Ex:12 1-16

The stage is set for the new calendar and traditions that will be celebrated by Israel from this day forth. While the Bible makes no mention of the number of days in the month, the assumption is at least 4 weeks worth. The tenth day of the first month would mark the man's responsibility to take a lamb (share one with a neighbor who is without) and slay the umblemished animal on the 14th day of the month at twilight. The blood of the animal is to be put on the sides and top of the doorways and the same night they are to roast the lamb with bitter herbs and eat it. The uneatened part is to be burnt. The clothes that they are to eat this with must be traveling clothes and the meal must be eaten quickly because, "it is the Lord's Passover" (13). The night will mark the slaying of the first born in Egypt - both men and animals as judgement will be made over Egypt by the Lord. The blood will be a sign that the Lord will "passover" the houses where they are marked with the lamb's blood. The day will also commemorate the celebration of the festival where unleaven bread will by made and eaten for 7 days. No work, except the preparation of the Feast will be allowed.

This is truly a "game changer" for the Israelites since the Lord will now set the pace for them to be united as a nation and be under Him. "Free at last" was the cry of Dr. King and the Israelites now had the opportunity to be free from the tyranny of Pharoah. We know that their freedom was a cause of celebration but will be a cause of rebellion in subsequent chapters.

Yesterday, we celebrated the CNY in Edison where we had a small gathering at home. Great meal, convo and fellowship before heading down to Delly late last night. Heading to the gym now and have a long week ahead, still praiseful to have a job. Praise that Donna is doing better but prayers for my niece that found out she is sick.

Praise for today: No one is like you, O Lord; you are great and your name is mighty in power. Jer 10: 6

Ex 11

The final plague will now be unleashed upon Egypt and Pharoah - death of their first born. This will hit them where it hurts the most - from Pharoah to the first born son of the slave mill. Dogs will cease to bark as a sign of the distinction between the two peoples. Only then will the officials (who respected Moses) and Pharoah relent in their stance. However God would still not soften the heart of Pharoah despite the movie and the children would be buried. This would set the stage for the Exodus.

All in all - a restful weekend. Snow does have that effect since after shoveling the stuff and lunch we were pretty much shuttered in for the rest of the day. Hence, another weekend that went by without seeing Warhorse. Still got back after church to see NE and NYG win - so I was 0-2 in my hopes for the SB. Looking forward to working in Princeton and seeing GG later (even though he got it while I was sleeping) and to celebrate CNY.

Praise for today: By the strength of my and I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. Is 10:13

Ex 10: 21-29

By now, Pharoah was convinced that the sight of Moses and Aaron was not going to fare well for either him and or the Egyptians. He saw firsthand the Nile become blood, frogs,gnats, flies, livestock die, boils, hail and locusts. The spectular was yet to come, in the form of darkness. The darkness was pervasive throughout the land except for all of the Israelites in the places where they lived. For three days, the land was in the dark and it was complete darkness like a blanket between the earth and the rays of the sun. Pharoah then summoned Moses, who told him that the people can leave but the flocks and herd had to stay. Normally, that would be a victory but Moses insisted that wasn't good enough since the animals would be used for sacrifice. In Moses' word, not a hoof was to be left behind. But God hardened Pharoah's heart and he sent Moses away with the threat that he will die the next time their faces meet. Moses replied that it would be just as Pharoah says and that he will never appear before him again.

Darkness is a scary thing. Not initially, we get used to our immediate surroundings and stay put while we rely on secondary means of illumination when available. After a while, I would tend to go to sleep - hoping when I awake that the light would be restored. For three days, the light was turned off and that is a long time especially since you don't when it will be restored. The same thing is with our faith and how we "turn off" the light for a period of time. For me, I tend to miss the "light" and will return to it and desire to be illuminated by it. God's word was and always will be the light that I need daily.

The week is over and we do expect our first snowfall overnight for 2012. The amounts should be managable but I will pray for my s-i-l and her family who usually gets more and her safety as she treks down to our area for lunch.  Prayers for the safety of those in the Seattle area especially Scotty and Katy and their family as they cope with the ice and the damage that comes with it.

Praise for today: Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Is. 12: 5

Ex 10:1-20

"That you may know that I am the Lord" - the motivating factor that is behind all of this. The Lord, who is all powerful, all knowing created a situation by which history (or His story) can be told to all generations. The fact that this was so spectacular and so impressive that even today, a person like me could read and experience the times and glean who God is. How protective God is of his people and His holiness. God does bring down the proud and mighty because if you are, then you can never love Him with your whole heart, strength and mind. The locusts were next and even by this time Pharoah's officials even threw in the towel and pleaded with him to relent in order to save what was left of his ravaged country. Pharoah's response to Moses's request (10&11) brought God's wrath and the locust with the wave of Moses's staff. The locusts were devastating (13) and brought Pharoah to summon Moses and "repented" so that the plague would cease. Still even after the locusts were gone, the Lord hardened Pharoah's heart and the Israelites' status was quo.

Overall it was a decent day at work. The reduction in comp was well advertised but whether or not it was well received was another story. Even after the ding, I still give praise to Him who provides all things and we will get by. This will be a year of fiscal constraint which won't be too well received on the homefront but still that is beyond my control. The object for today is to get the laundry done so that I won't have to lug it home to do. With the CNY approaching, there is enough to do without having that as well. Looking forward to see my s-i-l and her family on Saturday as well. Hopefully, I will finally see Warhorse as well.

Praise for today: Jesus looked at them and said. "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27

Ex 9: 13-35

Here we are at plague #7. Up until now, it seems that God had not sent the full force of his plagues against Pharoah and his people. That is why some livestock lived from #5. Now God has warned Pharoah that he will send the most devasting hailstorm ever! He even warned Pharoah to shelter every man, woman and child as well as the livestock that remained for whoever and whatever remains outside will die. There were some that listened and some that didn't and left slaves and livestock outside. Then Moses was given the word by God to the deed. The storm was true to its billing and eroded away everything almost like a sandstorm would. However Goshen was spared. Pharoah, gave lip service to Moses and "promised" to after apologizing to Moses and God that he was wrong and would relent. Moses took him at his word and gave the order to for the hailstorm to cease despite knowing that Pharoah still didn't respect or fear God. As far as crops went, flax and barley were destroyed since they ripe for the picking but the wheat and spelt were not since they ripen later. After the plague ceased, Pharoah and his officials hardened their hearts again and were bent on not letting the Israelites go.

You would think that after seeing the "finger of God" at work after all of these plagues that Pharoah would be in awe of the Lord, I would. Still even today, man's heart is hardened and is incapable of belief and repentance. I am so glad that each one of my children and wife loves the Lord above all things.

Today is the day when I find out my comp for the year. From what I heard, it will not be a great day at the Rock, still bad breath is better than no breath at all.

Praise for today: How great are your works, O Lord, how profound are your thoughts! Ps 92:5

Ex 9: 1-12

The next plague that attacked Egypt was that against the livestock - horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats will all die except those that belonged to the Israelites would live. After Pharoah saw that this would come to pass, he still would not relent and let the Israelites go. The plague of boils would follow and that would affect men and the remaining animals not affected by the previous plague. The magicians couldn't stand before Moses since they too were affected by this plague. The interesting thing was how this plague would start - God told Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of soot from a furnace and toss it in the air in the presence of Pharoah. It would become fine duse over the land of Egypt and the rest was history. Still this would not move Pharoah's heart, which was predicted by God to Moses and Aaron.

It was a decent weekend and got back to Delly yesterday around 5ish. I led service on Sunday and felt it was approrpriate to start the service with excerpts from Dr. King's I have a dream speech. He truly loved God and this country and the quote from Is 40:4 which is in there is a highlight. What a remarkable man in the face of adversity and I am grateful for what he had done.

Although this will be a shortened workweek, still this will have its moments. Long day today but at least all I have to do is nuke my dinner. Looking forward already to this weekend, with CNY around the corner. Enjoyed my time in Brooklyn although it was wicked cold this weekend.

Praise for today My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord. Ps 26: 12

Ex 8:16-32

The next plague came in the form of gnats that were created from the dust of the ground. When Aaron waved his staff in the air, gnats came upon men and animals. Since Pharoah's magicians couldn't replicate the deed, they told him that this was from the "finger of God". Still he wouldn't listen, just as the Lord had said. The flies were next as swarms of flies would come upon Egypt except for the land of Goshen,where God's people lived. This was the distinction between God's people and the Egyptians. The flies ruined so much of Egypt that Pharoah summoned Moses and Aaron to sacrifice to the Lord to rid the land of the flies here in the land. But Moses and Aaron refused since the sacrifices would cause an uproar with the Egyptians and wanted to do this in the desert. Pharoah allowed this but also requested prayers for himself from God. After this, God did what Moses requested but that still kept Pharoah's heart hardened.

Like frogs and other reptiles, I don't claim to have an affinity for gnats or flies either. It is hard to imagine the sheer magnitude of the gnats and flies that invaded Egypt to be called a plague. Still God defied the laws of nature that He created to prove his point - not just to Pharoah and the Egyptians but also to Israelites who witnessed this as well.

Got my review last night and although that went alright, the news of lower compensation was still voiced and grimly. Still glad to have a job and thankful for each day. Looking forward to the long weekend and going to Brooklyn tomorrow. Prayers still for my peeps.

Praise for today: Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Ps 107: 8-9