The Next Exodus

After our series on the Serpent Seed, it seems very appropriate to continue our study of the bible in Exodus, how the Egyptian was saved by a prophet, Joseph from famine and how the might of Egypt prospered under his governorship. Pharaoh increasing his wealth, subjects and land ownership without even lifting a weapon of war. The book of Genesis started with the beginning, the Creation of the heavens and earth, the beginning of all living things and ended up with Joseph, embalmed and in a coffin, waiting for the promise of God that his bones would be carried to where his great grandfathers were buried, the land of Canaan, in Hebron and Bethlehem.

Of course we know Joseph was sent to Egypt, the land of Ham (Psalms 78, 105 and 106), to save lives – the lives of his own people, as Jacob and his people came to dwell in the most fertile land of Goshen, because of the grievous famine. They settled in the thriving delta of the Nile, the land filled with abundance of fishes and vegetation, where the cattle and sheep could feed and the Hebrew or Israelites multiplied and grew to be a race to be reckoned with. See, God knows how to take care of His people. In fact, if you think along these lines, it is God who fed everyone in the earth today! Oil and minerals from the ground, fruits, vegetables, herbs and seeds, even shedding blood so that we can eat of the other animals and fishes. Yes, He creates and He provides.

The second book of the bible, Exodus starts, after years, there arose a Pharaoh who did not recognized Joseph's (Exo 1:8) contribution and began to mistreat the Hebrew children, committing them to slavery to become subservient to the Egyptian because of playing up to their fears that the Hebrew might become their rulers. Suddenly, by political changes, the most lowest of Egyptian becomes lord over the Hebrew who were given menial tasks and became mud dubbers, to make bricks for Egyptian buildings and houses.

Exo 1:8-10
(8)  Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
(9)  And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
(10)  Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

And we know at the same time, God is keeping His Word by the promise to Abraham, that his seed would sojourn in a strange land, that after 400 years, He would bring them out with a mighty hand. And what a mighty deliverance it was. Moses was born three years after Aaron to the Leviticus family of Amram and Jochebed. (she was his young aunt). By faith, they hid Moses from the Egyptians, who were murdering Hebrew male children to curtail their population, but saved the females. Two Egyptian midwives, saved these male children, lying to the guards, that the Hebrew women were stronger than the Egyptians women, that before they could do anything, that the babies were already delivered. Thus they were able to save the male babies and God blessed these midwives with houses and by this it meant they have homes, families and children. They prospered when they fear God.

Yes, Exodus starts with the birth of Moses, the deliverer who was the seventh from Abraham, as Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Aaron, was three years older than Moses, hence he became the mouthpiece for Moses and Moses as God to him. Exodus ends with Moses erecting the temple and furnishing all the outer court, the inner court and the Most Holy with all that the Lord commanded him to do. A man who is truly obedient to the Word of God in all that he was asked to do, saved for smiting the Rock not once but twice. Lord willing, we may also touch on the types and shadows in the building of the tabernacle in later articles.

The Egyptian princess saw how beautiful baby Moses was inside the tiny ark afloat, in the very Nile she came to wash in. She was smitten as her motherly instinct evoked her longing for the crying baby, even paying his natural mother (without her knowing it was his natural mother) to sustain the child as a nanny with milk (wet nurse) before taking him into the palace as her (the princess) own son. God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. Jochebed was prepared to loose the baby, but God even got her paid by royalty for nursing her own baby. God knows how to hide his prophet-deliverer till he was ready.  Moses would have been next in line to the throne of Egypt but he forfeited it to become a slave to deliver his people. True to type, the Hebrew rejected him and he was forced to flee Egypt and wandered 40 years in the desert where he learned how to be a shepherd. God was his personal tutor and all that he learned in Egypt could not be of use in his new quest. A one man invasion of Egypt. Is it not a lesson for us these days? That God only need one who is fully surrendered to Him and nothing is impossible with God.

We know that the Pharaoh whose heart was hardened against God and Moses, was not the firstborn else he would have died in the last and tenth plaques, the death of firstborn. So how did he take the throne if not by stealth. Because Pharaoh name was not mentioned, scholars tried all ways and means to identify who he was without any conclusion. The film "The Ten Commandments" by Cecil B. DeMille took Seti I to be the Pharaoh when Moses was picked up from the Nile by Pharaoh sister We know most ruler do not last more than 50 years, and Moses was 80 years old when he was commissioned to return to Egypt. We would assume that it was another Pharaoh who had usurped the throne hence when the last plaque took place, it became evident that Pharaoh was not the heir apparent...hence he drove Moses and the Hebrew children away by force. It was in haste that the Hebrew children took the passover with unleavened bread. God knew Pharaoh would do that because the Word is a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart. Brother Branham identified this Pharaoh as Ramses as well. Which means Seti 1 was the Pharaoh when his sister picked up Moses from the reeds. Egyptian recorded Ramses or Rameses II to have reign 67 years. We know he was drown in the Red Sea, which at this time Moses was 80 years. Taking off the 40 years Moses was in the wilderness, it would mean Ramses was co-regent with either Seti 1 or the Princess mother of Moses. If not, Moses would have received the death penalty rather than being banished.

Some historian also named the Princess as Bithiah of 1 Chron 4:18 which means she would be at least more than 90 years old if not a hundred as Moses was already 80 years old at the time of the Exodus. Was Bithiah the daughter of Ramses II rather than the sister of Seti 1?

In the Serpent seed series, we spoke about twins or the duality of evil against good. To this day, as the Jews celebrated the remembrance of the passover (Passover Seder) they usually recite the ten plaques and remind themselves of the mighty deliverance, but at the same time, like Noah, who became a drunkard after the flood, are remorseful over the death of so many Egyptians particularly all the firstborn of men and cattle. Indeed it was to be a solemn assembly rather than one of jubilant abandonment. (consider how people reacted to President Obama's dancing of the tango in Argentina or the wave in Cuba when there was death in the bomb attack in Brussels) or (our own minister inadvertently celebrating the new MRT line when two young men, newly employed died in a freak accident). No, it was not a day of wanton celebration but a reminder of the mortality of men that we are but a whiff in the deep abyss of downward spiral of all humanity. We cannot continue to worship our gods (idols) of metal, gold, silver, brass, wood and stone, our huge buildings and our scientific machines. These can only bring death because it was from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Rev 9:20

(20) And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Many commentators or theologians tried their best to give answers to some of the questions on the ten plaques, that these were so devastating to Egypt because of the obstinacy of their king. However unlike the midwives, all the other Egyptians were not kind to the Hebrew and the guards whipped and worked them to death. Surely, slaves are not granted any privileges and the children cry to their God for deliverance, knowing God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And God heard their cry.

Some theologians lean on the series of disasters to coincide with natural phenomenon forgetting that all the plagues were done in a specific sequence through God's commandment to Moses and Aaron. Let's list the plaques in their order of occurrence and learn of what God was telling us, even now, more than 4,000 years later. Brother Branham taught us about the three exodus, 1) the coming out of Egypt, 2) the deliverance at the Cross, and 3) the going up in the Rapture. Each led by a deliverer. So we see, not to heed the message of this third exodus call is not applying the blood on the lintel and the door posts. The hyssop plant was used to sprinkle the blood. It speaks of using a common weed so the message is to all. This message is given in simplicity and is true. Only belief. And you will apply that blood on the doorpost of your heart for the Holy Spirit to come in to dwell. That is the only requirement and once we believed, we will do what the Word ask us to do. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you is our promise of the hour. And the kingdom of God is within you, none other than the abode of the Holy Spirit in our hearts literally.

How many times did our prophet reminded us, without the Holy Ghost is to take the mark of the beast. Same as those who did not apply the blood on their door posts and lintel, died when the Death Angel visited. Till today, bible scholars are perplexed as to why Moses turned the water into blood….such a drastic miracle that all the living things in the water died and gave a terrible stench. Yes, sin is a terrible stench in the nostrils of God. It is an abomination and God would be showing Moses that they can only be freed by the redemption of the token of an innocent lamb. The mark that saved Moses and his people condemned all the firstborn of the unbelievers…..as Cain killed Abel, Adam's firstborn, so God was showing us the soul that sinneth, it shall surely die. The Serpent told Eve, ye shall not surely die. But the last miracle in Egypt showed us that God honour only His own Word.

No man can be vindicated in His sight. Sin is unbelief. And the judgment of God fell on the unbelievers. Notice that there was a mixed multitude coming out together with the Hebrew children from Egypt. Though this mixed multitude were spared, they fell in the wilderness because of unbelief. One of them, a young man, whose mother was Hebrew and father Egyptian blasphemed the Lord. Moses went back to God for how to handle this man who had cursed. God told him that this man must be stoned to take away such evil from the camp.

The last plaque, condemned the Egyptians but saved the Hebrew children. That was the killing of an innocent lamb, and the blood had to be applied on the lintel and door posts. In the sign of the Cross. Why was it by blood? We touched on that in our previous articles on the serpent seed series. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission. A common weed, the hyssop was used to apply the blood on the lintel. Here is the prophetic revelation of this passover seder.

58-0510  HAVE.FAITH.IN.GOD_  PITTSFIELD.MA  SATURDAY_
«  E-15       †        Faith, why, it's the most common thing there is. You can't even get a drink of water without faith. You couldn't come to this meeting without faith. You cannot move your finger without faith. It's said in the Scripture that when they put the Blood on the lintel of the door, for the passover in Egypt, it was put on the hyssop. Do you know what hyssop is? Hyssop is common weed. You can just find it anywhere. And that's the way the Blood is to be applied to the heart's door, tonight, is by something common, faith.
We try to press it out, and make it something, that no one can take a hold of. It's so simple, that you go over the top of it, trying to find it. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," said the writer of Hebrews the 11th chapter, 1st verse.

There is a message for believers when we study the ten plaques, not in the sense of academic studies but study to show ourselves approved

2Ti 2:15-18

(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

(17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

(18) Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

And study to be what?

1Th 4:11-12

(11) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

(12) That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

We learned that the plaques have some distinctive features, and it is to us, an oracle of the future judgment of the Earth when the Seven Vials are poured out by the seven angels holding those vials or bowls. The type of plaques tells us also that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

It speaks of the three stages of grace, justification, sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Hence the plaques can be divided into 3 groupings. And we are taught also that we can be justified, sanctified by our confession and applying the blood, but it is up to God to give us the Holy Spirit, because in Ezekiel 36, He said, I will put my Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something men can do, but God. Because only He can give. So we will notice that in the three groupings, Pharaoh was given warning by Moses but in the third of this triad, it came without warning. It is sovereign.

(From the records of Arthur W. Pink)

They were ten in number.

First, the waters of the Nile were turned into blood (7:14-25).

Second, frogs covered the land and entered the homes of the Egyptians (8:1-5).

Third, lice was made to attack their persons (8:16-19).

Fourth, swarms of flies invaded the houses of the Egyptians and covered the ground (8:20-24).

Fifth, a grievous disease smote the cattle (9:1-7).

Sixth, boils and sores were sent on man and beast (9:8-12).

Seventh, thunder and hail were added to the terrors of these Divine visitations (9:18-35). Eighth, locusts consumed all vegetation (10:1-20).

Ninth, thick darkness, which might be felt, overspread the land for three days (10:21-29). Tenth, the firstborn of man and beast were slain (11, 12).

A frightful summary is found in Psalm 78: "He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and tribulation, by sending evil angels among them. He made a way to His anger; He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence, and smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tabernacle of Ham" (vv. 49-51 and cf. Psalm 105:27-36).

Psalm 78 spoke of these but group the physical infection under pestilence, a group also of 3, lice, murrains and boils. The other three affecting their land and crops were, frogs, flies and locust. Yet another three, affecting water, sunlight or light and hailstorms and hot thunderbolts even fire running along the grounds. The tenth plaque was death of the firstborn of the Egyptians but life to the Hebrew children and the firstborn of all Hebrew children that day belong to God. The first-fruits of firstborn.

The plaques were also judgment on the gods of Egypt, because they did not worship the one True God but worship the creature (hence the creation) instead of the creator. The gods of Egypt were flies, frogs and cattle, particularly the bull. Their sun god was powerless when Jehovah God, caused darkness upon the land, first blanketed by locust covering every inch of space and then gross darkness which could be felt.

Some scholars noticed the disruption of Creation in the same order, water, land, frogs (amphibian life after plant life on the 3^rd day), lice (from dust, or land, an act of creation), cattle of the field (5^th Day of Creation) and the sixth plaque on men as man was created also on the sixth day. We were told the names of the two magician were Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses and they could duplicate the first two plaques but could not do so with the third, another triad to show the futility of men and they acknowledged that it was the finger of God. Because from dust to lice was a creative act, and only the Creator, the one and true God could do that even now… in our twentieth century this creative act of squirrels came to pass. Why now? Because we are in the third Exodus, not coming out but going up. Praise the name of the Lord. Do you believe it? This time spiritual Egypt will face similar judgment. Surely when we say we are Christians, we must believe that Noah was saved from the flood and the Hebrew children were delivered by the mighty hand of God from slavery and that same God delivered us from our sins when He became sin for us and died as the firstborn died, but raised as the firstborn from the dead.

The true church is in their Goshen and are not even troubled in these judgment, because we live in the Light which shineth in the world and we bear witness of that light when we saw even His picture taken with His prophet and the Pillar of Fire appearing once again with the same sign of the Messiah. Do not doubt the Word of God as we have this cloud of witness. We are the people unto His Name and we must know who our Bridegroom is. Do you think Rebekah went with Eliezer to get married to the Bridegroom, Isaac or as some claimed today, that she has eyes on Eliezer. What foolishness, blinded by their own sins, swallowing all kinds of doctrine and error and yet think we are worshiping a man today. Brother Branham is not the Bridegroom. He is that servant identified in Luke 14:16 calling the invited to the Wedding Supper. Put your wedding garments on Bride! Be ready to meet your Bridegroom.

It was a journey of a few days. Eliezer did not waste his time relaxing at the house of Nahor, but was focussed in fulfilling his task of taking the Bride to Isaac in the shortest time possible. The very fact that he took ten camels with him showed it was not a simple journey but is fraught with all kinds of dangers. He did not need an army to protect him, but the Angel of the Lord. If you are Rebekah, and a stranger bearing gifts comes to you and promised you a husband whom you have never seen, telling you of how his master, Abraham loved his son, Isaac and that he must look for him a wife from his own kinsmen. And he wants to take you to Isaac without delay, no hesitation, would you agree to go? There is no internet, no Facebook or Google to confirm the details. And even if there were information on the internet, how would you know that it was not a phising site, meaning a false front or a scam. No, Rebekah has to apply faith and believe Eliezer. She said she would go. They had to spent the night or nights in the wilderness along the way. She was not afraid because she knew it was the truth.

Gen 24:56-58
(56)  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
(57)  And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
(58)  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

The picture on the right shows Rebekah giving water to Abraham's servant Eliezer and she proceeded to provide the camels water also. This very action answered the sincere prayer of Eliezer that God would be the one to choose Rebekah. Praise the Lord. No men can perfect the Bride. We are perfected by the blood of Christ. The five fold ministries placed the church into their perfect or complete position in Christ. There is an assembly and there is that conduct and order administered to the assembly. The prophet warned stay at your post of duty, take up the armour of God and be the soldier ready to stand for the faith. Show the devil which side you are on. See, the very camel Rebekah watered brought her to the Bridegroom. Nourish and stay with the authority of the Word. Amen.

Yes, we must be ready to take our flight in haste, in a moment, a twinkling of an eye...when we meet our own as the graves are once again opened. For the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. What a blessed thought and what a wonderful hope for this to be make into reality...because
Faith is a substance...it can be touched and felt as the evidence of this great redemption. The cry is "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him"! Enter into the Joy of the Lord.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? (1 Cor 15:55). Even so, come Lord Jesus. All things are ready!