April 5, 2022 -- Exodus 11:1-3 -- Let him who has ears hear

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.
Exodus 11:1-3 ESV

Moses was commanded to speak into the ears of the people—our translation renders it: speak now in the hearing of the people. The ears are designed by our Creator so that people may receive divine revelation. There is much that is going on in this brief passage. The people of Israel are about to be driven out of Egypt. Pharaoh, against his better judgment, against his will and despite his declarations to the contrary, will now be forced by the mighty hand of God to send the people out of Egypt. Pharaoh's ears have been closed to the LORD. The people of Israel, who hear the the Word of the LORD and obey, know there will be one last plague. Those who believe are emboldened, in faith, to plunder the Egyptians and receive gold and silver, and jewelry from their Egyptian masters. It is the only time in history a slave people plundered their masters without even lifting a finger in their own defense.

The name of my ministry, which hosts the devotions I write, is “sh’ma”. It is the word “hear”. It comes from Deuteronomy 6:4. It is the first verse of the “Shema”. That refers to Deuteronomy 6:4-5, verses devout Jewish people recite every morning. They are reminded to “Shema” that is, to both hear and obey the Word of the LORD. It is obedience in faith. It is obedience in view of God’s great salvific act. For the Jewish people, the Exodus was the great salvation. Christians know the Exodus is the salvation which is a living parable of the salvation given in Jesus Christ. The LORD Himself acted, bringing people who were helpless slaves to sin out to the freedom which is secured by the blood of Christ. The Father sets His people in the Kingdom of His Son, the place where those freed by grace are able to honour and glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Today if you hear His voice—obey the King of kings and Lord of lords. Today is your heart is stirred by this noble theme—then turn from idols and sin, deny your sinful impulses and old associations of sin, and follow Jesus Christ. It is riches beyond compare to know Him.

God of Salvation, blessed are You. Great is the Salvation given in Jesus Christ. Forgive us for the many times we know Your speak in Your Word, but we let the words fall on our deaf ears. Forgive us the times we have not truly heard and obeyed. Thank You, Spirit of the Living God, for the spoken Word of God and ears to hear. Thank You Spirit for stirring in the hearts of believers a reawakening faith. Mighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may the Word we hear and the obedience prompted in us by the Spirit be a declaration to all around us of the Powerful Presence of the God of Glory Who is at work in our world. Amen.

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