea strong hand he will fdrive them out of his land.”

Ex. 6:2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people 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 slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

Ex. 6:10 So the LORD said to Moses, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh, king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Do you know what I think is great about this early part of Exodus? It’s the fact that Moses, whom tradition holds is the author of the first five books of the Bible, tells the reader how much of a whiner he was to the LORD. He tells on himself. We finished chapter five with Pharaoh refusing to obey the LORD’s command to let the Israelites go and worship their God, and the Israelites were upset with Moses because Pharaoh made it harder on the Israelites because of Moses and Aaron’s message from the LORD to Pharaoh. So, once again, Moses expressed his regret that the LORD had sent him and even accused the LORD of not doing what he said he was going to do.

Chapter six begins with the LORD’s response to Moses that now he will see what the LORD is going to do, and that will be to fulfill the promise he had made to bring Israel out of bondage in Egypt back to the land promised to their ancestors and subsequently to them.

Just read through this section and count how many times the LORD uses the first-person singular pronoun “I.” Particularly, he says, “I am . . . .” or “I will . . . “ numerous times. What’s the point? The point is to strongly affirm that he will be faithful to complete all he promises. How does the reader know the LORD can be trusted to do that? Let’s take a closer look.

If you recall a few chapters back, Moses asked God his name. In our English translations, every time we see the entire word LORD capitalized, that represents his divine name. The LORD tells Moses and Aaron that he had appeared to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but had never revealed that name to them. Rather, they knew him as God Almighty, “El Shaddai.” Moses and the Israelites should know the stories of what God had done for Abraham and his family. God had tremendously blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and had fulfilled many promises to them. He demonstrated that he was faithful to his word.

God told Moses that he, the LORD, had enacted a covenant with their ancestors. A covenant is a very strong promise in which the terms set forth guarantee that each party will fulfill their part of the agreement. The whole purpose in what the LORD is telling Moses here is that he is staking his reputation as an able, faithful, and compassionate God to his people.

It’s a very encouraging message to a people who need encouragement and hope. However, they do not receive it. They did not want to listen to Moses. It their mind, there was no hope. We might expect the LORD to say something like, “Well, if they don’t want it, the deal is off.” Instead, the LORD persisted by telling Moses to go back to Pharaoh and tell him to let the people go. Moses’ response is reasonable in assuming that if God’s chosen people would not believe his revelation to them, why would the Pharaoh, who has already admitted that he doesn’t know the LORD, listen and obey this message?

I believe the point of the LORD telling Moses that he had not revealed his name, the LORD, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is to point out that the limited self-revelation these forefathers had received resulted in obedience. They trusted him in what he had revealed. Now, Moses and the Israelites were receiving more revelation about God than their forefathers. Therefore, they should also trust and obey him.

There’s a humorous saying that goes, “It’s not bragging, if you can do it.” The LORD is making bold claims as to what he is going to do. From what is revealed here, his plan is not contingent upon whether people believe him or not. He’s going to do it. He’s not just bragging.

It seems to me that God has operated in this manner many times throughout the Scriptures. I think people today have attitudes that God doesn’t know they exist, doesn’t care, or just has limitations of what he is able to accomplish. But the Scriptures frequently affirm that he is aware of what’s happening in the affairs of humanity. He cares and works to show compassion toward his creatures.

This is a God who is faithful, compassionate, and able to do all that he promises.

Episode 354 - "Moses brings the LORD's message to Pharaoh" - Exodus 5

August 01, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

Ex. 5:10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 12 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” 14 And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

Ex. 5:15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18 Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Ex. 5:22 Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

When I decided to blog through Exodus, I knew that dicing it up in small chunks through the whole book would not only take a long time, but we would get lost in the minutiae and not learn how this book fits in with the greater narrative of the Bible. Up to chapter five, there have been a number of interesting things to take a closer look at. But Moses and Aaron are now beginning their task assigned by the LORD. I think it’s in our best interest to begin taking a macro look at this narrative. It can help us better understand the greater story of God’s liberation of his people. Furthermore, I think we’ll learn some things that are relevant for us today.

In our last episode, we saw how Moses and Aaron took the LORD’s message to the Israelites, and they accepted it. Chapter 4 ended with the Israelites bowing their heads to the LORD in worship because the LORD remembered his covenant with Abraham and had seen the affliction on the Israelites.

We pick up the story in chapter 5 when Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and conveyed the LORD’s message to him to let his people go so that they could go to the wilderness to hold a feast to the LORD. Do you recall what the LORD told Moses would be his reaction? He told Moses that he would not listen or respond accordingly by letting the people go. How did Pharaoh respond? Exactly as the LORD had told Moses. In fact, did you notice the similarity between Pharaoh’s response to the LORD’s message and Moses’ initial response to the LORD’s message for him? Moses asked the question, “Who am I . . . “ Moses’ focus was on himself instead of the LORD. Even though the LORD had chosen him for this role, Moses was not expressing faith.

Pharaoh, in response to the LORD’s command for him, asked the question, “Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice?” The respective responses are not all that different. Both men are focused on themselves. Moses thought he was too incapable or too unimportant for the task the LORD had given him. Pharaoh thought himself too great and important to listen to this God whom he did not know. Both attitudes led to a lack of faith and an inappropriate response.

But Pharaoh didn’t stop at refusing to obey the LORD’s command. He chose to oppress the Israelites even more. This resulted in resentment by the Israelites toward Aaron and Moses. Then, that resulted in Moses’ complaining against the LORD, stating that the LORD had not done what he said he was going to do.

I wonder how often my faith does not always manifest itself when circumstances don’t work out the way I want them to. What has happened with Pharaoh is exactly what the LORD said would happen. But the people’s faith, and even Moses’ faith, are limited because the LORD didn’t do what they wanted him to do when they wanted him to do it.

Some people think that a life of faith is supposed to be blissful and relatively problem-free. But that’s not what the Scriptures reveal. In fact, Jesus, in the New Testament, informed his disciples that if people persecuted him, they would persecute his followers. As one reads the Scriptures, there are many people of faith who endure hard things and even death. Yet, there is a promise of eternal life, even a resurrection from death. We need to trust God’s word regardless of the challenges and conflict we face in this life. It’s all part of God’s plan, and we need to trust that he is good and in control of every situation.

Episode 353 - "The LORD is just and merciful" - Exodus 4:18-31

July 24, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 4:18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

Ex. 4:21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Ex. 4:24 At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

Ex. 4:27 The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

At a cursory glance, this may seem like an odd section of Scripture. Why does the LORD give Moses such great responsibility and then, from one moment to the next, seem as though he is going to put Moses to death?

What do these paragraphs in this section have to do with each other? Spoiler alert: I would suggest that the thematic “thread” through this text is that obedience to God’s word brings blessing, and disobedience brings judgment.

What do we know about this? Moses had given the LORD excuses for why he thought he was the wrong person to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and finally he just told the LORD to find someone else. It didn’t work.

Now, beginning in verse 18, we see that Moses appears to give in. But maybe not. Maybe Moses hoped that his father-in-law would not want his shepherd son-in-law to leave. The text doesn’t tell us. It does tell us that Moses requests of his father-in-law to let him return to Egypt to check up on his family. His request was reasonable since his absence would create a burden upon the family that remained. Yet, Jethro gave him his blessing, “Go in peace.” I cannot help but suspect that the reader is to understand that the LORD put that willingness in Jethro’s heart and mind. The LORD was taking care of the details. Verses 19-20 reveal that Moses is obeying the LORD’s command and not only going to Egypt, but taking his family with him.

The LORD continued to direct Moses by telling him to perform all the signs the LORD had given him. However, the LORD continued to explain, “But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” (Exo. 4:21) This is the kind of thing that trips up a lot of people. People might wonder whether the LORD was being unfair or unjust. Those are good questions, and I’m not sure I can answer them satisfactorily. But as we consider what is happening, let’s remind ourselves of what we already know. We know that the Pharaoh in power when Joseph was first brought to Egypt understood that Jacob’s family brought a blessing upon his kingdom because the LORD used Joseph to interpret his dreams and had the wisdom to prepare in advance, sparing the people from starvation. He treated Jacob and his family well. But after that Pharaoh died, a new Pharaoh rose up and began oppressing and enslaving the Israelites. Then, he decreed genocide against the Israelites' male babies. It seems to me like Pharaoh’s heart is already prone to hardness.

It would appear that the LORD is going to work the signs in front of Pharaoh, but not allow Pharaoh to be affected by the signs other than recognizing the power of the LORD. Then afterward, Moses was to tell Pharaoh, “Israel is my firstborn son.” Ah! Does this catch your attention? Egypt, under the leadership of a new Pharaoh, decreed that male Hebrew babies were to be killed. The LORD’s message to Pharaoh that Israel is the LORD’s firstborn son should get his attention. Maybe the signs worked by Moses first reveal the identity and power of the God of the Israelites. Then, this first message to Pharaoh is to remind him what Egypt has done to the LORD’s firstborn son. Verse 23 then adds the next part of the message to Pharaoh. “Let my son go that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.” Think about this. Is the LORD being mean or is he being merciful? Given what Egypt has done, it would seem perfectly just for the LORD to bring immediate judgment. But it seems like the LORD is giving Pharaoh a chance to obey his command along with a clear explanation of the justice he would bring upon him if he didn’t.

What comes next is even more strange. Moses had just received his marching orders and the dire warning he was to give Pharaoh that if he didn’t release Israel, his firstborn son, he would kill Pharaoh’s firstborn son. But who looks like they are going to get killed by the LORD soon after the LORD sent him to Egypt? The answer is Moses. Why? The answer is that Moses had not obeyed the LORD’s command to circumcise his son according to the Abrahamic Covenant. The reader is left to assume that Moses’ parents had Moses circumcised on the eighth day. But he had not circumcised his own sons. It appears that he knew about this command. Otherwise, why would his non-Hebrew wife have thought to perform this act? The LORD was not going to allow him to act as a leader of his covenant people if he was not going to obey the LORD’s command himself. This might cause one to wonder why the LORD hadn’t acted as though he would kill Moses before this, or mentioned that he must do so before returning to Egypt. I believe the timing of this is to point out to the reader that no one gets a pass for disobeying the LORD’s commands. If God would discipline Pharaoh and Egypt for their sin, he will also discipline Moses and the Israelites, his covenant people, as well if they did not obey his commands. It highlights the LORD’s perfect justice upon all. We cannot say that God is unfair.

Verses 27-31 can be summarized as follows: Moses and Aaron obeyed the LORD’s instructions, and the response to their first interaction with the Israelites was belief and worship.

The simple but important lessons from this are:

God is just.

God is patient and merciful.

People must obey the LORD’s word.

Episode 352 - "The Privilege of Ministry" - Exodus 4:10-17

July 17, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 4:10 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 of tongue.” 11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

I typically begin my thoughts by reflecting on what has been revealed up to this point and attempting to establish the broader context so we can best interpret the passage. However, an anecdotal story came to my mind as I read this, and I thought I’d share it

As an adolescent boy, I was stopped in the church hall one Sunday by an old lady who said to me, “I always thought you’d become a pastor someday.” I don’t remember what I said. I’m sure I was polite in my outward response. But my thoughts about that statement amounted to something like, “Crazy old lady!”

Later in college, I started dating the girl who would become my wife, and she once said to me, “I always thought I’d become a pastor’s wife someday.” On this occasion, I made my thoughts clearly known. I said, “You’re not the pastor’s wife type and I’m certainly not the pastor type.” The relationship has thrived in spite of our not seeing eye-to-eye on that. But here I am, a seminary graduate and a pastor for the past 11.5 years.

Why do I share this? Many years later, when things started changing in my mind about going to seminary and preparing for some kind of ministry, those affirmations kept coming. I didn’t need a voice coming out of a burning bush; I had a consistent message coming from many people who had no way of conspiring or knowing that others had told me the same thing.

I had different reasons for why I wasn’t a good fit for that. However, when I started entertaining those thoughts, I sought counsel from pastors whom I respected on how they knew they should go into ministry, and their answers were the same. They basically told me that if God wanted me in a ministry, I wouldn’t be able to do anything but that. It was all they could think about. I had already reached that point. I didn’t decide on my own to leave my career and go to seminary. In fact, I couldn’t give you details about when it was obvious I’d changed my mind. It was like that was all I ever wanted to do. I could not NOT go.

Moses made one last-ditch effort to convince God that he was not qualified for the job. I’m a bad speaker, Moses whined. The LORD was relentless. In essence, his response to Moses was, “I’ll bring your brother Aaron in on this, and we’ll make it a team effort.” (My paraphrase)

If we learn nothing else from Moses, we should learn that ministry is not about you. It’s not about your education, skills, looks, financial status, job history, or even your past. It’s about God. God is the one who does the real work of ministry. We are simply the agents or medium through which God chooses to work. It’s not that he has to do that. He chooses to do that. If people don’t respond to God’s grace accordingly, we are not held accountable. We simply need to be faithful to what the LORD asks of us. We’ll see that Pharaoh is as hard as they come. But the LORD never chastises Moses for Pharaoh’s rebellion. When we understand that, ministry is not a burden. It’s a privilege from the LORD.

That last fact explains the LORD’s reaction when Moses tells him to find someone else. Imagine working hard and making a great sacrifice to do something special for someone you love, only to hear, “No thanks!” That’s what Moses did. Fortunately, God’s grace was as strong as his will to use Moses to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. The LORD was moving in the heart of Moses’ brother Aaron, and they would be reunited and serve the LORD together. What a gift God gave to Moses.

So, what has the LORD tasked us with? “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-40) Are you pursuing that or making excuses, wanting someone else to do it? May we all gladly accept this privilege in gratitude to the LORD.

Episode 351 - "God gives three signs to Moses" - Exodus 4:1-9

July 10, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 4:1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” 2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

So far, Moses has had some reasonable questions for the LORD. “Who am I? What should I tell the people when they ask your name? Now, after the LORD addresses these questions, Moses thinks he can educate the LORD. He predicts that the Israelites will not believe the LORD appeared to him. I must admit that I’d probably say the same thing. If I were to go to the people in my church and tell them that the LORD appeared to me and gave me a message, I would expect them to question it or even deny it outright. In fact, I think I’d be worried if they didn’t.

There have been countless people through the generations who have made outlandish claims to have some special authority and identity with God and end up leading others into some disastrous ruin. One should not accept such claims at face value. Later in the New Testament, Jesus will tell his antagonists to consider the witnesses to his identity. There was John the Baptist’s testimony, the Scriptures, and the works (signs) that he was performing. They all testified of his identity as the Son of man and the Christ. He told them that if his only evidence was his own claims, they should not believe him. So, Moses’ concern has merit.

In response, it was the LORD’s turn to ask Moses a question. “What is that in your hand?” Clearly, the LORD was not ignorant about the staff. The question prompts Moses to stop and consider the instrument he likely used every day for forty years as a shepherd. “It’s a staff,” he responded. Imagine the surprise when he threw it down according to the LORD’s command, and it became a serpent. The LORD was teaching Moses that His mighty power would be ever-present with him. He wouldn’t have to convince people to return to this mountain of the LORD and lead them to the burning bush. God would be with Moses and demonstrate his power and presence throughout the entire journey. The LORD had Moses put his hand inside his cloak and withdraw it. It came out with some obvious skin disease. When instructed to do it again, it came out completely healed. The LORD had demonstrated with two miracles that not only could he perform a sign that would cause anxiety and terror for people, but he could also completely resolve the problem. Without needing to demonstrate it, the LORD informed Moses that if the people still needed a sign, he could draw water from the Nile, pour it on the ground, and it would turn to blood. This information foretells what would soon come in the story.

What might we glean from this section of the Exodus story? First, God has significant power. He has the power to transform an inanimate object into an animate one and then completely reverse the change. He has the power to bring disease upon humanity, and he has the power to heal completely. He proved this without any help from Moses. In other words, he doesn’t need Moses to do his work. Yet he chose Moses as his human agent to the Israelites and Egyptians alike. Indirectly, he chose Moses as his agent to the world, since we are reading Moses’ story. Finally, the LORD may not (and likely won’t) appear to us in a burning bush. Yet, without asserting ourselves as superior to others, we can and should be willing to act as agents of the LORD, taking God’s message to others and sharing the good news of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life through Jesus.

Episode 350 - "God reveals his name" - Exodus 3:13-22

July 03, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 3:13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

In this section, Moses asked the LORD a simple question and received a lot more information than he probably expected. It’s already appearing that Moses has not yet bought into the idea of going back to Egypt. I don’t know whether his question is born of skepticism, curiosity, or perhaps a measure of both. I suggest we give Moses the benefit of the doubt and that he is truly curious. He knows that the Egyptians worshipped many gods. It’s reasonable to assume these Israelites have become accustomed to the names of at least some of those gods. They would want to know the identity of this supposed god that Moses is claiming will deliver them out of their bondage. In other words, Moses suspects that they will be as skeptical or curious as he is.

Scholars debate the best interpretation of the Hebrew that is translated in the ESV as “I AM WHO I AM.” Without getting into the weeds of the interpretation of the Hebrew text, let’s consider the implications of this statement based upon what has already been revealed about the LORD in Genesis and the first few chapters of Exodus. The first thing the Scriptures reveal about God is that he already existed in the beginning. God never became. He never used to be. God is the Creator and the source of life. He never had a beginning. He is always, “I am.”

The God of Abraham single-handedly judged the world of rebellious humanity in the flood, and yet divinely and graciously preserved a man named Noah, whom the LORD deemed righteous, along with his family. God chose a man named Abram to be the progenitor of a people group through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. God knew in advance what would happen much later and made promises to Abram and his descendants that he would fulfill. It’s good to know that a God who is both just and merciful is “I am.” He was just and merciful in the past. He is just and merciful in the present and will be just and merciful in the future because he always is “I am.”

God defies exhaustive explanation. He cannot be labeled and limited. When he told Moses to tell the people, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exo. 3:14), it seems the LORD knew that name would get their attention. The LORD continued to explain that this is his name forever and it was to be remembered for generations. This is a God that doesn’t change or evolve. This revelation should be understood as conveying the idea that future generations can trust this God to be faithful to his word and to fulfill his promises.

Finally, the LORD promises again that he will deliver the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey (plenty of food and provision). He reveals that Pharaoh will not like the idea of letting the people go, but that the LORD will compel him to do so. Furthermore, the LORD will inspire the Egyptians to give them valuables. The LORD is not just laying out a strategy. He is foretelling the way things will happen. In doing so, he is setting himself up to demonstrate that he can truly do whatever he promises and is true to his word. If things transpire according to what the LORD has foretold, there is no excuse not to trust his word and obey his commands.

Spoiler alert: He pulls it off.

Episode 349 - "The LORD will deliver his people" - Exodus 3:7-12

June 26, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 3:7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

If you recall from our previous episode, the LORD God is speaking to Moses by the angel of the LORD. Once again, there is an emphasis on the LORD’s attention to the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. Exodus 3:7-9 makes it clear that this is not some random event. The LORD has “seen” their affliction, “heard their cry,” and he “knows their suffering.” The situation has the full attention of the LORD.

More importantly, the LORD is going to do something about it. This is revealed by the LORD’s words to Moses in verse 8. “I have come down to deliver them” from the oppression in Egypt and bring them to a place of abundance, a land that was currently supporting at least six other groups of people.

If you’re wondering if there’s anything special about this list of people who are inhabiting the land where the LORD will take the Israelites, I’ve yet to discover what that significance is. We do know these groups did not worship the LORD. They served other so-called gods. The Jebusites, Amorites, and the Hivites were descendants of Canaan. It’s safe to assume that they will not be thrilled when the LORD brings the Israelites up to their land. This suggests a future conflict.

In verse 9, the LORD restates his awareness and concern for the plight of his people in Egypt before laying out his plan on how he is going to accomplish this deliverance. Then, in verse 10, the LORD informs Moses that he will send Moses to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Before we consider Moses’ response, it is important to stop and remember that the LORD has already announced that he has “come down” and will deliver his people. How does this line up with this announcement that he is going to send Moses to Pharaoh and use him to deliver the Israelites? Simply put, it means that the LORD’s power and authority will accomplish it, but that Moses would be the LORD God’s human agent of communication and authority. More on this shortly.

Moses responds to the LORD’s charge with a very reasonable question: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (v.11) Let’s stop for a moment to think about what is going on in Moses mind. Moses was approximately 80 years old at this point. The first half of his life was spent growing up in Egypt and in Pharaoh’s house. My guess is that if the LORD had commissioned a much younger Moses to do this, he might have thought that he was a logical pick since he seemed to know that he was a Hebrew, but also had the privilege of being a part of Pharaoh’s household. That’s simply a guess. But now Moses was a murderer, a fugitive, disrespected by at least a few of his kinsmen whom he tried to help, and for the last forty years has been leading sheep around in the wilderness. In Moses’ mind, he is entirely unqualified for this task. Moses appears not to have heard the LORD say, “I have come down to deliver them.” (v. 8) His focus is entirely upon his perception of his own identity and questions the LORD’s charge.

In response to Moses’ self-doubt, the LORD assures him that he will be with Moses. (v. 12) The LORD instructed Moses that the sign that he is the LORD’s agent is that he will return to this same mountain with the Israelites. Notice that the sign is not something to motivate him to follow the LORD’s instruction. The sign is the LORD’s foretelling of something that will happen in the future, and it will affirm to Moses that he can trust the LORD’s words. The LORD is giving something to Moses. But Moses must have faith in what the LORD has promised.

Do you see the application for us today? The bottom line is that the LORD gave his disciples commands that I believe we are supposed to continue today. For example, we must love the LORD our God and love our neighbor as ourselves. The LORD also gave his disciples the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching others what Jesus had taught his disciples. We have no right to say, “Who am I?” If the LORD is giving us something to do, we are not doing it by our own authority, power, or wisdom. We are being blessed to be agents of God’s work, grace, and truth. God is the one doing the real work. We just need to follow the LORD’s commands by faith. What a privilege.

Episode 348 - "The LORD God calls Moses" - Exodus 3:1-6

June 20, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Our last episode concluded with God (Elohim) hearing the Israelites' groaning, remembering his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and seeing the people of Israel. Finally, Moses wrote, “and God knew.” God was never unaware of their troubles. In fact, God had foretold to Abraham that this would happen. When Moses wrote that God remembered his covenant, it does not mean that he had forgotten it and then suddenly recalled it. It means that, in God’s sovereign time, he brought his attention to it. Christians “remember” Jesus’ death on the cross through the bread and the cup in communion. It’s the same kind of thing. We haven’t forgotten about Jesus and his death. But we need to especially bring it to the forefront of our minds.

The story transitions to Moses keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro. Wait a minute! Didn’t we read in chapter two that his father-in-law was named Reuel? As mentioned in the last episode, some scholars believe that Reuel was actually the grandfather, but was addressed as father. We read in the New Testament that people referred to Abraham as “our father.” In reality, he was many generations removed, but still referred to as father. The bottom line is that it’s not really important to the story. But there are logical explanations of differences.

In the first verse of chapter three, Moses is shepherding the flock near the “mountain of God (Elohim). The next verse informs the reader that “the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.” (Exo. 3:2) Yet, the bush was not burning up. The interesting thing to me here is the mention of the divine name, represented in English as “LORD,” with all capital letters. Understand that at the time of this event in Moses’ life, there was no apparent revelation to him of the divine name. Moses writes this later in his life and, apparently, chooses when to speak of God in general terms, such as Elohim, and when to specify his divine name. When we read Genesis, Elohim is used in chapter one to describe the Creator God. But when he provides more detail in chapter two, “the LORD God” is given the credit as the Creator. He is the one who speaks to Adam and puts him in the garden. He is the one who gives him instruction. Moses is careful to inform his readers that the God who spoke to him is the LORD.

The LORD got Moses’ attention by the spectacle of the burning bush that did not burn up. Moses’ intrigue led him to take a closer look. At that time, the LORD called Moses by name, and Moses responded. The angel of the LORD instructed him to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground. We are not told why the shoes made a difference. But I’ve heard it preached that Moses ' sandals were manmade items that came between him and what the LORD had made and consecrated. That sounds nice. But the real point is that obedience to the LORD’s command was much more essential. It’s an act of faith.

The LORD then explained that he was the God of Moses’ ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses’ response to that was to hide his face out of fear of God. This last detail will be significant later in Exodus.

One must be careful not to assume that God will appear to them in such dramatic ways. The events of this story and others in the Bible are not intended for the readers to draw conclusions that suggest God will do the same thing to or for them. But it may be reasonable to suggest that God appeared to Moses as he did, knowing it would reveal truths about God that would benefit many more people than Moses and the Israelites in bondage. Such principles that we could glean are: God can and will draw people to himself. God knows who we are. It’s essential to have a reverent or respectful kind of fear before God.

Episode 347 - "And God knew" - Exodus 2:23-25

June 13, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Ex. 2:23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Sometimes, the brief and seemingly ambiguous sections of Scripture contain some of the greatest treasures of truth. This section moves the story from Moses' life as a shepherd back to the primary conflict of God’s covenant people, Israel, being enslaved in Egypt. On the surface, the statements of this section do not appear all that encouraging. But let’s take a closer look.

The first thing we’re told here is that the king of Egypt died. Who is this? This was the king who wanted to kill Moses due to Moses killing of the Egyptian who abused his fellow Hebrew. This king was the Pharaoh who had greatly oppressed the Israelites in slavery. The last time we were told about the death of a Pharaoh was when the one who both blessed Israel and was blessed by Israel died. The next Pharaoh had a completely different attitude about the Israelites. Does the death of this Pharaoh signify a change and offer hope of deliverance from that bondage? The second half of verse 23 gives us the answer, “and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.” (Ex. 2:23b) The transition from one king to another revealed to them that there was no end in sight of their situation.

This transitional section provides a succinct list of events that occur in succession, setting the stage for what is to come. First, the people “groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.” (Notice the cause of their groaning is their enslavement. This will be important later.) Who did they cry out to? We’re not told. The text does not say they cried out to the LORD. The picture here is that they are looking for help from anywhere.

The last part of verse 23 says, “Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. (Ex. 2:23c)” The Hebrew word for God here and throughout this section is the more generic term Elohim. (The LORD has not yet revealed his name.)

Verse 24 gives us the next two things that happened. First, God “heard their groaning.” Second, “God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” (Ex. 2:24b) This helps us understand that the God who heard their groaning was the same God who had spoken to their forefathers, provided for them, and blessed them. This detail tips off the reader to recall that the covenant God had made with them had foretold the enslavement of Abraham’s descendants and God’s promise to deliver them out of that oppression back to the land God had promised them. Hope is starting to be revealed.

Verse 25 reads, “God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” The idea of God seeing the people of Israel and their situation might suggest his imminent favor toward them. Numbers 6:24-26 is a priestly blessing that includes “may his face shine upon you.” At the very least, I think the point is to communicate that God is fully aware of their problem. This fact is emphasized by the last statement, “and God knew.” Listen to what Dr. Duane A. Garrett says about this brief statement: “It does not primarily mean that God ‘understood’ in the sense of empathizing with their suffering. . . . This assertion most dramatically sets the earthly appearance—that evil has triumphed and that God is nowhere to be found—against the heavenly reality that God does see, know, and care. The heavenly truth calls both the sufferer and the reader to faith.”

Wow! What a powerful reminder that God is never unaware or uncaring. We may not understand the purpose of why he let this happen to Israel or why bad things happen to people today. But these few verses remind us that God can hear our most desperate cries for help. He sees, knows, and cares about us. There may be many factors in our experience that don’t line up with what we expect or would like. But we must trust in his ability and goodness to do what is right. That’s faith.

Episode 346 - "Moses' Conscience" - Exodus 2:11-22

June 06, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Gospel of John, Exodus

[11] One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. [12] He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. [13] When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” [14] He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” [15] When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

[16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. [17] The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. [18] When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” [19] They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” [20] He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” [21] And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. [22] She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” (ESV)

In our previous episodes, we read about how the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not only reached a foreign land but were later enslaved and oppressed in Egypt. This fact resonates with what God had revealed to Abraham when he promised that he would not leave them there, but deliver them out of that land to the land God had promised them.

If we start reading Exodus without having read Genesis, we miss out on important details beyond the Abrahamic Covenant. Exodus might better be titled, “Genesis Volume 2.” We are not just anticipating God’s solution to deliver this people group out of bondage, but we are also anticipating the “seed of the woman” who will crush the head of the serpent (the devil) and death itself. These stories are interrelated, and we should not lose sight of this as we read.

So far, the indicators point to a child named Moses, who was protected from the Pharaoh's genocidal death edict, as a key figure and likely protagonist in this Exodus story. He is a Hebrew child born to two descendants of Levi, a son of Jacob (Israel), who, along with his brother Simeon, massacred a community of Hivites in revenge for one of their men raping their sister Dinah. Will this family history have any bearing upon the events that will unfold in Exodus?

An interesting twist in the story is that while baby Moses' life was spared, he was given to his biological mother by the daughter of Pharaoh to nurse. He likely spent at least the first few years of his life with his own mother and culture before being given to Pharaoh’s daughter to be raised in Pharaoh’s household. It’s a twist that makes the reader wonder where his allegiance will ultimately lie.

The answer to that comes very quickly when the story jumps from his early childhood to his adult years. In fact, we understand that Moses was nearing 40 years of age. Verse 11 tells us, “he went out to his people and looked on their burdens.” This suggests that he not only understood his identity as a Hebrew, but that he was compassionate toward their plight and had a conflict of conscience about his position as a member of Pharaoh’s household who oppressed his people. When he watched an Egyptian beating a fellow Hebrew, he murdered the Egyptian and hid his body, thinking no one had seen him. (Maybe a little of that Levitical heritage had come through.)

The next day, he tried to intervene to bring peace between two fighting Hebrew men. The offender asked Moses if he intended to kill him like he killed the Egyptian. Certainly, this man would not have mocked Moses, someone from Pharaoh’s house, unless he knew he had some power over him. There is a bit of irony in the man’s rhetorical question, “Who had made you a prince and judge over us?” (v. 14) As a member of Pharaoh’s household, it seems likely that he was a prince and judge over them. More importantly, we’ll soon discover that God will make Moses a prince and judge over the people. The bottom line is that Moses realized that his crime had been witnessed and his life was in danger. He fled to the east out of Egypt.

Moses stopped at a well where seven daughters of a Midianite priest brought their father’s flocks to water. Other shepherds began to drive them away, but Moses defended them and drove the men away. This act of kindness or justice by Moses led their father, Reuel, to marry off his daughter Zipporah to Moses and make Moses part of his family.

Some interesting facts about these details are that, first, the Midianites were Semitic people. They were descendants of Abraham and his second wife. We don’t know exactly who, what, or how the Midianites worshipped. However, in reading Genesis, Abraham was very specific in sending his servant back to his home area and people to find a wife for his son, Isaac. It was important to Abraham that his son not marry a Canaanite. It seems to me that Moses includes these details to reveal the LORD’s sovereign hand in bringing him into a relation with distant relatives.

A second detail is that the priest of Midian is named Reuel here, but later named Jethro. Scholars suggest that Reuel may have actually been the biological grandfather of the women and Jethro their biological father. Reuel would have been the head of the family and addressed as father. There are other possibilities besides a mistake in the text.

Finally, while we know nothing about the religion of the Midianites. However, later in Exodus 18, we’ll read that Jethro worshipped the LORD for what he had done for the Israelites.

We conclude this section with the birth of Moses and Zipporah’s son, named Gershom, because Moses says, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” (v. 22) Notably, this has been the case for Moses his entire life.

As this story continues to unfold over decades, the evidence of God’s hand remains consistently evident. I believe that’s true today. God is not some force in the universe with no concern for or involvement in the events that unfold in our lives. God will bring all his promises to fulfillment according to his will.

Episode 345 "Moses is spared" - Exodus 2:1-10

May 30, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Exodus

Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

The first chapter of Exodus reveals a sharp contrast in the attitude of the Pharaoh of Egypt (whom we read about in Egypt) toward Jacob’s family and a later Pharaoh who knew nothing about the events that brought Jacob’s son Joseph to Egypt and, in turn, his whole family. The earlier Pharaoh and all of Egypt had been blessed because God used Joseph to provide for them during a severe famine. Jacob’s family was a blessing to Egypt, and Pharaoh and Egypt had become a blessing to them. This was the outworking of the positive side of the Abrahamic Covenant. But the new Pharaoh had no knowledge of those things and became paranoid of the ever-growing number of Israelites in Egypt. That ignorance and fear led to a genocidal mandate to all Egypt to throw every newborn male Hebrew baby into the Nile River. This is the conflict of the next epic narrative that we encounter in Exodus.

We read that a Levite man married a Levite woman. In other words, they had both descended from Jacob’s son Levi. What do we know about him? We know that he and his brother Simeon murdered a community of Hitites whose men had agreed to be circumcised, the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, in order to live in a peaceful arrangement with Jacob’s family. One of their prominent men had raped Jacob’s daughter Dinah and wanted to marry her. Dinah’s brothers concocted this plan, and when the men were sore a few days after the circumcisions, Levi and Simeon went into their village and massacred them. (Gen 34) Not only did they murder these people in vengeance, but they also abused the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant to do it. Jacob was not pleased with this and, on his deathbed, pronounced that the descendants of Levi and Simeon would be “divided” and “scattered.” (Gen 49:5-7)

In light of this mandate to kill all male Hebrew babies, I suspect that we’re supposed to understand this detail of a Levite man and a Levite woman having a male baby might be an instrument of God’s wrath against this Pharaoh. But, of course, the first thing that needs to happen is that this male Hebrew baby is delivered from this edict.

The story moves quickly, explaining that his mother successfully hid him for a few months. Then, knowing that it couldn’t last long, she contrived a plan that, ideally, would protect her family from retribution by Pharaoh and possibly spare her baby as well. She made a floating basket, put him in the basket, and put the basket in the Nile among the reeds. Once again, I’m conjecturing. But it seems to me that her plan was a clever loophole because if she were found out, she could say, “I put my baby in the Nile as commanded.” Putting him in the reeds may have offered more protection from crocodiles and the dangers of a swifter current. We’re then told that the baby’s sister watched to see what would happen. My guess is that it was too much for his mother, having just made the most difficult decision of her life.

The story moves quickly from telling us about this baby boy who was a Hebrew and a Levite. His life was preserved and even returned to his own family until he was weaned. I would guess (once again) that he was even circumcised. Later in Moses’ life, God almost struck Moses dead because his own son was not circumcised. Moses’ wife Zipporah circumcised the boy. This suggests that Moses had already been circumcised. Surely, the LORD would not have given him an exception to the command.

Scholars debate the origin of the name Moses. Since Pharaoh’s daughter was Egyptian, some scholars point to a similar Egyptian name meaning "child." They also assume that Pharaoh’s daughter could not understand Hebrew. Even if she did, would she have given him a Hebrew name since she was going to raise him as her own child in the house of Pharaoh? Moses’ Hebrew name means " to draw out.” Pharaoh’s daughter had drawn him out of the water. God was drawing him out from among the Hebrews for a purpose. While I’m inserting much of my own reasoning into the interpretation of this text, perhaps Pharaoh’s daughter gave him the Egyptian name inspired by the LORD, with the view that there would be a double entendre, and later Moses and the Hebrews understood the Hebrew meaning.

So far, this story has established the scene and the conflict, and is clearly introducing us to a major character. But what we should recognize most of all is that God is in control. This new Pharaoh has already revealed that he is not learning this lesson and is inclined to do things his own way. Since God, hundreds of years earlier, had foretold to Abraham this oppression of his descendants and promised to deliver them back to the promised land, we should anticipate that this promise is about to be fulfilled. There will be much more conflict and trouble. But God is in control and will fulfill his promises. We can never hear this too much.