The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 15 Listen: (4:11) Read: Matthew 26 Listen: (10:01)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 15.19-21

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”

Reflection: Prophetic Check Up

By John Tillman

The role of the prophet was to represent the words, will, and presence of God.

The first three people directly described as prophets reveal three typical prophetic messages.

The first was Abraham when he blessed Abimelek. The second was Aaron when he confronted and cursed Pharaoh. The third was Miriam when she celebrated and announced God’s victory over Pharaoh and the salvation of God’s people.

The messages a prophet delivers can include blessing, confronting, or celebrating.

A prophet may bless a ruler or an individual who demonstrates obedience and submission to God’s will.

A prophet may confront or curse a ruler or individual who demonstrates callousness and rebellion to God’s will.

A prophet may predict or publish the victories of God and celebrate the peace, mercy, blessing, and salvation God provides.

The third person called a prophet in the scriptures is a woman—Miriam. This means that all men and women have a prophetic calling. (Acts 2.15-17) Give yourself a prophetic checkup. How are you representing God in your words and actions?

How are you representing God’s words? Are you growing in the knowledge of his Word? Studying, memorizing, applying, and sharing its wisdom?

How are you representing God’s will? Are you submitting to him in obedience, repenting of sins, and sharing with others God’s best for their lives?

How are you representing God’s presence? Are you sheltering the fearful, the outcast, and the needy? Are you eating with the sinful, the abused, and the prideful? Are you loving your enemies?

Are you bringing appropriate prophetic messages for your community, culture, and position?

Are you blessing and affirming good and wise leaders who honor God with obedience and repentance?

Are you confronting the powerful who are prideful, deceptive, rebellious, and hard-hearted toward those God cares for? Do you stand near the weak, the poor, the abused, and the outcasts, protecting them from the powerful?

Are you celebrating the victories Jesus has already won, the powerful he has already thrown down through his cross and resurrection? Are you proclaiming the victories yet to come, the resurrection of all who are in Christ and the righting of every wrong and injustice?

Abraham, Aaron, and Miriam leave a prophetic legacy for every man and woman in Christ. Pick up their mantle. Represent the words, will, and presence of Jesus by blessing the obedient, confronting the rebellious, celebrating his salvation, and proclaiming his love.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people! — Psalm 3.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: The Untied Donkey

By relinquishing our own burdens, we can praise and worship God freely. When we are untied, we can live a life of faith free from the pressure of trying to hold things up.

The Untied Donkey

Read more: Eating With Enemies

Christ’s love will cover all, restore our hurts and harms, and we will feast together. Through Christ, enemies can eat together in peace.

Eating With Enemies

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 14 Listen: (4:46) Read: Matthew 25 Listen: (6:04)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 14.2-4; 23-28

2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived

Reflection: A Perspective Corrective

By John Tillman

When filled with pride or fear, our perspective often needs a corrective.

The judicial hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was punishment for Pharaoh’s unjust treatment of the Israelites and for Pharaoh hardening his own heart despite repeated miraculous signs.

Pharaoh’s hard heart led to increasingly terrible decisions bringing destruction to Pharaoh and Egypt’s army, but knowledge of God and his power to the people of Egypt and the world. “The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 14.18)

At the beginning of Exodus the Pharaoh wanted to “deal shrewdly” with the Israelites (Exodus 1.10). In this passage, any shreds of shrewdness or acumen are abandoned. Pharaoh’s hard heart warped his perspective.

From Pharaoh’s perspective, Israel was fleeing (v 5). From the perspective of Moses, Israel was “marching out boldly.” (v 8) From Pharaoh’s perspective, Israel was wandering “in confusion.” (v 3) From Moses’ perspective, Pharaoh and his army would soon be thrown into confusion (v 24). From Pharaoh’s perspective, Israel was defenseless and disobedient workers, wandering the desert with their belongings, herds, women, and children (v 5). From God’s perspective, the group was an “army” that his power would protect (v 19).

Blind to the truth of what was happening, and blind to the potential consequences of his actions, Pharaoh charged recklessly into the sea where he and his army were destroyed. This can happen to anyone who repeatedly hardens their heart to facts, the scriptures, or God’s revelation, but it is especially dangerous in leaders.

Pharaoh’s wasn’t the only flawed perspective. Fear twisted the perspective of the Israelite’s hearts.

They thought the slavery behind them would be preferable to death (Exodus 14.12), when the path through the sea, representing death and chaos, was the only way to life (Exodus 14.29). They thought they would be buried in the shallow sands of the desert (Exodus 14.11) when Egypt’s army would soon be buried in the waters of the sea (Exodus 14.27-28).

Whether your heart is filled with fear or pride, let the Lord’s perspective be a corrective to your own. Ask God to remove pride and soften your heart. Ask God to quell fear and strengthen your resolve.

The path to life leads through the waters, the valley of the shadow of chaos and death. We are resurrected after we carry our cross, not before. We are saved after passing through the danger, not before.

Despite armies of doubt or hate, march boldly, stand with Jesus, and experience his deliverance.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people! — Psalm 3.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos

Chaos may block our way, with destruction only steps behind us. God is with us in these times.

Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos

Read more: Blessings of the Dispossessed

Isaac is unfairly treated; he is forced by violence to move on; he is even relocated by government order.

Blessings of the Dispossessed

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 11-12.21 Listen: (9:08) Read: Matthew 22 Listen: (4:56)

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 12.22-51 Listen: (7:31) Read: Matthew 23 Listen: (4:53)
Read: Exodus 13 Listen: (3:30) Read: Matthew 24 Listen: (5:59)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 11.5-8

5 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. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 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. 8 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.

Reflection: Grief-Driven Anger

By John Tillman

After announcing the plague that would kill the first born of both humans and animals, Moses leaves Pharaoh, “hot with anger.”

Why is Moses angry?

I don’t think Moses was angry about God’s response to Egypt’s crimes. Pharaoh had ordered the death of male Israelite babies since before Moses was born. Egypt suffered one night what Israel suffered for a generation.

I think Moses was angry at Pharaoh’s prior choices that led to this. Pharaoh was running Egypt, full speed into ruin. Moses knew, and likely loved, many Egyptians and they loved and respected him. (Exodus 11.3) But this leader’s pride and stubbornness doomed them with horrific, irreversible consequences.

The text makes it clear that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart at this point. (Exodus 11.10) When humans refuse God’s warnings, appeals, and calls to repent, we harden our hearts. Judicial hardening is when God responds to us hardening our hearts by hardening them further, past the point of no return.

In Nazi-controlled France, the car manufacturer Citroën was forced to manufacture trucks for the Nazis. They lowered the “full” indicator on oil dipsticks to a level that would damage the engines under strain. The engines seized in critical moments, making troops vulnerable to destruction.

In judicial hardening, God lowers indicators, removes warning lights, and lets wickedness rev the engine until it blows. He makes blind those who refuse to see and deaf those who refuse to listen. He turns them over to their sins.

When a person or leader repeatedly refuses correction, rejects the truth, and persists in cruelty and malice, their hardened heart leads to horrific and irreversible consequences. A person’s hard-heartedness will have consequences proportional to that person’s power and influence, spreading beyond their own lives to the lives of others.

Moses’ anger was certainly multi-faceted. But perhaps you have felt anger like I’ve described that is fueled by grief for those suffering or about to suffer consequences chosen by the hard-hearted.

Don’t let anger harden your heart. Lose anger in the practices of Passover.

Remember that grief for the suffering is a holy emotion shared by Jesus. (Matthew 23.37-39)

Remember to be covered by God’s merciful covenant so plagues pass you by. (Exodus 12.13; Luke 22.15-20)

Remember to soften your heart, inviting others to shelter in God’s love from every passing plague. (Exodus 12.48-49; 1 Corinthians 11.33)

Remember to heed the warning lights and spiritual indicators in your life. (1 Corinthians 11.27-32)

Remember to leave Egypt behind as wanderers, seeking a better kingdom.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy Name and glory in your praise. — Psalm 106.47

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Pondering the Plague

Why did Pharaoh not believe? Why did he not give in? Is there anything about which you are refusing to submit to God?

Pondering the Plague

Read more: When They Ask

Passing on knowledge is commanded by God. We are called to teach to our children, younger believers, and those new in the faith.

When They Ask

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 10 Listen: (4:44) Read: Matthew 21 Listen: (7:10)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 10.28-29

28 Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”

29 “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.”

Reflection: Blessed are the Troublemakers

By John Tillman

The Pharaoh of Joseph’s day was personally blessed and prayed for by Israel himself. While Israel’s children lived there, Egypt enjoyed the blessings of God and was a channel of God’s blessing to the world.

Any nation that simply allows God’s people to flourish can be so blessed. Even the evil nations of Assyria and Babylon, when they acknowledged the God of the Hebrews among them, were blessed. But any nation, even the nation of Israel or a nation calling itself a “Christian Nation,” can become a nation of cursings instead of blessings.

Moses’ Pharaoh treated him like an irritant. From a certain perspective, it’s understandable. Moses was demanding. He inconvenienced the privileged life to which Egypt was accustomed. He destroyed the peace. He disrupted the economy. He upended the established order. Pharaoh considered him a troublemaker.

But Moses was not a troublemaker in Egypt any more than Elijah was a troublemaker in Ahab’s Israel. (1 Kings 18.16-18) In both countries, prophets brought correction through words, demands, and demonstrations of power. The leaders were the troublemakers and made decisions that led toward certain disasters.  

Reading the progression of the plagues and the responses of Pharaoh is like watching a classic tragedy, like Macbeth. He makes horrible choice after choice after choice. We don’t understand how, in the face of so much evidence of God’s power, Pharaoh could still stiffen his neck, harden his heart, and refuse to give in.

Every time we have “trouble” it doesn’t mean God is displeased with us. Sometimes, as Moses did, we will experience “good trouble” when we are doing the right thing. But it is always good to pause and consider if we are “going Pharaoh.”

Moses was a visitation of grace, an opportunity for change. Pharaoh rejected it. Even his leaders realized that Egypt was falling to ruin but he wouldn’t give in to them either. (Exodus 10.7)

We don’t have to look far in the news headlines to see autocratic leaders, bringing their countries to ruin by stubbornly refusing to abandon foolish directions. We don’t have to look far in our own hearts to find moments we resist or resent calls for change that God puts in our path.

Blessed are the troublemakers who demand justice. We should have the humility not to treat them as irritants, but consider whether the source of trouble might instead be our own hearts.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody. — Psalm 57.7

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Ahab and David

Rather than the friendly relationship David had with God and his prophets, Ahab considers Elijah his “enemy.”

Ahab and David

Read more: Live Prophetically

 Do not shirk your prophetic calling. There are kings to be confronted and people to be set free. Live prophetically.

Live Prophetically

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 9 Listen: (5:31) Read: Matthew 20 Listen: (4:22)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 9:16–18

16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now.

Reflection: When All Hail Breaks Loose

By Erin Newton

Years ago I was crouching in the closet of my friend’s house while the deafening sound of a storm pounded the roof with softball-sized hail (11cm) that damaged our roofs, destroyed our cars, and demolished plant life—a typical spring day in Texas.

Hailstorms in Egypt, however, are rare. Exodus 9 says it was “the worst … ever.” A common hailstorm is a nuisance; a record-breaking hailstorm is a devastating catastrophe.

The signs and wonders from God escalate in intensity and destruction. Gnats and boils were things that caused a disruption, but nothing too extreme. The bloody river and the dead livestock—these signs were all bad, but not as bad as what was coming.

There is no real escape from hail if you’re caught outside. Everyone was at risk from servants in the fields to children in the street. Small hail stings and bruises. Large hail kills.

The hail was so damaging “it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree” (v. 25). It was not just a nuisance. Crops were ruined. Trees were laid bare.

All those years ago, I remember walking out of the house to see everything shattered. The lawn was glistening white, covered in unfathomably large chunks of ice. Limbs and leaves were scattered everywhere. We were spared a tornado that day, but the hail had done equal damage.

Pharaoh thought of himself as a god. He was the sun. He was the cosmic power—at least in his own eyes. There was nothing he could not do, or so he thought. But the hailstorm in Exodus 9 was a display of real divine power.

The Almighty God did not challenge Pharoah to a duel as if he were an equal. He rightly affirmed, “I could have … wiped you off the earth,” (v. 15) if he had wanted. But he is also mighty in mercy—hoping that Pharaoh would repent.

The scene echoes the words later penned in Job: “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you. … Have you … seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?” (Job 38.3, 22-23).

The battle between God and a self-important ruler was on. Pharaoh soon learned, it was not a battle he ever had hopes of winning.

Signs and wonders show us not only how powerful God is, but how powerless humans truly are.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, for I have taken refuge in you; in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge until this time of trouble has gone by.
I will call upon the Most High God, the God who maintains my course.
He will send from heaven and save me; he will confound those who trample upon me; God will send forth his love and his faithfulness. — Psalm 57.1-3

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Idol-Destroying Plagues

The plagues systematically and categorically destroyed everything that Egypt trusted in and worshiped. 

Idol-Destroying Plagues

Read more: Lasting Revivals and Normal Idols

It’s easy to be judgmental of ancient people’s idols…But these gods were normal…practical SOP that promised financial ROI.

Lasting Revivals and Normal Idols