Pastor Matt's Podcasts Matt Bower

God instituded the Psssover before the Hebrews left Egypt.  This was to be done by faith in victory, deliverance and judgment even before these took place.  We are to do the same today, although we don't seem to have the victory, we are to take Communion in victory, grateful for deliverance, and judgment on God's enemies.  

While still in Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to observe the Passover.  This marks their covenant with God and their deliverance from Egypt before they left Egypt.  They were under Egyptian rule and law, their religious order, but God would give them His law when they left Egypt.  There is no neutrality, either the Hebrews were under Egypt or God, the transition had to take place before they left Egypt.  

As Moses gets the final instructions about the last of the plagues, this one hits the people of Egypt in a powerful way.  It is the killing of the firstborn.  As Egypt kept the children of Israel (God's firstborn) as slaves, aways from the life of worshiping God, so would God kill the firstborn of Egypt.  
    The same holds true today.  As God's people, the church are inundated with foreign gods to be worshiped, imposed upon by the power of the State, God will not tolerate the enslavement of His firstborn, the church.  

In this episode we will examine the family government and what that means to the original purpose of man in the Garden and man's repurpose with the Great Commission.  

Moses and Aaron continued to ask Pharaoh to let God's people go.  However, Pharaoh's belief system wouldn't allow it, Pharaoh himself claimed ownership over the Hebrew slaves.  This became a battle over sovereignty.  Who is sovereign, Pharaoh or God?  The State claims sovereignty over every area of life, but God is a jealous God and will not tolerate anyone or any institution that claims ownership over His people. 

As we continue to study the plagues of Egypt, we get an increasing understanding of how God deals with a State that is in control of all aspects of life.  In Egypt, Pharaoh and his agents attempt to control the Hebrew's worship of God.  God deals with those who try to keep His people from worshiping Him.