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 329 - "Stand firm with One Mind - Philippians 1:27-30

February 07, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Philippians

Phil. 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

I suspect one reason Paul’s letters are so popular among Christians today is that the principles he gave his original audience resonate with us today. We understand many of them and recognize their merit today. For example, take this instruction in verse 27, “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” I suspect that if we took a random poll among many Christians today in various churches, most people would say “Yes! Amen!”

But what does that look like? Well, Paul explains it. A life lived in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ is one in which believers are collectively “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” He continues, saying that this applies especially when opponents attempt to frighten them. (v. 27-28) If we stop and think about this, it’s pretty easy to recognize this instruction as good in a theoretical sense. But Paul knows that these believers are facing or will face persecution for their faith. That persecution is intended to instill fear and ultimately, to inhibit or stop the spread of the gospel.

Personally, I can’t help but think about the cultural climate in our country today, where there is conflict and fear among people over issues like immigration and other political matters. These issues are leading to conflict and division between our own citizens and even fracturing the unity in our churches. Why is this? I would suggest it is because we are not prioritizing the gospel of Jesus Christ in our churches. Instead, we are prioritizing the espoused ideologies of political parties, believing that our favorite party and candidates will somehow make society better. But that mindset is contrary to what God has revealed about his plan. As believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must truly seek the presence of God’s kingdom with Jesus on the throne. Regardless of our differing opinions about other matters, we must humbly encourage and support our brothers and sisters in the faith for the sake of the gospel. Doing so, Paul says, we send a message to those opponents of the gospel that their opposition to God’s work will be brought to an end and that the believers will be delivered by God.

Let us pray that we will be unified with other believers in standing firm for the gospel in spite of persecution and opposition. Jesus prayed to the Father that his disciples would be one (John 17:11) and we need to follow that example and obey that charge.

Episode 326 - "Paul's perspective on his incarceration" - Philippians 1:12-14

January 16, 2026 by David Largent in Bible Study, Christian, Philippians

Phil. 1:12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Before I begin discussing this section, I realized there was something in our text last week that I failed to comment on, and I think it's important. In verses 9-10, Paul writes to these believers that he desires their love to abound. Why? He explains beginning in verse 10, “so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

To be “pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” What is that about? It’s about the return to earth of Jesus Christ. The second physical return of Jesus to earth is a core doctrine of the Christian faith. What did Jesus command his disciples to do before he gave them the Great Commission? He said, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34-35) Paul has taken this command and encouraged the believers at Philippi to increase that abundantly for when Jesus returns, it will be “to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11) and not to their shame.

It makes me think how people would feel if Christ returned today to find many believers who identify with Jesus but have decided to hate or be at odds with their fellow believers over politics or other matters of this age. We need to abound in love towards others. That doesn’t mean we lay aside convictions and opinions. It means we don’t despise them or withhold compassion and care.

OK. Now, onto today's text. Once again, let me remind you that Paul is incarcerated. So, it’s interesting what he says in verse 12. He wants the Philippians to understand that his incarceration has not hindered the spread of the gospel. In fact, it’s done quite the opposite. Because of his incarceration, he’s getting opportunities to speak with imperial guards of the Roman Empire. I think Paul is saying that some of these people with power are hearing the gospel and some are even believing it. Paul understands the implications of that. Those people will, in turn, have more opportunities to spread the gospel themselves.

The significance is not missed by other believers who have interacted with Paul because he adds that some of them have become “more confident in the Lord” and are “much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (v. 14)

It almost sounds like the Lord knows what he is doing. Of course, that last statement was made tongue-in-cheek. The Lord does know what he is doing. He is in control. Paul’s imprisonment was neither an accident nor outside of God’s control. Paul sees the positive things that are happening through these circumstances and desires to see how they work in the spread of the gospel.

There are a few good things for us to meditate on this week. Let our love abound more and more, and let us pray and praise God for all the circumstances in our lives that lead to the spread of the gospel and the glory of God, regardless of how undesirable the circumstances may be.

Episode 146 - "Endure trials, resist temptation!" - James 1:12-15

July 17, 2022 by David Largent in Epistle of James, Christian, Bible Study

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Let’s begin this study with a look at verse 12. Clearly, this verse continues with the theme of “trials.” James began in verses 2-5 with the instruction that the purpose of trials is to test our faith. The testing of our faith is to produce steadfastness, with the ultimate purpose of God perfecting our character for His purposes. In short, God’s purpose in allowing us to experience trials is in our best interest.

James tells us in verse 12 that the person who “remains steadfast under trial” is blessed. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church of Ephesus, writes that God is “blessed.” It seems that if James' understanding and use of the word “blessed” are the same as Paul’s, James is suggesting that the person who has remained steadfast under trial is demonstrating that God is actively working in that person’s life. The blessed God is conforming this steadfast believer’s life to reflect God’s character. That would be consistent with the idea that God used these trials to make us complete. Furthermore, when the believer has withstood the test, “he will receive the crown of life.” (v. 12) What does this mean? The imagery of a crown in this time and culture likely refers to a victor’s crown, a symbol of accomplishment. It might be easy to interpret this simply as receiving eternal life. However, since this is speaking of believers who have already received eternal life, it would seem that this is a reward from God beyond the gift of eternal life. Regardless of the specifics, it is a commendation by God upon the believer for withstanding the trial.

In verse 13, the topic shifts to that of temptation. This seems like a natural and important qualification by James because it’s during trials that we may be tempted to sin. For instance, under difficult circumstances, someone may want to curse God. When God allowed Job to be tested by the devil, Job’s wife encouraged Job to “curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) Job’s response to her was, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10) Job understood that it was God’s sovereign right to allow him to experience “evil” or trials in life as much as it was to give him the many blessings Job and his wife had received.

James has already established that God’s purpose in allowing us to experience trials in life is always for our good. Therefore, when he says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (v. 13), James is clarifying that God never is seeking to make people sin. God is not sadistic.

James continues by explaining that temptation comes when a person is “lured and enticed by their own desire.” (v. 14) This is the challenge we face in trials. Our flesh does not want to experience pain. Our pride does not want us to be humbled. Our pride and selfish desires provoke us to blame God when we should seek God’s help to endure the trials.

Notice how James draws a sharp contrast between trials and temptations in verse 15. Enduring trials results in a “crown of life.” Giving in to temptation results in death.

Speaking about this last statement, I don’t believe James is suggesting that when a believer sins, they lose their salvation or eternal life. It was sin in the Garden of Eden that led to death. Obeying God leads to life. James’ point is to highlight the difference between enduring trials by trusting God rather than allowing temptation to arise within us and leading us to rebel and blame God.

Prayer: Lord, grant us strength and faith each day to trust that what you allow in our life is for our good.

Episode 107 - "Whoever kills you . . .will think he is offering service to God" - John 16:1-4

October 09, 2021 by David Largent in Who is Jesus?, Gospel of John, Christian, Bible Study

John 16:1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The opening words of this section should cause us to go back and read Jesus’ words leading up to this warning. Jesus is not trying to scare them. He is preparing them. Everything that Jesus has been telling them about the importance of them abiding in him and his words abiding in them is to help them remain steadfast in their faith WHEN (not if) they are persecuted. Jesus repeatedly promised that he would ask the Father to send them the Holy Spirit who would help them remember and understand what Jesus taught them. Furthermore, the Spirit would advocate for their needs to the Father. Jesus encouraged them with a promise that prayers asked in his name would be answered. Finally, he promised them that they would be with him and the Father for eternity. That would mean they would be resurrected sometime after they had died. These promises would serve to encourage them during such a crisis of persecution for their faith in Jesus.

Jesus explained that he told them all this to keep them from falling away. Through Jesus’ ministry, there were people who initially were following after Jesus. But, John helps us understand these are people who want what they want. The people who had been miraculously fed in the wilderness recognized the significance of the miracle they watched him perform and received the benefit. Yet, when they followed Jesus and he told them they needed to drink his blood and eat his flesh, they didn’t want what Jesus was offering. They wanted Jesus on their own terms. They “fell away.”

These disciples of Jesus’ have already witnessed the persecution of the man born blind who received his sight by Jesus, was cast out by the Pharisees for his pronouncement that Jesus was from God, and still worshipped Jesus when Jesus revealed his identity to him. These disciples would receive this kind of treatment and worse. Jesus is preparing them for it.

It’s easy to imagine that maybe non-religious and/or atheistic people might persecute these disciples of Jesus. But, Jesus explains to them that it’s religious people. He says in verse 2 that such persecutors will persecute them thinking they are doing God a favor. But, then he explains in verse 3 that these people don’t truly know God.

How often have we heard about terrible things being done in the name of God or Jesus? But, their words and actions are in utter contradiction to the teachings of Jesus.

If I were told that a time is coming soon when people would beat me up, throw me in prison, and kill me for my faith, I imagine the anxiety and stress that might create would be significant. Like these disciples, I hope that the promises of Jesus would keep me steady in my faith and ministry. Jesus did tell his disciples these things would happen to them just as he told them that they would be his witnesses. The disciples had a purpose and mission from God to tell others about Jesus regardless of the consequences. That mission and purpose is for us today. Perhaps we will experience persecution of some manner for our witness.

We know that that this promised persecution of the disciples happened soon after Jesus’ ascension to heaven. You can read about these in the book of Acts. That is one more indication that Jesus’ promises are true. If that promise is true, then we can also trust that his promises about answered prayer, the Holy Spirit advocating for us and a future resurrection and eternal life with God are also true.

Let us think about these things in order that the Holy Spirit will encourage us with Jesus’ promises.

Episode 105 - "The world will hate you" - John 15:18-25

September 25, 2021 by David Largent in Who is Jesus?, Gospel of John, Christian, Bible Study

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy building relationships and getting to know people, and I do not want conflict with anyone. Realistically, I know that people who live in destructive and violent ways will be offensive to me, and my inclination is to avoid them.

But Jesus is revealing to his disciples a principle that applies to us as well, and that is Jesus’ disciples will be hated by those who hate him. These people may be religious, and they may believe in a god or gods. They may share some of the same views that we do and, from an outward perspective, appear to be “good people,” meaning that they may not be violent toward their spouse or children, and they do things that we acknowledge are “good.” These people’s lifestyles and actions do not naturally push us away from engaging them in a relationship. These are the people we do not want to hate us. But, this warning from Jesus informs us that at least some of them will.

Why is that? Jesus said, “I chose you out of this world.” (v. 19) I spoke of this briefly in the last episode because, in verse 16, Jesus told his disciples that they did not choose him, but he chose them for bearing fruit. The vital thing to consider is that God knows who you are and intentionally calls you to faith because He has a specific purpose for your life. The essential purpose is to be the voice of that message of Jesus and God’s love for the world that others might come to faith and enjoy the privilege of God’s purpose for their life.

The problem and conflict with this is that “men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” (John 3:19) Even though Jesus as God’s true Light came into the world to expose humankind’s problem with evil, some people don’t want to go out of that darkness and into the Light of Jesus. Suppose we have responded to God’s Light and acknowledged that we are identifying and following that Light, trusting that God alone addresses our darkness problem. In that case, those who want to remain in the darkness will do everything they can to avoid or extinguish any glimmer of that Light that approaches them. They perceive the Light as a threat to their life and desires, and they oppose it. They hate it. The concept that Jesus could be the only source of Light from God attacks their pride, and they refuse to let that go.

An example of this is the religious leaders who cast out the man born blind but given his sight by Jesus. They were upset with the fact that Jesus worked this miracle. But, when the man’s spiritual sight caused him to recognize that Jesus was from God, they had to get rid of him because it threatened their pride and self-righteousness.

Twice in this section (vv. 22 and 24) Jesus says, “They would not have been guilty of sin.” I’m probably splitting hairs on the translation of this, and I may be wrong. But the Greek text says, “Sin they would not have.” I’m highlighting this because I think some clarification is in order. I do not believe Jesus is saying that there were sinless people until Jesus came and worked his miracles. This book has already made it evident that the people in this world are in darkness. Darkness is the metaphor describing the sinful, evil state into which we are born because this condition began with Adam and Eve’s rebellion and continues to this day. We need Jesus to “choose us out of this world” (of darkness) into his Kingdom of Light (Truth).

The Law made it clear what was right and wrong, and people violated that Law. They were guilty of sin. But, the most evident truth of God came into the world when the Son of God, Jesus the Christ was born. He spoke the words of God and performed the miracles of God. He also took upon himself the penalty of the sins of the world by dying on the cross, and then conquering death itself. His resurrection gives hope to those who have turned in faith in Jesus for eternal life with God. Rejecting that Truth and Light is the sin that is unpardonable and people who commit that sin will not be forgiven.

It’s easy for some to read that and see it in a negative light. But, if you stop and think about it, God has not left humanity to “figure it out on his own.” God has patiently and continuously revealed His grace and mercy and truth throughout time to testify to humankind that He wants to be in a relationship with humanity. Still, they need to trust Him by faith. The most powerful and perfect way of doing this was by coming into this earth Himself and revealing His grace, mercy, goodness, and truth through Jesus.

When we see it this way, is there any reason we would not be obsessed with abiding in Jesus, staying close as possible to the True Vine by giving him thanks and seeking to follow his words, and accepting that those who want to remain in darkness will hate us?