Êxodo 3
George MacDonald · Citado em PreceptAustin
Êxodo 3
MacDonald writes "We should all be like the burning... bush—burning for God, yet not consumed." "Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of 'other things'. Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame. -- Jim Elliot Related Resource: Angel of the LORD SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF PLANTS - A true story - JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) – After more than a month, the cause of a house fire in Greene County is now known. Fire investigators say a July 25th fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. "Her words were that the whole front of the house was on fire," said homeowner Brian Duncan. When investigators started searching for an origin they say it started in the same spot where the plant was sitting. "Spontaneous combustion is something where you have to have a lot of variables come together and it has to be just right," said Jonesboro Fire Department Fire Marshall Jason Wills. "It looked to me like someone had come up on my front porch and started a fire," said Duncan. Wills said it's rare, but spontaneous combustion does happen. "It happens in organic material in the process of decomposition," said Wills. That process lets off heat and with the help of the sun can get hot enough to catch fire. The heat of the fire caused some of the glass in the front door to break allowing the smoke to penetrate the house. What about the fire Moses witnessed? What caused him to take a second look? The bush was burning but was not consumed! Apparently he had witnessed spontaneous combustion of plants in the desert heat, but he had never seen anything like this "brush fire!" God’s Retirement Plan The angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in flames of fire from within a bush. Exodus 3:1 Today's Scripture & Insight: Exodus 3:1–10 Archaeologist Dr. Warwick Rodwell was preparing to retire when he made an extraordinary discovery at Lichfield Cathedral in England. As builders carefully excavated part of the floor of the church to make way for a retractable base, they discovered a sculpture of the archangel Gabriel, thought to be 1,200 years old. Dr. Rodwell’s retirement plans were put on hold as his find launched him into an exciting and busy new season. Moses was eighty years old when he made a fiery discovery that would forever alter his life. Though the adopted son of an Egyptian princess, he never forgot his Hebrew lineage and raged at the injustice he witnessed against his kinsmen (Exodus 2:11–12). When Pharaoh learned that Moses had killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, he planned to have him killed, forcing Moses to flee to Midian, where he settled (vv. 13–15). Forty years later, when he was eighty, Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock when “the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up” (3:2). In that moment, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery (vv. 3–22). What do you learn from Moses and his calling from God? Why is it vital to be open to something new He’s doing in your life? Holy God, be Lord of all my days as I surrender them to You afresh. Exodus 3:3 So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up." Job 37:14 Ps 107:8 111:2-4 Ac 7:31 MOSES MARVELS AT BURNING BUSH So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up." - A literal reading and interpretation of this passage is that Moses saw a bush that was actually burning, but was not being burned up! Other explanations such as a bush with brilliant berries or leaves do not represent an honest interpretation of the literal reading. Men who hate God will fabricate anything in order to attempt to erase from their mind the possibility that He does in fact exist and He is in full control and is fully capable of performing any and every miracle imaginable (and all those that are not imaginable!) Acts 7:31+ “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: NET Note on marvelous - means something extraordinary here. In using this term Moses revealed his reaction to the strange sight and his anticipation that something special was about to happen. So he turned away from the flock to investigate. Walter Kaiser - “To explain what happened here as a temporary mirage of reflected sunlight on some red leaves or a campfire of some Bedouin or even the phenomenon of Saint Elmo’s fire is to substitute our experience for Moses’ forty years in that area and his estimate that it was indeed unusual.” (EBC)
Êxodo 3
MacDonald has a reasonable explanation commenting that "he was to test Pharaoh by requesting that the Israelites be allowed to travel three days' journey to sacrifice to the Lord. This was not an attempt to deceive but a minimal test of Pharaoh's willingness. It would also prevent the Egyptians from witnessing the slaying of animals that were sacred to them. God knew that Pharaoh wouldn't yield until compelled by divine power." It is notable that Moses said nothing about them returning! MacArthur offers a similar explanation - The request for a 3 day journey to worship, in the light of 1) direct promises of deliverance from Egypt, 2) worship at Horeb, and 3) entrance into Canaan, was not a ruse to get out and then not return, but an initial, moderate request to highlight the intransigence of Pharaoh—he just would not let these slaves leave under any conditions (Ex 3:19)! ESV SB - The Lord frames the request to Pharaoh in terms of his people being able to worship him, as he will throughout the plagues: “Let my people go, that they may serve me” (Ex 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). Exodus 3:19 "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. BGT Exodus 3:19 ἐγὼ δὲ οἶδα ὅτι οὐ προήσεται ὑμᾶς Φαραω βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου πορευθῆναι ἐὰν μὴ μετὰ χειρὸς κραταιᾶς NET Exodus 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even under force. LXE Exodus 3:19 But I know that Pharao king of Egypt will not let you go, save with a mighty hand; NLT Exodus 3:19 "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. KJV Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. ESV Exodus 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. NIV Exodus 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. ASV Exodus 3:19 And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand. CSB Exodus 3:19 "However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, unless he is forced by a strong hand. NKJ Exodus 3:19 "But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. NRS Exodus 3:19 I know, however, that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. YLT Exodus 3:19 'And I -- I have known that the king of Egypt doth not permit you to go, unless by a strong hand, NAB Exodus 3:19 "Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is forced. NJB Exodus 3:19 I am well aware that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless he is compelled by a mighty hand; GWN Exodus 3:19 I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, even if he is forced to. will not - Ex 5:2 7:4 except under compulsion - Ex 6:1 7:1-14:31 Ps 136:11,12 Isa 63:12,13 GOD'S PROPHETIC WARNING TO MOSES But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go- In contrast to God's promise of a receptive reaction from the elders, now God promises rejection from Pharaoh. Except under compulsion - Only by divine imposition would Pharaoh agree to let them go. More literally "a strong hand." NIV says "the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him." The idea seems to be "unless he is forced by a strong hand." (CSB) God explains that it will take more than a simple request! It will take a strong hand, in context clearly His strong hand. We see similar anthropomorphic allusions to God's hand in in Ex 6:1 [twice]; Ex 13:14, 16; Ex 32:11; Dt. 4:34; Dt. 5:15; Dt. 6:21; Dt. 7:8, 19; Dt. 9:26; Dt. 11:2; Dt. 26:8). The expression “mighty hand” is used of God’s rescuing Israel elsewhere - Psalm 136:11-12 And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Exodus 3:20 "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. NEB I shall then stretch out my hand and assail the Egyptians with all the miracles I shall work among them. After that he will send you away. Further, BGT Exodus 3:20 καὶ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα πατάξω τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς θαυμασίοις μου οἷς ποιήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξαποστελεῖ ὑμᾶς NET Exodus 3:20 So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you. LXE Exodus 3:20 and I will stretch out my hand, and smite the Egyptians with all my wonders, which I shall work among them, and after that he will send you forth. NLT Exodus 3:20 So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go. KJV Exodus 3:20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. ESV Exodus 3:20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. NIV Exodus 3:20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. ASV Exodus 3:20 And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. CSB Exodus 3:20 I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles that I will perform in it. After that, he will let you go. NKJ Exodus 3:20 "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. NRS Exodus 3:20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will perform in it; after that he will let you go. YLT Exodus 3:20 and I have put forth My hand, and have smitten Egypt with all My wonders, which I do in its midst -- and afterwards he doth send you away. NAB Exodus 3:20 I will stretch out my hand, therefore, and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there. After that he will send you away. NJB Exodus 3:20 he will not let you go until I have stretched out my arm and struck Egypt with all the wonders I intend to work there. stretch - Ex 6:6 7:5 9:15 Eze 20:33 Strike - Ex 7:3 11:9 De 4:34 6:22 Ne 9:10 Ps 105:27 106:22 135:8,9 Isa 19:22 Jer 32:20,21 Ac 7:36 after that - Ex 11:8 12:31,39 Ge 15:14 Jdg 6:8 8:16 Isa 26:11 Ps 105:38 GOD'S PROPHETIC PUNISHMENT OF EGYPT Before Moses can even ask how he could accomplish the task if Pharaoh refuses, God answers any doubls. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it - My miracles refers to the 10 plagues. ESV SB notes "The use of the image may represent intentional irony because ancient Egyptian texts often described the power of Pharaoh by saying that he had a “strong hand/arm” to destroy his enemies." And after that he will let you go - God's promises Moses the deliverance will be accomplished. Exodus 3:21 "I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. NEB I will bring this people into such favour with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed. BGT Exodus 3:21 καὶ δώσω χάριν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ἐναντίον τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ὅταν δὲ ἀποτρέχητε οὐκ ἀπελεύσεσθε κενοί NET Exodus 3:21 "I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty-handed. LXE Exodus 3:21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, and whenever ye shall escape, ye shall not depart empty. NLT Exodus 3:21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. KJV Exodus 3:21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: ESV Exodus 3:21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, NIV Exodus 3:21 "And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. ASV Exodus 3:21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty. CSB Exodus 3:21 And I will give these people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. NKJ Exodus 3:21 "And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. NRS Exodus 3:21 I will bring this people into such favor with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed; YLT Exodus 3:21 'And I have given the grace of this people in the eyes of the Egyptians, and it hath come to pass, when ye go, ye go not empty; NAB Exodus 3:21 I will even make the Egyptians so well-disposed toward this people that, when you leave, you will not go empty-handed. NJB Exodus 3:21 'I shall ensure that the Egyptians are so much impressed with this people that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. GWN Exodus 3:21 I will make the Egyptians kind to the people of Israel so that, when you leave, you will not leave empty-handed. Ex 11:3 12:36 Ge 39:21 Ne 1:11 Ps 106:46 Pr 16:7 Ac 7:10 GOD'S PROMISE OF FAVOR Here we see God’s sovereignty in His fulfilling His covenant promises recorded in Ge 15:14. I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed - The Egyptians had enslaved the Hebrews for 400 years so they undoubtedly did not have many material possessions. One might say that this was also wages due them because of their long enslavement. Exodus 3:22 "But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, 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." NEB Every woman shall ask her neighbour or any woman who lives in her house for jewellery of silver and gold and for clothing. Load your sons and daughters with them, and plunder Egypt.’ BGT Exodus 3:22 αἰτήσει γυνὴ παρὰ γείτονος καὶ συσκήνου αὐτῆς σκεύη ἀργυρᾶ καὶ χρυσᾶ καὶ ἱματισμόν καὶ ἐπιθήσετε ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν καὶ σκυλεύσετε τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους NET Exodus 3:22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters– thus you will plunder Egypt!" LXE Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbour and fellow lodger, articles of gold and silver, and apparel; and ye shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters,-- and spoil ye the Egyptians. NLT Exodus 3:22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth." KJV Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. ESV Exodus 3:22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians." NIV Exodus 3:22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians." ASV Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall despoil the Egyptians. CSB Exodus 3:22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians." NKJ Exodus 3:22 "But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians." NRS Exodus 3:22 each woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman living in the neighbor's house for jewelry of silver and of gold, and clothing, and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters; and so you shall plunder the Egyptians." YLT Exodus 3:22 and every woman hath asked from her neighbour, and from her who is sojourning in her house, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and ye have put them on your sons and on your daughters, and have spoiled the Egyptians.' NAB Exodus 3:22 Every woman shall ask her neighbor and her house guest for silver and gold articles and for clothing to put on your sons and daughters. Thus you will despoil the Egyptians." But - Ex 11:2 12:35,36 Ge 15:14 Ps 105:37 Plunder - Job 27:16,17 Pr 13:22 Isa 33:1 Eze 39:10 GOD'S PROMISE OF PROVISION BY PLUNDER To plunder means to take spoils from an enemy and is often used in a negative sense to describe indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory. In this case the victory is the Lord's and He directs His people to plunder the Egyptians But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. - In Genesis 15:14 we read God's prophetic words “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions." Thus you will plunder the Egyptians - As noted below, the fact that they would plunder the strongest nation in the world must have been an amazing statement to comprehend. But this is exactly what happened in Exodus 12:35-36 "Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." THOUGHT - You can mark it down. God is always true to His word of promise (2 Pe 1:4+). Paul would later explain the basis for certainty and confidence in God's promises declaring "For all the promises of God in Him (Christ) are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Cor 1:20KJV) All His promises will be fulfilled. See also What are the promises of God? How do I know which of God’s promises are for me?