Lesson 52 - Junior

Memory Verse

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise" (II Peter 3:9).

Notes

Delayed but not Denied

The Children of Israel were very much discouraged. After having had a hope of deliverance, their bondage seemed even more terrible than before. And the work they had to do was almost beyond human endurance. When Moses tried to encourage them with God's promises, they refused to listen.

God did not want His people to feel bad. He was mindful of His people, and was noticing their suffering. He had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He would not go back on His word. If they could only wait upon the Lord a little longer, He would deliver them with a mighty hand; He would give them more than they had ever thought of having.

God wants us to wait upon Him. Perhaps we can see no reason for the trials we go through, but God has a purpose; and if we submit to His will, He will work out what is best for us, and what will bring glory to His name.

The Egyptians were going to know who was God before He got through with them. They worshiped many gods, but God was going to prove to them how much greater He was. It was to be a battle between the God of Heaven and all the false gods the heathen worshiped which would be defeated so ignobly that they would look ridiculous.

The LORD JEHOVAH

When God had appeared to the patriarchs, He had called Himself God Almighty; but He now tells Moses that He will be known by His personal name, Jehovah, to the Israelites. However, when the Children of Israel came to worship God, they stood so in awe of Him that they were afraid ever to speak aloud the name of Jehovah. Even when reading the Scriptures they substituted a word, which has been translated "the LORD" (all capital letters), in the King James Version of the Bible. You will notice where that was done in the Old Testament: "And the LORD said unto Abraham." "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?"

As an illustration, it was as though the people did not want to speak of King David by his given name, but in reverence spoke of him as the "king." Jehovah is the only God, therefore we have the word written LORD. When Jesus is spoken of as the Lord, only the first letter being capitalized, it refers to His position -- the Lord Jesus Christ. In Psalm 110:1, we have Jehovah speaking to Jesus: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

The True and the False

When the Children of Israel refused to hear Moses, God sent him to Pharaoh. Moses thought that if his people did not listen, why should Pharaoh? But God encouraged him to go, and said that Moses would be as a god to Pharaoh because he would have divine power to do many miracles. A superstitious people is quick to think that anyone who can perform extraordinary acts is a god. But we shall learn that the devil also has power to perform miracles, and we must be very careful to "try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). Satan is the "prince of the power of the air," and he has power to work "signs and lying wonders." In our day spiritualists and other false religionists who deny the Blood of Jesus do work miracles, perhaps even heal sick bodies, but it is the work of the devil to deceive the people.

God's people can be thankful, however, that Satan can go only as far as God will let him. We see in the story of Job that the devil could do no more to him than the Lord allowed. Satan accused God of having a hedge around Job, which protected him. How thankful we are for God's hedge! Perhaps sometimes it may be removed for a little while, and we will be tried; but always remember that God is watching, and He will let no more come to us than we can bear.

There were many magicians in Egypt, some of whom were probably sleight-of-hand performers, but there were also those who were filled with evil spirits and could do miracles. We see that when Aaron threw his rod on the ground, it became a serpent. The magicians did the same with their rods, and they also became serpents. The devil can fool some people by offering them imitations of the truth. If he cannot lure them into sin he will give them a false religion which looks like the real thing; and because they do not love the truth they will believe the strong delusion, believe a lie, and lose their soul.

There was a difference in the serpents of the magicians and the one of Aaron, the servant of God. Aaron's rod swallowed up the other two rods. The magicians must have felt chagrined when the people saw their rods disappear. The names of the magicians were Jannes and Jambres, and Paul the Apostle tells us that their folly was made known to all people ([2TM:3:8-9]). The time is coming when God will set Himself up as ruler over all the earth; and all false religions, and the people who believe a lie, will be brought low. The power of Satan will be broken. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (II Peter 3:13).

Judgment to Follow

Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron. This was only the beginning of a long contest between the children of God and the servants of the devil. God was going to bring judgment upon the Egyptians because of Pharaoh's refusal to the pleadings of Moses and Aaron; and the Egyptian nation was completely ruined by the time the Israelites made their exodus.

Questions

1. What was the first miracle performed before Pharaoh?

2. Did Pharaoh hearken unto Moses' and Aaron's appeal to let the people go?

3. What should we do when the answer to our prayers seems to be delayed?

4. What may be gained or accomplished by the trial of our faith?

5. Does God ever allow His people to be tempted beyond that which they are able to bear?