Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us.  Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.  Exodus 1:6-11; p. 43, The Story

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. Exodus 2:1-4; p. 44, The Story

EGYPT MIDIAN Tigris Mediterranean Euphrates Sea Babylon Red Sea Persian Gulf MIDIAN Red Sea

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10; p. 46, The Story

Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10; p. 46, The Story But Moses said, “Pardon Your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Exodus 4:13; p. 47, The Story

The Ten Plagues on Egypt

So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.  There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt – worse than there has ever been or ever will be again.  But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.  All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh. Exodus 11: 4-8; p. 50, The Story

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14; p. 53, The Story

Takeaways More than anything, God wants to set us free from the shackles of sin that are dragging us toward hell.

Takeaways More than anything, God wants to set us free from the shackles of sin that are dragging us toward hell. Our limitations never limit God.