Friday, January 23, 2009

By Strength

Exodus 13:3 KJV
And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
Exodus 13:14 KJV
And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

Exodus 13:16 KJV
And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

Three times in this chapter God says that Israel was brought out of Egypt "by strength of the hand of the Lord."
God gave Israel a memorial to teach their children and grandchildren about that strength; every male firstborn animal was to be offered as a sacrifice to God. The exceptions would be in the beast of burden, who could be redeemed by offering a lamb instead. Also, every firstborn male child was to be redeemed to God through an offering.

Israel's deliverance was not wrought by the wisdom, eloquence or power of men. Moses and Aaron had no abilities that could have caused the Pharaoh to let Israel go. Their freedom was "wrung from the Egyptian tyrant by the appalling judgments of God."

More necessary than our comfort
More necessary than our prayers being answered
More necessary than our success in this world

Is that we recognize that we are not saved by the work of man's hand but “by strength of the hand of the Lord.”
May God crush all human self righteousness and self worth.
May God bring to naught the plans and schemes of mankind; even those who believe they do God service. And
May we ever remember that our deliverance, if we have it, came "by strength of the hand of the Lord."

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