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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 13:1-16

Roger Dombach — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:00:59 GMT

One of the theological terms we use in Christianity is sanctification. Unfortunately, many Christians do not live sanctified lives, either because they don’t understand the term, or they simply choose not to abide by the concept.

When the Israelites left Egypt, Yahweh commanded Israel to sanctify the firstborn. That command helps us understand the concept behind sanctification and evaluate whether we are living sanctified lives.

At midnight, Yahweh struck and killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. There was so much anguish amongst the Egyptians that Pharaoh and the Egyptians drove Israel out of their land. After sojourning 430 years in Egypt, Israel was finally free to go back to The Promised Land.

Ex. 13:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Ex. 13:2 “Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”

Look at the word “sanctify”. The firstborn of every womb was to be sanctified, meaning it belonged to Yahweh. The word “sanctify” is a translation of the Hebrew word “qadash”. The first time that word appears in the Old Testament is Gen. 2:3 which tells us God sanctified the seventh day, meaning He set apart the 7th day as being different than the other 6 days. The word “qadash appears in 151 verses throughout the Old Testament and is often translated “set apart as Holy”.

This concept appears in the New Testament. The Greek word “hagiazo” appears in 25 verses and teaches us that Christians are sanctified, meaning we are set apart, we are different than the world.

Unfortunately, many Christians do not live and act as if they are different and holy. Their lives display no significant difference in values and priorities than those who are non-Christians.

Ex. 13:3 ¶ And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a strong hand Yahweh brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.

Ex. 13:4 This day, in the month of Abib, you are going out.

Ex. 13:5 And it shall be when Yahweh brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall do this service in this month.

Ex. 13:6 For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to Yahweh.

Ex. 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders.

It takes time to make leaven bread because the yeast needs time to make the dough rise. On the night of Passover, the Israelites did not have time to let the dough rise, so they baked it before the dough rose, meaning they made unleavened bread.

Ex. 13:8 And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’

Yahweh commanded Israel to observe the feast of Unleavened Bread as a yearly reminder of how Yahweh freed them from slavery and the haste with which they were driven out of the land.

Ex. 13:9 And it will be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of Yahweh may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Yahweh brought you out of Egypt.

Ex. 13:10 Therefore, you shall keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

Ex. 13:11 ¶ “And it will be when Yahweh brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you,

Ex. 13:12 and you shall devote to Yahweh the first offspring of every womb and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to Yahweh.

Ex. 13:13 But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Take note of the word “redeem”. Redeem means to pay a ransom. Since Yahweh killed all the firstborn of Egypt as a method of forcing Pharaoh to release Israel, from that time forward, all the firstborn of Israel belonged to Yahweh. That normally would have meant sacrificing the firstborn. However, instead of sacrificing the firstborn sons, Israel was to redeem them instead. This is a picture of Jesus redeeming us from the punishment of eternal death which we deserve.

Ex. 13:14 And it will be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a strong hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

Ex. 13:15 And it happened, when Pharaoh hardened his heart with stiffness about letting us go, that Yahweh killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to Yahweh the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

The requirement to sacrifice or redeem the firstborn was also intended as a constant reminder to the Israelites of what Yahweh did for them when He brought them out of Egypt.

Ex. 13:16 So it will be as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries between your eyes, for with a strong hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.”

When the Israelites left Egypt, Yahweh commanded Israel to sanctify all the firstborn, meaning they were set apart, they were to be treated differently than all other offspring. The firstborn belonged to Yahweh, meaning they were to be sacrificed, but Israel was to redeem the firstborn humans instead of sacrificing them.

The concept of sanctification also appears in the New Testament. Christians are sanctified, meaning we are set apart. We are supposed to be different than the world. We belong to Christ.

Unfortunately, many Christians do not live and act as if they are different and holy. Their lives display no significant difference in values and priorities than those who are non-Christians. That should not be. Since we are sanctified, we should be different than the non-Christians among whom we live.

How effectively does your church teach the concept that Christians are sanctified?

Do you think of yourself as being sanctified, set apart to serve Christ?

In light of being sanctified, how do you need to change how you live your life?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”

Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 12:29-51

Roger Dombach — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:02:38 GMT

There are many references in the Bible to the fear of God. Many Christians reject the idea that fear means we should be afraid of God. Instead, they believe the fear of God means we should respect God or have a high opinion of Him. The reaction of the Egyptians to the tenth plague illustrates the correct concept of the fear of God.

Yahweh told the Israelites He was going to kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. In preparation, He instructed the Israelites to slaughter a lamb in each home and put some of the blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. Yahweh also gave specific instructions about how they were to be dressed as they ate the lamb. He promised the blood would protect them from the destroyer. The sons of Israel did just as Yahweh commanded them.

Ex. 12:29 ¶ Now it happened at midnight that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.

Ex. 12:30 Then Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.

Ponder the scale of death indicated by the last phrase. There was a dead person in every home. Imagine if in one night, someone in every house in your neighborhood died.

Ex. 12:31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have spoken.

Look at the words “get out”. Previously, Pharaoh had refused to allow Israel to leave. Now, he was forcing them out.

Ex. 12:32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have spoken, and go, and bless me also.”

Ex. 12:33 ¶ And the Egyptians strongly pressed the people to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.”

Notice the words “strongly pressed”. All the Egyptians were anxious for the Israelites to leave. The last five words of the verse explain why. The Egyptians were afraid they would all die.

The Bible tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Many Christians think the fear of the Lord is respect or awe. They reject the notion that the fear of God means we should be afraid of Yahweh.

This passage illustrates the correct concept of the fear of God. Yahweh has the power to kill anyone at any time. After He demonstrated that power over the Egyptians, the Egyptians grasped that they might all end up dead, so they were afraid. They wanted Israel to leave immediately.

Pharaoh and the Egyptians refused to submit to Yahweh, meaning they were not afraid of disobeying Yahweh, so Yahweh killed all the firstborn. He forced them to be afraid of Him. We should be afraid to disobey Yahweh because He has the power to do anything to us and make us be afraid of Him.

Ex. 12:34 So the people took up their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.

Ex. 12:35 ¶ Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses—they had asked from the Egyptians for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;

Ex. 12:36 and Yahweh had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

The Israelites had obeyed God’s command to ask for articles of wealth and reaped the benefits of their obedience. They left Egypt with great wealth, even though they had been slaves.

Ex. 12:37 ¶ And the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from the little ones.

Ex. 12:38 A foreign multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.

Take note of the reference to the foreign multitude which went with Israel. Clearly, some non-Israelites fled Egypt, but the Bible is not clear what happened to the foreign multitude. Did they assimilate into Israel? Did they separate from Israel after they were out of Egypt? We don’t really know.

Ex. 12:39 And they baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

Ex. 12:40 ¶ Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.

Ex. 12:41 And it happened at the end of 430 years, to the very day, that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.

Notice the number “430”. The United States is only 250 years old, so Israel was in Egypt longer than the United States has been a country.

Ex. 12:42 It is a night to be kept for Yahweh for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for Yahweh, to be kept by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

Ex. 12:43 ¶ And Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it;

Ex. 12:44 but every man’s slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.

Ex. 12:45 A foreign resident or a hired person shall not eat of it.

Ex. 12:46 It shall be eaten in a single house; you shall not bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, and you shall not break any bone of it.

Ex. 12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall celebrate this.

Ex. 12:48 But if a sojourner sojourns with you and celebrates the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.

Ex. 12:49 The same law shall apply to the native as to the sojourner who sojourns among you.”

Ex. 12:50 ¶ So all the sons of Israel did; as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, thus they did.

Ex. 12:51 And on that same day Yahweh brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Does your church teach the correct concept of the fear of God?

If all Christians go to heaven, what are the consequences of disobeying God?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 12:12-28

Roger Dombach — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:01:02 GMT

Society has rules against acts which are inherently wrong such as murder, rape, or theft. The consequences of violating those rules can be quite severe. There are also laws which are not based on inherent morality, such as speed limits and zoning regulations. Even though there is nothing inherently wrong with driving 65 mph, if the speed limit is 55 mph, then there are consequences for breaking the law.

The Bible also has commands in both of those categories. Some commands prohibit actions which are inherently wrong, such as murder, rape, lying, and stealing. Other commands are quite arbitrary, such as head coverings or the command for women to be silent in church.

Christians tend to think the arbitrary regulations, such as the role of women, can be safely ignored or compromised. However, God issued a command to the Israelites which was quite arbitrary, but the consequence of disobeying the command was somewhat severe. This warns us that obeying all of God’s commands, even the trivial ones, should be taken seriously.

Yahweh had brought nine plagues upon Egypt, but Pharaoh refused to bow to Yahweh. Therefore, Yahweh began preparations for a final plague which would cause Pharaoh to drive Israel out of Egypt. Yahweh told the Israelites to slaughter a lamb and put some of the blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses.

Ex. 12:12 And I will go through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am Yahweh.

Notice the phrase “against all the gods of Egypt”. Yahweh was proving that He was more powerful than all the false Egyptian gods.

Ex. 12:13 And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and I will see the blood, and I will pass over you, and there shall be no plague among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Look at the words “the blood shall be a sign”. In the passage we read yesterday, Yahweh instructed the Israelites to put blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. The blood protected them from destruction.

This is a picture of the work of the blood of Christ. Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from death during passover, so too the blood of Christ protects believers from eternal death.

Ex. 12:14 ¶ ‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to Yahweh; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a perpetual statute.

When Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, He not only gave them a religious law code, He also gave them a culture. Passover was one of the holidays given to them as part of their new culture.

Ex. 12:15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

Take note of the trivial nature of the command and the serious consequence of violating the command. The command was not to eat any leaven bread during this feast. This was not about murder, adultery, rape, or assault. Instead, it was about what type of bread they could eat. Meanwhile, the punishment for eating the wrong bread was to be cut off from Israel. That was a serious consequence for violating a trivial command.

There are many commands in the New Testament. Some of them are prohibitions against murder, adultery, or violence, activities which are clearly morally wrong. Other commands are arbitrary, such as head coverings or restrictions on the role of women. Christians often treat arbitrary rules as if they are not important. However, if the consequence of eating the wrong bread was to be cut off from Israel, then perhaps we should consider that the consequence of violating trivial commands, such as the role of women, might also be severe.

Ex. 12:16 Now on the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be done by you.

Ex. 12:17 You shall also keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall keep this day throughout your generations as a perpetual statute.

Ex. 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.

Ex. 12:19 Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.

This is a repetition of the command and consequence. The command was somewhat trivial: do not eat leaven bread for seven days every year. Despite the trivial nature of the command, the punishment was serious.

Ex. 12:20 You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your places of habitation you shall eat unleavened bread.’”

Ex. 12:21 ¶ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Bring out and take for yourselves lambs according to your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.

Ex. 12:22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the doorway of his house until morning.

Ex. 12:23 And Yahweh will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and He will see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and Yahweh will pass over the doorway and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.

The blood would protect the Israelites from the destroyer. The blood of Christ protects us from destruction.

Ex. 12:24 And you shall keep this event as a statute for you and your children forever.

Ex. 12:25 And it will be, when you enter the land which Yahweh will give you, as He has promised, you shall keep this new slavery.

Ex. 12:26 And it will be when your children say to you, ‘What is the meaning of this new slavery to you?’

Ex. 12:27 that you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to Yahweh who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but delivered our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped.

Ex. 12:28 ¶ Then the sons of Israel went and did so; just as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Some commands in the Bible prohibit actions which are inherently wrong, such as murder, rape, lying, and stealing. Other commands are quite arbitrary, such as head coverings or the command for women to be silent in church.

What are other rules in the Bible which are not inherently morally wrong, but are wrong only because God said they are wrong?

How seriously do you take those arbitrary commands?

How do you need to adjust your attitude to the commands in the Bible which are arbitrary and not based on actions which are inherently wrong?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 11:1 - 12:11

Roger Dombach — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:01:21 GMT

One of the problems we have in modern Christianity is many people outside the church look at the church and can’t see any difference between the church and the world. The values, priorities, attitudes, and behaviors of many Christians and/or so-called Christians is indistinguishable from the anti-God culture in which we live. This is the exact opposite of the reputation we should have. The Bible commands us to be unstained by the world and to not conform to the world. When non-Christians interact with Christians, they should know that we are different than non-Christians.

Yahweh has always demanded that His followers be different. When Yahweh established Israel in The Promised Land, they were to differentiate themselves from the Canaanites. The 11th chapter of Exodus is one of many chapters that contain elements that were intended to make Israel unique.

The 7th through 10th chapters of Exodus record the first nine plagues that Yahweh brought upon Egypt. Despite massive death and destruction that was inflicted on Pharaoh’s land, Pharaoh refused to submit to Yahweh.

Ex. 11:1 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely.

Look at the words “drive you out”. Yahweh said Pharaoh would not merely allow Israel to leave, he would force Israel to leave.

Ex. 11:2 Speak now in the hearing of the people so that each man may ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold.”

Yahweh commanded Israel to ask the Egyptians for silver and gold. Yahweh had first mentioned this to Moses when Moses was at the burning bush (see Exodus 3:22). The objective was to have possession of Egyptian wealth so that when the Israelites were expelled from Egypt, they would be able to plunder the Egyptians.

Ex. 11:3 (And Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses himself was very great in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.)

Note the word “favor”. Yahweh caused the Egyptians to say yes to the requests from the Israelites.

Look at the word “great”. Pharaoh did not like Moses, but most of the rest of the Egyptians had a high opinion of Moses.

Ex. 11:4 ¶ So Moses said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,

Ex. 11:5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the servant-girl who is behind the millstones; and all the firstborn of the cattle.

Ex. 11:6 Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again.

Ex. 11:7 But for any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may know how Yahweh makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’

Notice the word “distinction”. One of the ways Yahweh proved these events were divine intervention and not random acts of nature was the fact that the death and destruction only affected Egyptians. The plagues did not affect the Israelites.

Ex. 11:8 Then all these your servants will come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, ‘Go out, you and all the people who follow you,’ and after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.

The last sentence of verse 8 tells us Moses went out from Pharaoh in hot anger, which tells us the quotation recorded in verses 4-8 was spoken to Pharaoh.

Ex. 11:9 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My miraculous wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

Multiple verses in chapters 7-11 tell us Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart. The purpose of the hardening was to multiply Yahweh’s miracles so that Yahweh could prove His supremacy beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Ex. 11:10 Now Moses and Aaron did all these miraculous wonders before Pharaoh; yet Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart with strength, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.

Ex. 12:1 ¶ Now Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,

Ex. 12:2 “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.

Take note of the phrase “first month of the year”. We often think of the Mosaic Law as being religious rules. That is true to an extent, the Mosaic Law contains many religious requirements. However, that is an incomplete way of looking at the Law because the Mosaic Law also gave the Israelites a culture. Establishing the first month of the year was the first step of giving the Israelites a distinct culture.

The reason Yahweh gave Israel a culture was because they were supposed to be different than the surrounding nations. Having a unique culture helps create differentiation.

Ex. 12:3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.

The words “tenth of the month” tell us the Israelites were supposed to select a lamb on the tenth day.

There were two things happening simultaneously. First, Yahweh was giving instructions on what the Israelites needed to do to prepare for the next plague, which would be the final plague leading to freedom for the Israelites. Second, Yahweh was giving instructions on how the Israelites were to celebrate this event in the future. This was also a step in giving the Israelites their own culture.

Ex. 12:4 Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to apportion the lamb.

Ex. 12:5 Your lamb shall be a male, without blemish, a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

Ex. 12:6 And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight.

The word fourteenth tells us the Israelites were to slaughter the lamb four days after selecting it. This tells us multiple days passed between Moses telling Pharaoh about the last plague and the last plague actually taking place.

Ex. 12:7 Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

Ex. 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh that night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Ex. 12:9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.

Ex. 12:10 And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire.

Ex. 12:11 Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Passover of Yahweh.

Yahweh was very specific about how to prepare the meal as well as what to be wearing. The point was they were to be ready to leave Egypt.

As Yahweh freed Israel from slavery in Egypt, He also gave them their own culture, starting with instructions on when their calendar year was supposed to start. The long term goal was that Israel would be different than all other nations and cultures.

Today, Christians should be different than the culture in which we live. Unfortunately, just as the Old Testament is a long history of Israel’s failure to be different, so too church history is a long history of Christians failing to be different than the world.

What are some commands and practices given to the church in the New Testament which serve to make us distinct from non-Christians?

In what ways are Christians successfully following those practices?

What are some ways the modern church is failing to be different?

What is a step you need to take to differentiate yourself from the secular society in which you live?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 10:12-29

Roger Dombach — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:01:28 GMT

Humans have a tendency to use defense mechanisms against truths we don’t like. One of those mechanisms is denial. When people grieve death, we go through a phase where we try to pretend the person didn’t die.

Another truth people don’t like is the fact there is a God Who has the power and authority to tell humans how to live. The story of Pharaoh illustrates the use of denial to pretend God does not exist.

Yahweh threatened to bring locusts upon the land of Egypt. Pharaoh’s servants understood that Egypt was being destroyed, so they encouraged Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Pharaoh offered to let the men of Israel go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to Yahweh, if their women and children stayed in Egypt. Moses declined that offer, insisting all their people and all their possessions had to be allowed to go serve Yahweh. Pharaoh correctly understood that if all Israel left to go offer sacrifices, they would not come back, so he drove Moses and Aaron away.

Ex. 10:12 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat every plant of the land, all that the hail has left remaining.”

Ex. 10:13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

Ex. 10:14 And the locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt; they were very heavy. There had never been so many locusts, nor would there be so many again.

Look at the words “never been” and “so many again”. Having a swarm of locusts attack Egypt may not have been an unusual occurrence. In this case, the swarm was larger and heavier than normal. In fact, it was the largest swarm of locusts that ever attacked Egypt.

Ex. 10:15 For they covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Thus nothing green was left on tree or plant of the field through all the land of Egypt.

Notice the words “nothing green was left”. The first couple plagues, frogs, lice, and flies, were annoyances, but not necessarily destructive. Then Yahweh brought a pestilence which killed much livestock, and the hail which destroyed many plants and trees. The locusts devoured any green plant which was left. The plagues were no longer merely annoying the Egyptians, they were massively destroying Egypt.

Ex. 10:16 Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God and against you.

Pharaoh used the word “sinned”. He actually admitted he was doing something wrong.

Ex. 10:17 So now, please forgive my sin only this once and entreat Yahweh your God, that He would only cause this death to depart from me.”

Take note of the words “only this once”. Pharaoh claimed Yahweh would only need to overlook Pharaoh’s obstinance this one time. However, Pharaoh did not promise to release Israel, he simply begged for mercy.

Ex. 10:18 And he went out from Pharaoh and entreated Yahweh.

Ex. 10:19 So Yahweh changed the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt.

Ex. 10:20 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart with strength, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.

Ex. 10:21 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.”

Ponder the phrase “a darkness which may be felt”. I live in an area where there are caves deep underground. During a tour, when the lights are turned off, you cannot see your hand in front of your face. That may be the kind of darkness the Egyptians experienced.

Ex. 10:22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.

Ex. 10:23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their places of habitation.

Don’t miss the length of this darkness. It lasted three days. In light of all history, three days is a small amount of time. However, three days of darkness where you can’t see another person, and perhaps can’t see your own hand in front of your face, is a very long time.

Ex. 10:24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve Yahweh; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.”

Ex. 10:25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have in our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice them to Yahweh our God.

Ex. 10:26 Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall remain behind, for we shall take some of them to serve Yahweh our God. And until we come there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve Yahweh.”

Ex. 10:27 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart with strength, and he was not willing to let them go.

Ex. 10:28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!”

Think about what Pharaoh was attempting to do at this point. He forbid Moses and Aaron from approaching him. I assume Pharaoh was thinking that if Moses and Aaron were never allowed to see him again, then he could prevent any future plagues. That was a severe case of denial. Instead of accepting the power of Yahweh, Pharaoh was going to pretend Yahweh did not exist.

Ex. 10:29 And Moses said, “As you have spoken; I shall never see your face again!”

Humans have a tendency to use defense mechanisms against truths we don’t like. One of those mechanisms is denial. People don’t like the fact there is a God Who has the power and authority to tell humans how to live; therefore, humans commonly try to deny the existence of a Creator.

Pharaoh did not want to submit to God and release the Israelites, so he kept resisting Yahweh. He was essentially trying to pretend Yahweh did not exist. He was so deep into his denial that he allowed Egypt to be destroyed. Allowing the Israelites to leave at the first request would have been much less costly than all the plagues that Egypt suffered. The lesson is that denial can be extremely costly.

How is your denial causing loss or destruction in your life?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 9:31 - 10:11

Roger Dombach — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:01:00 GMT

Humans tend to be proud. Pride can be a good thing. When we feel a sense of satisfaction upon the completion of a difficult talk, that is pride, but it is a good pride that motivates us to accomplish even more.

Pride can also be negative. If we refuse to admit our limits, or have a higher opinion of ourselves than is justified, then pride is not good. Pride can lead to negative consequences.

In some ways, the story of Moses forcing Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery is a lesson about pride. We will read some verses today that illustrate the cost of being proud.

Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go worship Yahweh, so Yahweh brought a hailstorm upon the land of Egypt. The storm included thunder and lightning. It was the most severe storm in the history of Egypt.

Ex. 9:31 (Now the flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.

Stalks of grain turn brown as they become ready for harvest; thus, they become fragile. As grain ripens, it becomes easier and easier to destroy it. The flax and barley plants were not able to recover after being damaged by hail.

Ex. 9:32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck down, for they are late-ripening.)

The wheat and spelt were still green; thus, those stalks were able to recover after being damaged by the hail.

Ex. 9:33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to Yahweh; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth.

Ex. 9:34 But Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased. So he sinned again and hardened his heart with firmness, he and his servants.

In prior passages it says Pharaoh hardened his heart. In this verse we see that Pharaoh’s servants also hardened their hearts.

Ex. 9:35 And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened with strength, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken by the hand of Moses.

Ex. 10:1 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants with firmness, that I may set these signs of Mine among them,

Ex. 10:2 and that you may recount in the hearing of your son and of your grandson, how I dealt severely with the Egyptians, and how I put My signs among them, that you may know that I am Yahweh.”

Look at the phrase “recount in the hearing of your son”. Yahweh could have caused Pharaoh to release the Israelites at the first request. However, by allowing and causing Pharaoh to harden his heart, Yahweh was creating a dramatic sequence of events which the Israelites could use in all future generations to teach the existence and power of Yahweh. The Israelites have done that in each generation since, and they still do that today.

Ex. 10:3 ¶ Then Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Notice the word “humble”. Part of the problem was Pharaoh’s pride. Pharaoh was used to being the highest authority in the land of Egypt. He did not want to acknowledge that Yahweh was superior to himself. At this point in the confrontation, Moses directly confronted Pharaoh with the fact that pride was preventing Pharaoh from humbling himself before Yahweh.

Ex. 10:4 For if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.

Ex. 10:5 And they shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They will also eat the rest of what has escaped—what remains for you from the hail—and they will eat every tree which sprouts for you out of the field.

Ex. 10:6 Then your houses and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians shall be filled, something which neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day that they came upon the earth until this day.’” And he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

Ex. 10:7 And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

Don’t overlook the wisdom of the question posed to Pharaoh. Pharaoh was so focused on protecting his status as the ruler of Egypt that he was missing the fact that the land he ruled over was being completely destroyed. Pharaoh didn’t want to release the Israelites because they provided slave labor, but the cost of the destruction Egypt was experiencing was far greater than the value of the slave labor being provided by the Israelites.

Pharaoh’s pride, his refusal to humble himself, was proving to be very costly.

Ex. 10:8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve Yahweh your God! Who are the ones that are going?”

Ex. 10:9 And Moses said, “We shall go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go, for it is a feast of Yahweh for us.”

Ex. 10:10 Then he said to them, “Thus may Yahweh be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! See, for evil is on your faces.

Pharaoh understood that if the men only went into the wilderness and left their wives and children in Egypt, then the men would return. However, if the men took their families and all their possessions, then they would not return.

Ex. 10:11 Not so! Go now, the men among you, and serve Yahweh, for that is what you are seeking.” So they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

Pharaoh was used to being the highest authority in the land of Egypt. He did not want to humble himself and acknowledge that Yahweh was superior to himself. Pharaoh was so focused on protecting his status as the ruler of Egypt that he was missing the fact that the land he ruled over was being completely destroyed. Pharaoh’s pride was very costly.

How is your pride causing you to be blind to the consequences of your lack of humility?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 9:13-30

Roger Dombach — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:01:03 GMT

Many people ask why God allows evil to exist, or why He allows evil people to prosper, wield power and authority, and inflict harm on other people. Throughout history there have been brutal dictators who have brought massive pain, suffering, and death upon their subjects. Some people insist if there is a God, then He would not allow this evil to happen.

Moses and Aaron performed many miracles to prove that Yahweh is the God of the Hebrews, and that Pharaoh should release the Israelites. Aaron turned his staff into a serpent. Then the water of the Nile was turned to blood, frogs swarmed all over Egypt, gnats permeated throughout the whole land, Egypt was inundated with flies, pestilence killed the livestock of Egypt, and Moses tossed soot into the air which turned into sores on man and beast. Despite all those demonstrations, Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites.

Today’s passage tells us about another attempt to convince Pharaoh to release Israel. In this passage is a simple statement that reveals why Yahweh raised up Pharaoh to rule over Egypt, and that statement helps us understand why Yahweh allows evil in our world today.

Ex. 9:13 ¶ And Yahweh said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and you shall say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Ex. 9:14 For this time I will send all My plagues against your heart and amongst your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.

Look at the word “know”. The purpose of the miracles was to prove the supremacy of Yahweh.

Ex. 9:15 For if by now I had sent forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been wiped out from the earth.

Notice the threat to wipe out the Egyptians. The miracles should have produced fear in the heart of Pharaoh. At this point it should not have been necessary for Moses to tell Pharaoh that Yahweh could wipe him out.

Ex. 9:16 But, indeed, for this reason I have caused you to stand, in order to show you My power and in order to recount My name through all the earth.

Take note of the word “reason”. This verse tells us why Yahweh was doing all this. More importantly, this verse tells us why Yahweh raised up this man to be Pharaoh. Yahweh put Pharaoh in his position of power so that he would resist Yahweh, so that in turn Yahweh would be able to demonstrate His power.

Look at the last phrase. Ultimately, the purpose of demonstrating His power was so that the name of Yahweh would be proclaimed in all the earth. For thousands of years, the miracles Yahweh performed in response to Pharaoh’s obstinance have been used to glorify Yahweh and proclaim His power, authority, and sovereignty.

Many times we look around our world and wonder why God allows evil people to prosper and perform evil deeds. We need to be aware that perhaps God allows evil people to do their evil deeds so that God can bring glory to Himself. Every person in power and authority is there to glorify Yahweh.

Ex. 9:17 Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.

Ex. 9:18 Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will rain down very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.

Ex. 9:19 So now, send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, the hail will come down on them, and they will die.”’”

Ex. 9:20 The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of Yahweh made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses;

Take note of the word “feared”. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. In this case, any wise person understood that Yahweh could do as He threatened, and they protected their servants and livestock accordingly.

Ex. 9:21 but he who did not consider in his heart the word of Yahweh left his servants and his livestock in the field.

Ex. 9:22 ¶ Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”

Ex. 9:23 So Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and Yahweh gave forth thunder and hail, and fire went down to the earth. And Yahweh rained down hail on the land of Egypt.

Ex. 9:24 So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

Ex. 9:25 And the hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, from man to beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field.

Ex. 9:26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.

Ex. 9:27 ¶ Then Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time; Yahweh is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.

Ex. 9:28 Entreat Yahweh, for God’s thunder and hail are too much; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”

Ex. 9:29 And Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to Yahweh; the thunder will cease, and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is Yahweh’s.

Ex. 9:30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear Yahweh God.”

Notice once again the word “fear”. Moses stated Pharaoh did not yet fear Yahweh.Yes, Pharaoh wanted relief from the hail, but he did not yet fear Yahweh enough that he would do what was necessary in order to prevent future plagues.

Yahweh put Pharaoh in his position of power so that he would resist Yahweh, so that in turn Yahweh would be able to demonstrate His power. Ultimately, the purpose of demonstrating His power was so that the name of Yahweh would be proclaimed in all the earth. For thousands of years, the miracles Yahweh performed in response to Pharaoh’s obstinance have been used to glorify Yahweh and proclaim His power, authority, and sovereignty.

Many times we look around our world and wonder why God allows evil people to prosper and perform evil deeds. We need to be aware that God allows evil people to do their evil deeds so that God can bring glory to Himself.

In what ways will the existence of evil rulers in our world today lead to the glorification of the Creator of the Universe?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 8:25 - 9:12

Roger Dombach — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:02:26 GMT

There is a debate within Christianity known as man’s free will vs. God’s sovereignty. Some people believe God preordains everything that happens, including who will become Christians and go to heaven. Others believe humans have free will in everything and are free to choose right and wrong and whether or not to follow Jesus. Today’s passage teaches us there is truth to both sides of that argument.

Pharaoh did not release the Israelites after the plagues of blood, frogs or gnats, so Yahweh tried flies. He brought swarms of flies upon the Egyptians, but the flies were not in the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. The land of Egypt was laid waste because of the flies.

Ex. 8:25 ¶ And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.”

Ex. 8:26 But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to Yahweh our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us?

Ex. 8:27 We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh our God as He says to us.”

Ex. 8:28 And Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Entreat for me.”

Ex. 8:29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you, and I shall entreat Yahweh that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only may Pharaoh not deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.”

Look at the words “deal deceitfully again”. When the land of Egypt was overrun with frogs, Pharaoh promised to release the Israelites if Moses would make the frogs go away. However, after the frogs were gone, Pharaoh broke his promise and did not allow the Israelites to leave (see Exodus. 8:8-15). When Pharaoh wanted the flies to leave his land, he once again promised to release Israel in exchange for relief, but Moses called him out for having broken his promise before.

Ex. 8:30 ¶ So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated Yahweh.

Ex. 8:31 And Yahweh did according to the word of Moses and caused the swarms of flies to depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained.

Ex. 8:32 Then Pharaoh hardened his heart with firmness this time also, and he did not let the people go.

Once again Pharaoh broke his promise.

Notice this verse says Pharaoh hardened his heart. Pharaoh deliberately resisted Yahweh. This is an argument in favor of man’s free will. Pharaoh made a choice to resist Yahweh.

Ex. 9:1 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Come to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Ex. 9:2 For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them,

Ex. 9:3 behold, the hand of Yahweh will come with a very heavy pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.

Ex. 9:4 But Yahweh will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’”

Notice the word “distinction”. Yahweh intended to afflict the Egyptians, but not the Israelites. This was another tactic to prove that the plagues were not naturally occurring events. If the pestilence had affected Israel also, then Pharaoh could have pretended the plague was an act of nature, not an act of God.

Ex. 9:5 Yahweh also set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow Yahweh will do this thing in the land.”

Look at the word “tomorrow”. By specifying the time the pestilence would happen, Yahweh added weight to the proof that He is God.

Ex. 9:6 So Yahweh did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died.

Ex. 9:7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened with firmness, and he did not let the people go.

Pharaoh verified that Israel was not affected by the pestilence, but that did not persuade him to submit to Yahweh.

Sometimes it is helpful to notice what is not written or what is not done. In this case, Pharaoh was no longer asking his magicians to imitate the signs that Moses and Aaron were performing. Pharaoh was not even pretending that Moses and Aaron were simply causing illusions or sleight of hand.

Ex. 9:8 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses toss it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

Notice the words “in the sight of Pharaoh”.

Ex. 9:9 And it will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and it will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.”

Ex. 9:10 So they took the soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses tossed it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.

Notice the words “stood before Pharaoh”. If Moses had done this out of Pharaoh’s sight, then Pharaoh could have pretended this was not an act of God. However, when Pharaoh saw Moses toss soot in the air and it became boils, Pharaoh could not legitimately claim the boils were an act of nature.

Ex. 9:11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.

Ex. 9:12 And Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart with strength, and he did not listen to them, just as Yahweh had spoken to Moses.

This verse tells us Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart. This is an argument in favor of God’s sovereignty.

Sometimes Pharaoh hardened his heart on his own. Sometimes Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart. This means we need to consider that sometimes we act with a free will, but sometimes God intervenes and forces us to act in certain ways.

What is an occasion when you believe God intervened in your life and made you do something good or prevented you from doing something bad?

What is an occasion when you narrowly escaped disaster and know it had to be God protecting you?

What evidence do you have that sometimes God allows you to exercise free will?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 8:8-24

Roger Dombach — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:01:09 GMT

There are many people who deny the existence of God. We Christians should explain why we believe in God, offer proof for the existence of God, and answer legitimate objections to the belief that God exists. However, some Christians fall into the trap of thinking that everyone who denies the existence of God does so because they have not been presented with sufficient evidence for the existence of God. The story of Pharaoh and Moses illustrates that is not always the case.

When Moses asked Pharaoh to release the Israelites, Pharaoh asked who Yahweh is. Yahweh began performing miracles to prove His strength and power. Aarons staff was turned into a serpent. Then the water in the Nile River was turned into blood. Next, Yahweh smote the land of Egypt with frogs.

Ex. 8:8 ¶ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat Yahweh that He may cause the frogs to depart from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to Yahweh.”

Don’t miss the fact that Pharaoh promised to allow Israel to leave if he was granted relief from the frogs.

Ex. 8:9 And Moses said to Pharaoh, “May the honor be yours to tell me: when shall I entreat for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses, that they may remain only in the Nile?”

Take note of the word “when”. Moses allowed Pharaoh to choose when the frogs would disappear. If Moses had simply asked Yahweh to make the frogs disappear, then when the frogs disappeared, Pharaoh could have reasonably claimed the frogs left on their own. By allowing Pharaoh to choose the time when they would leave, it was harder for Pharaoh to pretend that the frogs left without divine intervention.

Ex. 8:10 ¶ Then he said, “Tomorrow.” So he said, “May it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like Yahweh our God.

Notice the phrase “that you may know”. The purpose of letting Pharaoh choose the time was to prove the supremacy of Yahweh.

Ex. 8:11 And the frogs will depart from you and your houses and your servants and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”

Ex. 8:12 Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried out to Yahweh concerning the frogs which He had set upon Pharaoh.

Ex. 8:13 So Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, the courts, and the fields.

Ex. 8:14 So they piled them in heaps, and the land became foul.

Once again we see the word “foul”. This is the same word the author of Exodus used to describe the Nile River when it was turned into blood.

Ex. 8:15 Then Pharaoh saw that there was relief, and he hardened his heart with firmness and did not listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.

Prior to this, Pharaoh simply refused to allow Israel to leave. This time, Pharaoh broke a promise when he refused to allow Israel to leave.

Ex. 8:16 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’”

Ex. 8:17 And they did so; and 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 through all the land of Egypt.

Ex. 8:18 Then the magicians did the same with their secret arts in order to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast.

Think about the words “but they could not”. The magicians tried to bring forth gnats, but they were unable to do so.

Previous to this, the miracles the magicians were able to imitate were turning a staff into a serpent, turning water into blood, and bringing forth frogs. Staffs, water, and frogs are large enough that the magicians were able to manipulate them and create the illusion that they were doing the same thing Moses and Aaron were doing. However, they could not bring forth gnats because gnats are too small, and they were not able to control them enough to create the illusion that they were bringing forth gnats.

Ex. 8:19 And the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened with strength, and he did not listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.

Ponder what the magicians said to Pharaoh. They told Pharaoh that God was working through Moses and Aaron. In other words, they told Pharaoh that God exists. However, Pharaoh refused to believe them. The problem was not that Pharaoh did not have enough evidence that God exists. The problem was Pharaoh did not want to believe in God.

In our society today, there are many people who claim God does not exist. Some of those people have legitimate questions that need to be answered. However, some of the people who deny the existence of God do not do so because of lack of evidence. Instead, some deny the existence of God because they do not want God to exist. They do not want to obey God, so they refuse to acknowledge the existence of God.

Ex. 8:20 ¶ And Yahweh said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water, and you shall say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Ex. 8:21 For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.

Ex. 8:22 But on that day I will make a distinction for the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, that you may know that I, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land.

Ex. 8:23 And I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will happen.”’”

Ex. 8:24 Then Yahweh did so. And there came heavy swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants, and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.

We Christians should explain why we believe in God, offer proof for the existence of God, and answer legitimate objections to the belief that God exists. However, some Christians fall into the trap of thinking that everyone who denies the existence of God does so because they have not been presented with sufficient evidence for the existence of God.

The story of Pharaoh and Moses illustrates that is not always the case. Pharaoh did not resist God because he lacked evidence that God exists. The plague of gnats made it very clear Yahweh is God. However, Pharaoh did not want to believe in God, because he did not want to obey Yahweh.

Likewise, there are many people today who have sufficient evidence that God exists, but they deny His existence because they do not want to obey God.

How can you tell whether an atheist truly lacks evidence for the existence of God or is simply suppressing the reality that God exists?

Who do you know who claims they do not have sufficient evidence that God exists, but in reality they simply do not want there to be a God?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 7:14 - 8:7

Roger Dombach — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:01:42 GMT

Humans naturally do not want to obey God. Therefore, many people pretend God does not exist, even when they are face to face with evidence and proof that there has to be a God. Today’s passage illustrates the extent to which people can deceive themselves into thinking God does not exist.

When Moses and Aaron delivered Yahweh’s message and told Pharaoh to release the Israelites, Pharaoh refused to acknowledge Yahweh. Aaron turned his staff into a serpent, but the magicians of Egypt were able to create the illusion that they turned their staffs into serpents, also. Thus, Pharaoh still refused to release Israel.

Ex. 7:14 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hard with firmness; he refuses to let the people go.

Ex. 7:15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and station yourself to meet him on the bank of the Nile; and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent.

Ex. 7:16 And you shall say to him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But behold, you have not listened until now.”

Ex. 7:17 Thus says Yahweh, “By this you shall know that I am Yahweh: behold, I am about to strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.

Take note of the phrase “by this you shall know that I am Yahweh”. Yahweh did all this to prove His existence and power.

Ex. 7:18 And the fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will be weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’”

Ex. 7:19 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools and over all their reservoirs of water, that they may become blood; and there will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”

Ex. 7:20 ¶ So Moses and Aaron did thus, as Yahweh had commanded. And he raised up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.

Ex. 7:21 And the fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. And the blood was through all the land of Egypt.

Look at the word “foul”. That word has to be an understatement. The Nile and all Egypt would have been absolutely gross.

Ex. 7:22 Yet the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened with strength, and he did not listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.

Note the terms that are present in this verse, and those that are not present. The verse mentions magicians, but it does not mention wise men or sorcerers. This leads me to believe the magicians were not using black magic or the spirit world to do this. Instead, they were using illusions or sleight of hand to make it appear they were turning water into blood.

Perhaps they started with real water and managed to substitute real blood at some point. Maybe they started with water and covertly added something that turned the water red and made it look like blood.

We often read this passage and think Pharaoh called in the magicians and they immediately imitated Moses and Aaron. However, the Bible does not tell us how much time elapsed. It is possible the magicians did their trick many hours after Moses and Aaron had turned the water into blood. In other words, the magicians acted after they had time to think of a way to create the illusion that they were turning water into blood.

Ex. 7:23 Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not set his heart even on this.

Yahweh was bringing the plagues to prove He is Yahweh, but the magicians were able to perform enough illusion that Pharaoh could convince himself that the God of Moses and Aaron was not as powerful as he actually was.

This is something humans from all generations tend to do. Humans naturally do not want to obey God. We want to live how we want to live. Therefore, many people pretend God does not exist. Even when they are face to face with evidence and proof that there has to be a God, they grab hold of the flimsiest reason to convince themselves God does not actually exist.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the first chapter of Romans when he said the existence of God is evident to all, but men suppress the truth. The magicians gave Pharaoh just enough illusion so that he could pretend that Yahweh did not exist.

Ex. 7:24 So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the Nile.

Ex. 7:25 And seven full days passed after Yahweh had struck the Nile.

I assume eventually all the blood flowed downstream and the Nile returned to being water, but the Bible does not confirm that nor suggest how long that process may have taken. Since Pharaoh wanted to prove that the God of Moses and Aaron was not all-powerful, he should have asked his magicians to turn the blood back into water.

Ex. 8:1 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Come to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Ex. 8:2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs.

Ex. 8:3 And the Nile will swarm with frogs, and they will go up and come into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and on your people and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.

Ex. 8:4 So the frogs will come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’”

Ex. 8:5 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and cause the frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’”

Ex. 8:6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

Ex. 8:7 And the magicians did the same with their secret arts; they caused the frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

Once again the magicians were able to create the illusion that they also had the ability to command frogs.

Yahweh gave Moses and Aaron the ability to perform miracles so that Yahweh could prove He is Yahweh. The magicians of Egypt were able to create the illusion that they could do the same thing Moses and Aaron were doing. That allowed Pharaoh to deceive himself into thinking Moses and Aaron were only creating illusions.

Humans naturally do not want to obey God. We want to live how we want to live. Therefore, many people pretend God does not exist. Even when they are face to face with evidence and proof that there has to be a God, they grab hold of the flimsiest reason to convince themselves God does not actually exist.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the first chapter of Romans when he said the existence of God is evident to all, but men suppress the truth. Many people today are suppressing the truth just as Pharaoh suppressed the truth.

Who do you know who is suppressing the truth about our Creator?

To what extent are you suppressing the truth about God?

How can you evangelize a person who is suppressing the truth?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 6:16 - 7:13

Roger Dombach — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:00:25 GMT

Some Christians claim God pre-ordained who will be saved and all the deeds that every human will ever do. Others reject that and insist men have free will to choose salvation and whether to do right and wrong. This debate is known as man’s free will vs. God’s sovereignty. Today’s passage does solve this debate, but it does provide some evidence that needs to be considered as we seek to answer this question.

Moses went to Pharaoh and demanded that the Israelites be allowed to go into the wilderness to worship their God. Pharaoh refused the request and increased the workload of the Israelites instead, claiming the Israelites were lazy. The Israelites were upset with Moses because he was making their lives worse, not better.

Ex. 6:16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations:

Gershon and Kohath and Merari; and the years of Levi’s life were 137 years.

Ex. 6:17 The sons of Gershon:

Libni and Shimei, according to their families.

Ex. 6:18 The sons of Kohath:

Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel; and the years of Kohath’s life were 133 years.

Ex. 6:19 The sons of Merari:

Mahli and Mushi.

These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.

Ex. 6:20 And Amram took his father’s sister Jochebed as a wife, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the years of Amram’s life were 137 years.

Ex. 6:21 The sons of Izhar:

Korah and Nepheg and Zichri.

Ex. 6:22 The sons of Uzziel:

Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri.

Ex. 6:23 And Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as a wife, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Ex. 6:24 The sons of Korah:

Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.

Ex. 6:25 And Aaron’s son Eleazar took one of the daughters of Putiel as a wife, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites according to their families.

Ex. 6:26 It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom Yahweh said, “Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.”

Ex. 6:27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring out the sons of Israel from Egypt; it was the same Moses and Aaron.

The reason for including this genealogy at this point of the book was to show the genealogical background of Moses and Aaron.

Ex. 6:28 ¶ Now it happened on the day when Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,

Ex. 6:29 that Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “I am Yahweh; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I am speaking to you.”

Ex. 6:30 But Moses said before Yahweh, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Take note of the expression “uncircumcised lips”. Moses did not think he was qualified to speak to Pharaoh.

Ex. 7:1 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “See, I set you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.

Look at the word “prophet”. Moses and Aaron are a picture of the definition of a prophet. A prophet is a spokesperson. Moses told Aaron what to say, and then Aaron went and delivered the message to Pharaoh. Likewise, God told prophets what to say, and then the prophets delivered the message to people.

Ex. 7:2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land.

Ex. 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart with stiffness that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

Notice the phrase “I will harden”. This is an example of Yahweh’s sovereignty.

There is a debate within Christianity regarding man’s free will vs. God’s sovereignty. Some Christians claim God pre-ordained who will be saved and all the deeds that every human will ever do. Others reject that and insist man has free will to choose salvation and whether to do right and wrong. The fact that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart proves it is possible that there are times when God does not allow humans to make a choice.

Don’t miss the reason God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God did that so that He could demonstrate His power.

Ex. 7:4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you. And I will set My hand upon Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Ex. 7:5 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”

Yahweh intended to take some actions which would prove to Egypt that He is Yahweh.

Ex. 7:6 So Moses and Aaron did it; as Yahweh commanded them, thus they did.

Ex. 7:7 Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

This verse tells us Moses was eighty years old when he went back to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. The book of Exodus does not tell us how old Moses was when he fled Egypt after murdering the Egyptian. The book of Acts contains a sermon by Stephen in which he said Moses was forty when he fled Egypt; however, keep in mind that Stephen’s speech was not necessarily inspired. The author of Acts accurately recorded what Stephen said. That does not mean Stephen was 100% accurate in what he said.

Ex. 7:8 ¶ And Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

Ex. 7:9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miraculous wonder,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’”

Ex. 7:10 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as Yahweh had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.

Ex. 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts.

Notice the words “wise men”, “sorcerers”, “magicians”, and “secret arts”.

The Hebrew word that is translated “wise men” appears 133 times in the Old Testament. It is generally a positive term, indicating a particular person is wise.

The Hebrew word that is translated “sorcerers” appears 6 times in the Old Testament and is a negative term. Sorcery was clearly bad.

The Hebrew word that is translated “magicians” appears 11 times in the Old Testament. None of those references make it clear whether magicians were good or bad.

The Hebrew word that is translated “secret arts” appears eight times in the Old Testament. None of those references make it clear whether secrecy or stealthiness is good or bad.

Some people read this passage and think the Egyptians were using the spiritual world to turn staffs into serpents. That may not be what was happening. It is possible the magicians were using tricks to make it appear that staffs were turning into serpents, just as magicians today have tricks to make it appear they are pulling a rabbit out of a hat or a coin from behind a person’s ear.

Ex. 7:12 And each one threw down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

Ex. 7:13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened with strength, and he did not listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.

Take note of the words “was hardened”. Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh would rebel against Yahweh.

What do you believe regarding man’s free will vs. God’s sovereignty?

How does today’s passage change your perspective on that question?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 5:20 - 6:15

Roger Dombach — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:02:05 GMT

The Bible gives us guidance regarding how to resolve disputes and dissensions. The guidance is both a command to resolve disagreements and instruction on how to go about finding resolution.

Sometimes when we follow Biblical procedures, things get worse instead of getting better. Then we start to question whether obeying the Bible was the best course of action.

Moses had a similar problem. He obeyed God’s commands when trying to free the Israelites, but the suffering of the Israelites increased. Yahweh’s reassurance to Moses can also reassure us when we face setbacks while trying to be obedient.

Moses had demanded that Pharaoh allow the Israelites to go celebrate a feast in the wilderness. Pharaoh said no and increased the amount of work the Israelites had to do. When the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh about the increase in their workload, Pharaoh accused them of being lazy. The foremen realized they were in trouble.

Ex. 5:20 When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they confronted Moses and Aaron, standing there to meet them.

Ex. 5:21 And they said to them, “May Yahweh look upon you and judge, for you have made us a foul smell in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Ex. 5:22 ¶ Then Moses returned to Yahweh and said, “O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?

Ex. 5:23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”

When Yahweh appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Yahweh said He had heard the cry of the Israelites due to their affliction and intended to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians (see Exodus 3:7-8). Yahweh commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses did what Yahweh told him to do, but the plight of the Israelites was worse, so Moses asked why Yahweh had sent him.

Sometimes when we do what the Bible tells us to do, a problem we are trying to address gets worse not better. Perhaps we confront a person about anger or sin, and he gets more angry or increases his sin. Maybe he becomes violent against the people he formerly was merely angry with. When that happens, we begin to question whether obeying the Bible was the best choice.

Ex. 6:1 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for by a strong hand he will let them go, and by a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

Look at the phrase, “Now you shall see what I will do”. Yahweh was allowing things to get worse before they got better, so that Yahweh could increase the demonstration of His power.

Ex. 6:2 ¶ God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am Yahweh;

Ex. 6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Yahweh, I was not known to them.

Take note of the word “appeared”. The patriarchs knew the name Yahweh (see Gen. 12:8), but when Yahweh “appeared” to the patriarchs, He did not identify Himself as Yahweh. Instead, He identified Himself as God Almighty (see Gen. 17:1, 26:24, 35:9-11, 48:3).

Ex. 6:4 And I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned.

Ex. 6:5 Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel because the Egyptians are holding them in slavery, and I have remembered My covenant.

Ex. 6:6 Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the hard labors of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their slavery. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.

Even though the persecution of the Israelites had increased, Yahweh assured them He was going to deliver them from slavery.

Ex. 6:7 Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out from under the hard labors of the Egyptians.

Notice the phrase “you shall know that I am Yahweh”. Yahweh was allowing things to get temporarily worse so that His demonstration of His power would be more convincing. There was a benefit to the short term decline.

When we try to solve a problem according to Biblical guidance, if things get worse, we should consider the possibility that there is a long term benefit to the short term setback.

Ex. 6:8 And I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am Yahweh.’”

Ex. 6:9 So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their weakness of spirit and hard slavery.

The Israelites wanted immediate deliverance, which was understandable. Many times we do the same thing. We want immediate answers to our prayers, and when we don’t get immediate relief, we assume relief will never come.

Ex. 6:10 ¶ Now Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Ex. 6:11 “Come, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.”

Ex. 6:12 But Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, “Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”

Ponder Moses’ question. He wanted to know why Pharaoh would listen if the Israelites did not. That was a good question, but Yahweh did not answer the question. Sometimes we just need to trust Yahweh.

Ex. 6:13 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron and gave them a command for the sons of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Ex. 6:14 ¶ These are the heads of their fathers’ households.

The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn:

Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.

Ex. 6:15 The sons of Simeon:

Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.

Yahweh allowed things to get temporarily worse for the Israelites, so that His demonstration of His power would be more convincing. There was a benefit to the short term decline. When we try to solve a problem according to Biblical guidance, if things get worse, we should consider the possibility that there is a long term benefit to the short term setback.

What is an occasion when you tried to resolve a problem according to Biblical principles and the problem got worse?

What was the benefit of the delayed resolution?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 4:29 - 5:19

Roger Dombach — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:01:00 GMT

Christians believe in the great commission, the command God gave us to make disciples of all the nations. Accordingly, throughout church history, many people have traveled all over the world in order to preach the good news of Jesus to people who have never heard of Him.

Yahweh instructed Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses came up with many excuses to get out of his assignment, but Yahweh did not rescind His command. Moses received permission from his father-in-law to return to Egypt, and then met his brother Aaron in the wilderness.

Ex. 4:29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the sons of Israel;

Ex. 4:30 and Aaron spoke all the words which Yahweh had spoken to Moses. He then did the signs in the sight of the people.

Take note of the words “spoke” and “signs”. Moses delivered God’s message and performed the signs to prove his message was from God.

Ex. 4:31 So the people believed; and they heard that Yahweh cared about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction. So they bowed low and worshiped.

Notice the word “believed”. After the people saw the signs, they believed the message Moses gave them was from God, which assured them Yahweh cared about their circumstance.

Ex. 5:1 ¶ And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

Don’t miss the phrase “the God of Israel”. Moses and Aaron identified Yahweh as the God of Israel.

Ex. 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh that I should listen to His voice to let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh, and also, I will not let Israel go.”

Pharaoh asked, “Who is Yahweh?” Yahweh was not one of the Egyptian gods; therefore, Pharaoh did not know Yahweh and thought he could ignore Yahweh. In order to get Pharaoh to release the Israelites, Moses would first have to convince Pharaoh that Yahweh is the Only God.

The objection expressed by Pharaoh is similar to an objection Christians face when we evangelize people from other cultures and other religions. When we evangelize, we tell people they need to believe in the God of Christianity in order to be saved. We tell them the God of Christianity is going to judge all people someday, so they need to obey the commands of the God of Christianity. People from other cultures and religions do not accept that the God of Christianity is the only true God; therefore, they do not accept that they need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved. In order to evangelize them, we first need to convince them the God of the Bible is the One and only true God.

Ex. 5:3 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 Yahweh our God, lest He confront us with pestilence or with the sword.”

Ex. 5:4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your hard labors!”

Ex. 5:5 And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their hard labors!”

Ex. 5:6 So on that day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying,

Ex. 5:7 “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Ex. 5:8 But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall set upon them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

Ex. 5:9 Let their slavery be hard on the men, and let them work at it so that they will have no regard for false words.”

The reason Yahweh sent Moses was because Yahweh heard the cry for help that arose from the sons of Israel (see Exo. 2:23). However, at this point the plight of the Israelites was worse than before Yahweh sent Moses.

Ex. 5:10 ¶ So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I am not going to give you any straw.

Ex. 5:11 You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but no amount of your slave labor will be reduced.’”

Ex. 5:12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

Ex. 5:13 And the taskmasters were pressing them, saying, “Complete your work quota, the daily amount, just as when there was straw.”

Ex. 5:14 Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?”

Ex. 5:15 ¶ Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your slaves?

Ex. 5:16 There is no straw given to your slaves, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your slaves are being beaten; but it is the sin of your own people.”

Ex. 5:17 But he said, “You are lazy—lazy! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’

Ex. 5:18 So now, go and labor; but straw will not be given to you, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”

Ex. 5:19 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”

Take note of the word “trouble”. The foremen understood they were in a no-win situation because they had to do more work in the same amount of time. Plus, Pharaoh told them the reason for the increase in work was their request to go meet Yahweh. That told them Moses had actually made their situation worse, not better.

There are many obstacles missionaries face when they try to convince people to leave their native religion and adopt Christianity. The story of Moses approaching Pharaoh in the name of Yahweh illustrates one of the obstacles. Pharaoh did not know Yahweh; therefore, he did not believe he had to do what Yahweh told him to do.

When missionaries proclaim the truth about Jesus in other cultures, they are proclaiming the truth to people who do not know the God of the Bible. They have no reason to believe they need to obey the God of the Bible and make Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. Thus, when missionaries evangelize the world, we need to convince them that the God of the Bible is real, and is the One and only true God.

To what extent is this an obstacle when sharing the gospel with people who come from societies that are known as Christian countries?

How many of your neighbors do not know the God of the Bible, and do not accept the truthfulness of the teachings found in the Bible?

How do we go about convincing people that the God of Christianity is the One and only true God?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 4:10-28

Roger Dombach — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:54 GMT

God calls different people to different lots in life. Sometimes God causes people to feel compelled to go here or there, or do certain things. Missionaries fell called by God to go to the mission field.

Sometimes, people know they are called, but they say no to God. Moses said no to God. Yahweh’s response is a warning to us about the consequences of saying no to God.

Yahweh told Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery, but Moses resisted the order.

First, Moses claimed he was a nobody and not qualified to approach Pharaoh even though he had grown up as the grandson of Pharaoh. Yahweh assured Moses He would be with him.

Second, Moses asked what name he should use when the Israelites requested the name of the God who sent Moses. Yahweh told him to use the name “Yahweh”.

Third, Moses asked what to do if the Egyptians and Israelites did not believe him. Yahweh gave Moses the ability to perform miracles in order to prove he was sent by Yahweh.

Ex. 4:10 ¶ Then Moses said to Yahweh, “Please, Lord, I have never been a man of words, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your slave; for I am one with a hard mouth and a hard tongue.”

The fourth objection used by Moses to avoid his assignment was to claim he was not a good speaker.

Ex. 4:11 And Yahweh said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh?

Ex. 4:12 So now, go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth and will instruct you what you shall speak.”

Ex. 4:13 But he said, “Please, Lord, send now the message by whomever You will.”

At this point Moses did not come up with a fifth objection, he simply attempted to refuse the mission.

Ex. 4:14 Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can certainly speak. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you. And he will see you and be glad in his heart.

Notice the words “anger” and “burned”. Up to this point, Moses had some legitimate questions about his mission. It was logical to ask who was sending him and how to prove he was sent. However, refusing an order from God was not an acceptable response. God was rightly angry that Moses refused his assignment.

The Bible gives humans a lot of orders and guidance about how we should live life. If we refuse to obey God, we are essentially doing what Moses did. We are saying no to God. When we say no, does God’s anger burn against us.

Sometimes God compels people to speak the truth. If a person feels compelled to speak the truth, but refuses to do so because he is afraid of what people might think, he is essentially doing what Moses did.

Ex. 4:15 And you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will instruct you in what you shall do.

Look at the phrase “put the words in his mouth”. Aaron was going to speak on behalf of Moses. This is a picture of how the prophets served God.

Moses had a message from Yahweh. Moses was instructed to tell Aaron what to say, and then Aaron would go to Pharaoh and do the actual speaking.

When God called prophets, he gave them a message, and then the prophet went to the people and delivered the message.

Ex. 4:16 Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will become as a mouth for you, and you will become as God to him.

Ex. 4:17 And you shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Ex. 4:18 ¶ Then Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brothers who are in Egypt and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

Moses finally consented to obey Yahweh.

Ex. 4:19 And Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”

Ex. 4:20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.

Ex. 4:21 ¶ And Yahweh said to Moses, “When you go to return to Egypt, see to it that all the miraculous wonders which I have put in your hand, that you do them before Pharaoh; but as for Me, I will harden his heart with strength so that he will not let the people go.

Ex. 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Ex. 4:23 So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

Ex. 4:24 ¶ Now it happened at the lodging place on the way that Yahweh encountered him and sought to put him to death.

Notice the word “death”. This was not a minor issue.

Ex. 4:25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched his feet with it, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me!”

Ex. 4:26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood” with reference to the circumcision.

Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham (see Gen. 17:10). The son of Moses was a descendant of Abraham and should have been circumcised. The Bible does not tell us when the son of Moses was born. Perhaps he was still an infant. Perhaps Moses had simply been lax in obeying God since Moses was no longer living among Israelites. Regardless, Yahweh did not allow Moses to return to his people with a son who was not circumcised.

Ex. 4:27 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and encountered him at the mountain of God and kissed him.

Ex. 4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of Yahweh with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.

Some people feel called by God to ministry or to the mission field. If they say no to their call, they are essentially saying no to God, just as Moses tried to say no to God.

Since Yahweh got angry when Moses refused to obey, we should be aware that saying no to God may cause Him to become angry at us.

Did you ever say no to God?

How are you saying no to God right now?

Is it possible God is just as angry with you as He was with Moses?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 3:16 - 4:9

Roger Dombach — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:01:25 GMT

Christians believe the Bible is the Word of God, God’s message to humanity, inerrant in the original writings, and the final authority on all matters upon which it offers guidance and instruction. Many people understandably ask for proof that the Bible is a message from our Creator.

When Moses was sent to deliver a message from Yahweh, he logically worried that his audience would not believe he was sent by God. The evidence God gave him to prove his legitimacy is instructive on how we in the 21st century can prove the Bible is the Word of God.

When Moses was pasturing a flock in the wilderness, he saw a bush burning, but the bush was not being consumed by the fire. He turned aside to investigate, and Yahweh began speaking to him. Yahweh told Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery, but Moses resisted the order.

First, Moses claimed he was a nobody and not qualified to approach Pharaoh even though he had grown up as the grandson of Pharaoh. Yahweh assured Moses He would be with him.

Second, Moses asked what name he should use when the Israelites requested the name of the God who sent Moses. Yahweh told him to use the name “Yahweh”.

Ex. 3:16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I indeed care about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.

Ex. 3:17 So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’

The Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites were subsets of the Canaanites (see Gen. 10:15-18). The land of the Canaanites had been promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Gen. 17:8 and 35:12).

Ex. 3:18 And they will listen to your voice; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt, and you all will say to him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.’

Ex. 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not give you permission to go, except by a strong hand.

Yahweh predicted that Pharaoh would not willingly allow the Israelites to leave

Ex. 3:20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wondrous deeds which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.

Yahweh promised to perform miracles in order to punish Egypt and force them to release Israel.

Ex. 3:21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty.

Ex. 3:22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and of the woman who lives in her house, for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Notice the word “plunder”. Yahweh said He would manipulate events so that the Israelites would leave Egypt with great wealth.

Ex. 4:1 ¶ Then Moses answered and said, “What if they will not believe me and will not listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’”

This is the third objection Moses used to try to get out of his assignment. Tomorrow, in chapter four verse 13, we will see that Moses flatly asked Yahweh to send someone else, so we know that Moses was trying to get out of his assignment; however, this objection had legitimacy. Anyone can go to anyone and say, “God sent me with this message.” That doesn’t mean they are telling the truth. Moses very understandably was concerned that the Israelites and Egyptians would not believe Moses’ claim about being a messenger from Yahweh.

Ex. 4:2 And Yahweh said to him, “What is this in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”

Ex. 4:3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

Over the years, I have heard people claim that if you hold a serpent in a certain way, it will be stiff and appear to be a staff. That may be true, but Moses knew that was not what happened in this case. Moses knew his staff was a piece of wood, because he had carried the staff for weeks or months, perhaps years. Moses knew Yahweh had just demonstrated the power to turn a piece of wood into a serpent.

Ex. 4:4 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and took hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand—

Ex. 4:5 “that they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Yahweh told Moses to use miracles to prove that Yahweh was speaking through Moses.

The Bible records many miracles. The purpose of miracles was to prove that a prophet was truly speaking on behalf of our Creator.

Just as it would have been normal and understandable for the Egyptians and Israelites to ask for proof that Moses was sent by Yahweh, so too many people today want proof that the Bible is a message from God, not just something written by man. The Bible is a collection of accurate historical documents which record the fact that prophets performed miracles and proved they spoke and wrote under the direction of Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe.

Ex. 4:6 ¶ And Yahweh furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom; then he took it out, and behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

Ex. 4:7 Then He said, “Return your hand into your bosom.” So he returned his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it returned to being like the rest of his flesh.

Ex. 4:8 “And so it will be, if they will not believe you or listen to the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of this last sign.

Ex. 4:9 But if it will be that they will not believe even these two signs and that they will not listen to your voice, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry land; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry land.”

Just as it would have been normal and understandable for the Egyptians and Israelites to ask for proof that Moses was sent by Yahweh, so too many people today want proof that the Bible is a message from God, not just something written by man. The miracles recorded in the Bible are recorded in accurate historical documents; thus, the miracles prove that the Bible is a message from our Creator.

Why did miracles prove that Moses was speaking on behalf of God?

Why do the miracles recorded in the Bible prove that God is the author of the Bible?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 2:23 - 3:15

Roger Dombach — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:02:49 GMT

Many Christians think that when we go to heaven, meeting Jesus face to face is going to be a sweet and glorious occasion. However, throughout the Bible, when people met God face to face, they experienced fear and were afraid to face God. Today’s passage tells us about one of those occasions and warns us that meeting Jesus may be quite different than we expect.

After Moses murdered an Egyptian who was abusing a fellow Hebrew, Moses fled Egypt and settled down in Midian. Moses married the daughter of the priest of Midian and fathered children.

Ex. 2:23 ¶ Now it happened in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the slavery, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their slavery rose up to God.

Ex. 2:24 So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God’s covenant with Abraham and Isaac is described in the 17th chapter of Genesis. The covenant included a provision that the descendants of Abraham and Isaac would possess the land of Canaan. When Jacob was fleeing his brother Esau and saw God in a dream, God promised the land of Canaan would belong to Jacob’s descendants (see Gen. 28:13).

Ex. 2:25 And God saw the sons of Israel, and God knew them.

Ex. 3:1 ¶ Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

The book of Exodus does not tell us how many years had elapsed since Moses arrived in Midian, but it was many.

Ex. 3:2 And the angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of the bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

Ex. 3:3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burned up?”

Ex. 3:4 And Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, so God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Take note of the name “Yahweh”. Yahweh Himself spoke to Moses.

The Hebrew word “Yahweh” is a verb that means “He is”. It is the 3rd person singular version of the Hebrew verb “hayah” which means “to be”.

Ex. 3:5 Then He said, “Do not come near here. Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Ex. 3:6 He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Notice the words “hid” and “afraid”. When Moses understood he was talking to God, he was afraid to look at God and hid his face.

Were you ever in a situation where you wronged somebody, and then later you were in the presence of that person and you did not want to look at them or talk to them because you felt guilty? Or perhaps somebody wronged you and then they did not want to look at or talk to you. It is hard for humans to ignore our conscience when we are face to face with the person we wronged.

When Moses was face to face with God, he could not ignore his conscience. He knew God was much more powerful. Moses knew he was not perfect, but God is.

Many Christians think that when we go to heaven and see Jesus, we are going to interact with Jesus as if we are long lost friends and it will be such a sweet, pleasant moment. I believe Moses’ reaction to the burning bush is a better indicator of what will happen when we go to heaven. When we see God in all His glory, when we see God’s perfection, we will be so ashamed of our failures and imperfections that we will be too afraid and too embarrassed to look at Jesus.

Ex. 3:7 ¶ And Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sufferings.

Ex. 3:8 So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.

Ex. 3:9 So now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

Ex. 3:10 So now, come and I will send you to Pharaoh, and so you shall bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”

In the English language, we use the same word, the word “you”, for both the second person singular and the second person plural. However, Biblical Hebrew differentiates between singular and plural in the 2nd person pronoun. In verse 10, the second person singular pronoun was used, meaning the word “you” is singular, meaning Yahweh was singling out Moses as the person to go to Pharaoh and lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt.

Ex. 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”

Think about Moses’ question. He asked, “Who am I?” At the time he asked this question he was a shepherd out in the wilderness with no power or influence; thus, he considered himself to be a nobody and not qualified to lead the Israelites.

However, Moses had grown up as the grandson of Pharaoh. Moses grew up in the court of Pharaoh. Out of all the Israelites, he was the most qualified to talk to Pharaoh, because Moses understood the protocol that was required to walk and talk inside the palace of Pharaoh.

Ex. 3:12 And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God at this mountain.”

Ex. 3:13 ¶ Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am about to come to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ And they will say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”

Ex. 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The name “I AM” is the first person singular version of the name “Yahweh”. When the Israelites mentioned God’s name, they used the third person singular version of the Hebrew word “hayah” because they were referring to someone else. When When Yahweh Himself used His name, He used the 1st person singular because He was referring to Himself.

Ex. 3:15 And God furthermore said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, 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 this is My memorial-name from generation to generation.

In what ways have you failed Jesus?

How might your failures cause you to be too ashamed to look at Jesus when you meet Him in heaven?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 2:5-22

Roger Dombach — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:49 GMT

There are people living today who have committed such grave sins, they believe God can never forgive them nor use them. However, God is a gracious and forgiving God, as proven by the life of Moses.

In an attempt to control the Hebrew population, the king of Egypt told his people to kill any baby boys who were born to the Israelites. There was a Hebrew woman of the house of Levi who gave birth to a baby boy. In order to protect him from death, she made a little ark, put her son in it, and placed it among the reeds of the Nile River.

Ex. 2:5 ¶ And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her young women walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the ark among the reeds and sent her maidservant, and she took it to her.

Ex. 2:6 Then she opened it and saw the child. And behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

Notice the words “pity” and “Hebrews”. Pharaohs daughter could not bring herself to obey her father’s command.

Ex. 2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?”

Ex. 2:8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.

Ex. 2:9 Then 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.

Look at the clause “I will give you your wages.” Sometimes God works in humorous ways. Pharaoh had ordered the Egyptians to kill all the males born to the Hebrews, but his own daughter paid this Israelite mother to keep her baby boy alive.

Ex. 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she named him Moses and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

The name “Moses” and the word “drew” are translations of the same Hebrew word.

Moses grew up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He lived a life of privilege, education, and wealth. The Bible does not tell us how much contact Moses had with his biological family. Nor does the Bible tell us the extent to which the rest of Pharaoh’s family either accepted or rejected Moses in light of him being a Hebrew.

Ex. 2:11 ¶ Now it happened in those days, that Moses had grown up. And he went out to his brothers and looked on their hard labors. And he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.

At least a dozen or so years transpired between verses 10 and 11.

Take note of the word “brothers”. Even though Moses grew up as Pharaoh’s daughter, he knew he was a Hebrew, and that the Hebrew slaves were his relatives.

Ex. 2:12 So he turned this way and that, and he saw that there was no one around. So he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

This is astounding. Moses certainly knew Pharaoh’s court would value the life of an Egyptian over the life of a slave. For some reason Moses had such compassion for his relatives who were slaves that he was willing to commit murder.

Moses committed murder, but eventually God used him to accomplish great things. Today, Moses is remembered as a great man, not as a murderer. There are people in the 21st century who have committed such grave sins they doubt God can ever forgive them or use them. However, the fact that God used Moses proves God is willing to use anyone who humbles himself before God.

Ex. 2:13 Then he went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were struggling with each other; and he said to the wicked one, “Why are you striking your companion?”

Ex. 2:14 But he said, “Who made you a ruler or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”

Verse 12 tells us Moses looked around before he killed the Egyptian to see if anyone was watching. The Bible does not say how Moses’ murderous act became known. Perhaps the Hebrew slave Moses was protecting told what Moses did.

Ex. 2:15 And Pharaoh heard of this matter, so he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

Ex. 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to give water to their father’s flock to drink.

Ex. 2:17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses rose up and saved them and gave water to their flock to drink.

Moses seems to have had a passion for helping the oppressed and downtrodden.

Ex. 2:18 Then they came to Reuel their father, and he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?”

Ex. 2:19 So they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he actually even drew the water for us and gave water to the flock to drink.”

Ex. 2:20 And he said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Call him so that he may eat bread.”

Ex. 2:21 And Moses was willing to settle down with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses.

Ex. 2:22 Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

The Bible does not tell us how many years elapsed during the course of verses 21-22. There may have been years between the time Moses settled with the man and the time Moses married Zipporah.

Moses knew Pharaoh’s court would value the life of an Egyptian over the life of a slave, but Moses had such compassion for his relatives who were slaves that he was willing to commit murder. Even though Moses was a murderer, eventually God used him to accomplish great things. Today, Moses is remembered as a great man, not as a murderer.

There are people in the 21st century who have committed such grave sins they doubt God can ever forgive them or use them. However, the fact that God used Moses proves God is willing to use anyone who humbles himself before God.

What is the gravest sin you have ever committed?

How does God’s willingness to use a murderer like Moses encourage you?

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Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 1:1 - 2:4

Roger Dombach — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:01:06 GMT

Most Christians acknowledge that the Bible talks often about fearing God. Unfortunately, many Christians reject the notion that the Bible means fear when it says fear. Instead, they think the fear of God means to respect God or admire Him.

The reality is, when the Bible says fear God, it means fear. We should be afraid to disobey God. We should understand that acting against God is worse than acting against any human. The opening chapter of Exodus illustrates the fear of God and why we should fear God.

Ex. 1:1 ¶ Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household:

Ex. 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Ex. 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

Ex. 1:4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Ex. 1:5 And all the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt.

Ex. 1:6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

Ex. 1:7 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased and multiplied and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.

Ex. 1:8 ¶ And a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

Look at the word “new”. This does not necessarily mean one king died, and then his son came to power and did not know Joseph. There were multiple times in Egyptian history when a king was overthrown and another man seized power. That may be what happened in this case. This means the new king may not have been a descendant of the Pharaoh who placed Joseph in power.

Ex. 1:9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we.

Notice the words “his people”. There were occasions in Egyptian history when foreigners took power in Egypt. It may be this new king was not even an Egyptian.

Take note of the words “more and mightier”. If the new king and his people group were not Egyptians, that would explain why his people group was outnumbered by the Israelites.

Ex. 1:10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and it be in the event of war, that they also join themselves to those who hate us and fight against us and go up from the land.”

Don’t miss the new king’s fear. He understood that allowing another people group with different loyalties to flourish in his kingdom created the risk that the other people group would act against him and overpower his own people.

In recent decades, many societies in the western hemisphere have allowed millions of immigrants, both legal and illegal, to enter their countries. Most of those immigrants are not loyal to their new homeland. Many of the political leaders who are allowing this immigration do not seem to be concerned about the risk that the newcomers will act against the interest of the native population. The leaders who are allowing the immigration seem to be oblivious to the possibility that they may be the ones who will be overthrown.

Modern Christianity faces a similar threat that many church leaders choose to ignore. 1Cor 5:13 tells the church to “REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES” because a little leaven leavens the whole lump. In other words, allowing wicked people to be in the church creates a risk that the wicked people will become the majority and corrupt the church.

Ex. 1:11 So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labors. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses.

Ex. 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.

It is ironic that the Israelites multiplied in the face of persecution. Sometimes that happens with Christianity. The church often multiplies faster under duress than it does under peace.

Ex. 1:13 So the Egyptians brutally compelled the sons of Israel to slave labor;

Ex. 1:14 and they made their lives bitter with hard slave labor in mortar and bricks and in all kinds of slave labor in the field, all their slave labor which they brutally compelled them to do.

Ex. 1:15 ¶ Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah;

Ex. 1:16 and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”

Ex. 1:17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them, but let the boys live.

Notice the phrase “feared God”. The midwives feared God more than they feared the king of Egypt; therefore, they did not do as the king commanded them. The king of Egypt could have punished the midwives for disobedience, and the punishment could have been very painful, but the midwives understood that the consequences of disobeying God were greater than anything the king of Egypt could have done to them.

This is true for all humans of all ages and locations. Acting against God is worse than acting against the most powerful person in the world. Many Christians do not grasp this concept.

Ex. 1:18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?”

Ex. 1:19 Then the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can come to them.”

Ex. 1:20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty.

Ex. 1:21 Now it happened that because the midwives feared God, He made households for them.

God rewarded the midwives by giving them their own children. Psalm 127:3 tells us children are a gift from God. Many people in the 21st century do not grasp that truth.

Ex. 1:22 And Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”

Ex. 2:1 ¶ And a man from the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as a wife.

Ex. 2:2 And the woman conceived and bore a son; and she saw that he was beautiful, so she hid him for three months.

Ex. 2:3 But she could not hide him any longer. So she took for him an ark of papyrus reeds and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and put it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

Ex. 2:4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.

The reality is, when the Bible says fear God, it means fear. We should be afraid to disobey God. We should understand that the consequences of disobeying God or acting against Him are greater than anything a human can possibly do to us.

How well does your church and pastor teach the concept that the consequences of disobeying God are greater than the consequences of acting against the most powerful person in the world; therefore, we should be more afraid to disobey God than we are afraid to disobey any man?

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Daily Scripture Reading Job 41:25 - 42:17

Roger Dombach — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:01:33 GMT

Many people believe the purpose of the book of Job is to explain why bad things happen to good people. There is some truth to that. That is one of the lessons we can learn from this book.

However, there is another lesson which is more important. This lesson has to do with who we are as humans and our place in the universe.

When we stopped reading yesterday, we were in the middle of the 22nd section of Job. This section contains some of Yahweh’s pronouncements to Job. Yahweh reminded Job that Job humans cannot withstand an attack from the Behemoth or Leviathan; therefore, they cannot withstand God’s power either because Yahweh created the Behemoth and Leviathan.

Job 41:25 When it raises itself up, the mighty fear,

Because of the crashing they are bewildered.

The pronoun “it” refers to the Leviathan.

Job 41:26 The sword that reaches it cannot avail,

Nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

No man-made weapon of Job’s day could prevail against the Leviathan.

Job 41:27 It regards iron as straw,

Bronze as rotten wood.

Job 41:28 The arrow cannot make it flee;

Slingstones are turned into stubble for it.

Job 41:29 Clubs are regarded as stubble;

It laughs at the rattling of the javelin.

Job 41:30 Its underparts are like sharp potsherds;

It spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mire.

Job 41:31 It makes the depths boil like a pot;

It makes the sea like a jar of ointment.

Job 41:32 Behind it, it makes a wake to shine;

One would think the deep to be gray-haired.

Job 41:33 There is nothing upon the dust like it,

One made without terror.

Job 41:34 It looks on everything that is high;

It is king over all the sons of pride.”

Throughout the book of Job, Job made some statements in which he exalted himself and demanded the right to stand before God and state his case. Yahweh used the strength and power of the Leviathan to remind Job that Job was a small human who could not even control a sea creature, much less control and withstand Yahweh, the Creator of the universe.

Job 42:1 ¶ Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

Note the name “Job”. This begins the 23rd section of Job.

Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things,

And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Job 42:3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too marvelous for me, which I did not know.

Take note of the single quotation marks around the first line of verse 3. Biblical Hebrew did not have punctuation marks. The punctuation marks indicate the translators believe Job was quoting Yahweh. Yahweh said this in Job 38:2, which was the beginning of Yahweh’s first speech to Job.

Yahweh had asked Job, “Who is this who gives counsel without knowledge?” Jobs response was, “I declared that which I did not know”.

Ponder Job’s humility at this point.

Job 42:4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak;

I will ask You, and You make me know.’

The translators also put single quotation marks around verse 4, indicating Job was quoting Yahweh in this verse also. This quotation is found in Job 40:7, which was the beginning of Yahweh’s second speech to Job.

Job 42:5 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

But now my eye sees You;

Job 42:6 Therefore I reject myself,

And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Notice the words “reject myself” and “repent”. Job acknowledged that he was nothing compared to Yahweh, the Creator of the universe.

Many people believe the purpose of the book of Job is to explain why bad things happen to good people. There is some truth to that. That is one of the lessons we can learn from this book.

However, another lesson from the book of Job is that humans are inconsequential, insignificant, and powerless compared to Yahweh. When we consider the power and strength of Yahweh, we should respond as Job did and say, “I reject myself and I repent.”

Verse seven begins the last and concluding section of the book of Job.

Job 42:7 ¶ Now it happened after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, that Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger burns against you and against your two friends because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.

Even though Yahweh’s anger and admonishment in chapters 38 thru 41 was directed at Job, Yahweh still held up Job as being correct. Perhaps that is because Job said to Yahweh, “No purpose of Yours can be thwarted; therefore, I repent in dust and ashes.” (see Job 42:2 and 42:6).

Job 42:8 So now, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as Yahweh told them; and Yahweh accepted Job.

Job 42:10 ¶ And Yahweh restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and Yahweh increased all that Job had twofold.

Job 42:11 Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the calamity that Yahweh had brought on him. And each one gave him one qesitah, and each a ring of gold.

We know from the first two chapters of Job that all this calamity came upon Job because Yahweh was trying to prove a point to Satan. To the best of our knowledge, Job never knew that is why he suffered every thing he suffered. When Job asked Yahweh why this had happened, Yahweh simply said, “I am God. You are not. Do not question Me.”

Job 42:12 And Yahweh blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 pairs of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.

Job 42:13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.

Job 42:14 And he named the first Jemimah and the second Keziah and the third Keren-happuch.

Job 42:15 Now in all the land no women were found so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.

Job 42:16 And after this, Job lived 140 years and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.

Notice the words “after this”. Job lived an additional 140 years after he was restored. When Job suffered his calamity, he had 10 adult children, so he had to have been at least 40-50 years old when Satan attacked him. 140 plus 40 or 50 means Job lived around 200 years at least.

This helps us date the book of Job. Before the flood, men lived 500 - 1,000 years. After the time period covered by the book of Genesis, there is no record of a man living more than 120 years. Therefore, Job probably lived after the flood, during the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Job 42:17 Then Job died, an old man and full of days.

Many people believe the purpose of the book of Job is to explain why bad things happen to good people. There is some truth to that. However, another lesson from the book of Job is that humans are inconsequential, insignificant, and powerless compared to Yahweh. When we consider the power and strength of Yahweh, we should respond as Job did and say, “I reject myself and I repent in dust and ashes.”

Do you have the humility of Job?

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Daily Scripture Reading Job 40:12 - 41:24

Roger Dombach — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:01:07 GMT

The conventional wisdom in society today is that all religions are the same. Many people reject the exclusive claims of Christianity and the truth that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

After Job and his friends had dialogued about Job’s situation, Yahweh rendered his opinion. Yahweh emphatically stated that He is unique and completely outside the realm of human endeavor. In other words, He proclaimed that He, the God of Christianity, is the Creator and the God of the universe.

We are currently reading the 22nd section of the book of Job. Yahweh challenged Job to do the things Yahweh does.

Job 40:12 Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him,

And tread down the wicked in their place.

Yahweh’s point was He, Yahweh can do this, but Job cannot.

Job 40:13 Hide them in the dust together;

Bind their faces in the hidden place.

Job 40:14 Then I will also praise you,

That your own right hand can save you.

Notice the word “then”. Yahweh said if Job could do the things listed in verses 12 and 13, then Yahweh would praise Job. The implied meaning was Job cannot do what Yahweh can do; therefore, Job is lower than God.

Job 40:15 ¶ “Behold now, Behemoth, which I made along with you;

It eats grass like an ox.

Notice the word “Behemoth”. The following words describe an animal called Behemoth which Job apparently was familiar with, or at least knew about.

Job 40:16 Behold now, its power in its loins

And its vigor in the muscles of its belly.

Job 40:17 It hangs its tail like a cedar;

The sinews of its thighs are knit together.

Job 40:18 Its bones are tubes of bronze;

Its limbs are like bars of iron.

The Behemoth was very powerful.

Job 40:19 ¶ “It is the first of the ways of God;

Let its Maker bring near its sword.

Job 40:20 Surely the mountains bring it food,

And all the beasts of the field play there.

Job 40:21 Under the lotus plants it lies down,

In the hidden place of the reeds and the marsh.

Job 40:22 The lotus plants cover it with shade;

The willows of the brook surround it.

Job 40:23 If a river oppresses, it is not alarmed;

It is secure, though the Jordan bursts forth to its mouth.

Job 40:24 Can anyone capture it before its eyes,

With snares can anyone pierce its nose?

Yahweh’s point was that the Behemoth is so powerful, humans cannot capture it.

Job 41:1 ¶ “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?

Or press down its tongue with a cord?

Take note of the word “Leviathan”. This was a sea animal which was known to Job.

Job 41:2 Can you put a rope in its nose

Or pierce its jaw with a hook?

Job 41:3 Will it make many supplications to you,

Or will he speak to you soft words?

Job 41:4 Will it cut a covenant with you?

Will you take it for a slave forever?

Job 41:5 Will you play with it as with a bird,

Or will you bind it for your young women?

Job 41:6 Will the traders bargain over it?

Will they divide it among the merchants?

Job 41:7 Can you fill its skin with harpoons,

Or its head with fishing spears?

Job 41:8 Place your hand on it;

Remember the battle; you will not do that again!

If any human dared to fight the Leviathan, they would lose and never try it again.

Job 41:9 Behold, his expectation is a lie;

Will he be laid low even at the sight of it?

Job 41:10 No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse it;

Who then is he that can stand before Me?

The art of Hebrew poetry is repetition; therefore, many times the meaning and purpose of a passage can be summarized in one or two statements. Verse ten captures Yahweh’s meaning in this whole passage. Humans cannot overpower the behemoth and leviathan which were created by Yahweh; therefore, humans cannot overpower Yahweh, either. Humans are powerless to stop huge animals and they are powerless to stop Yahweh.

Job 41:11 Who has given to Me that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.

The answer to Yahweh’s question is no one.

Within the human race, there is a sense of equality because each person contributes to society; thus, each person can demand something in return. A farmer needs medical care and a doctor needs food. The farmer produces and sells food for money and uses that to pay for a doctor visit. The doctor uses some of the money he earns from patients to buy the food he needs. That is true across all professions. People need each other to survive.

Yahweh does not participate in that system. He doesn’t need anything from anyone. He can survive without humans.

Furthermore, while some men are physically stronger than others, no single human is so powerful he can overpower all mankind. Yahweh, on the other hand, can overpower all men.

Throughout history, men have worshipped man-made idols. Those idols are mere wood and stone, and without the creative energies of humans, those idols would not exist. That is not true of Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe, the God of Christianity, the God of the Bible, the One and Only true God. Yahweh existed before humans. Man did not create Yahweh. Yahweh created man.

Many people claim all religions are the same, but that is not true. True Christianity is different from all other religions because we do not worship a man-made idol. Idols can be created, carried around, and destroyed. Christians worship a Living Being Who created the universe and everything in it, and Who cannot be contained or carried.

Job 41:12 ¶ “I will not keep silence concerning its limbs,

Or its mighty strength or its graceful frame.

The pronoun “its” refers to the Leviathan.

Job 41:13 Who can strip off its outer armor?

Who can come with its doubled bridle?

Job 41:14 Who can open the doors of its face?

Around its teeth there is dreadful terror.

Job 41:15 Its strong scales are its pride,

Shut up as with a tight seal.

Job 41:16 One is so near to another

That no air can come between them.

Job 41:17 They cling one to another;

They are interlocked and cannot be separated.

Job 41:18 Its sneezes flash forth light,

And its eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

Job 41:19 Out of its mouth go burning torches;

Sparks of fire leap forth.

Job 41:20 Out of its nostrils smoke goes forth

As from a boiling pot and burning reeds.

Job 41:21 Its breath kindles coals,

And a flame goes forth from its mouth.

Job 41:22 In its neck lodges strength,

And dismay leaps before it.

Job 41:23 The folds of its flesh cling together,

Hardened upon it and is not shaken.

Job 41:24 Its heart is as hard as a stone,

Even as hard as a lower millstone.

Many people claim all religions are the same. However, most religions involve the worship of man-made idols and/or adherence to man-made rules. When Yahweh spoke to Job, He made a clear declaration that He is above humanity. Yahweh created us as well as all the animals on the earth, including the animals humans are not able to corral and control. If humans cannot control God’s creation, then we cannot control Him, contrary to the ability of humans to create and carry the man-made idols that many people worship.

How strongly do you disagree with the claim that all religions are the same?

How well are you able to state the case that Christianity is unique and Jesus is the only way to Heaven?

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