Tuesday, February 4: Exodus 7-9; Psalm 105; Ephesians 1

Exodus 7: Who was older, Moses or Aaron? Whose staff became a snake?  What did the Egyptian magicians do? And then what happened?  What was the first plague?

Exodus 8: What plagues occurred in chapter 8 and how did the Lord bring them about? What occurred after each plague?

Exodus 9: What plagues occurred in chapter 9 and how did the Lord bring them about? Were the Israelites affected by these plagues?  What occurred after each plague?

Ephesians 1: According to verses 13-14, what happens when you believe in Jesus? What does Paul specifically pray for the Ephesians?

Journal Prompt: Paul prays for the saints for hope, inheritance and power, which do you most need to embrace and experience right now?

ANSWERS

Exodus 7: Aaron was three years older than Moses (80 and 83 at this time, v. 6). It was Aaron’s staff who became a snake.  The Egyptian magicians were able to also make their staffs become snakes, but Aaron’s snake ate their snakes!  The first plague was turning the water of the Nile into blood. It’s interesting to note that the Egyptian magicians were able to do the same thing.

Exodus 8:  The plague of the frogs occurred when the Lord instructed Aaron to stretch his hand and staff over the water.  The plague of gnats occurred when the Lord told Moses to tell Aaron to stretch out his staff and strike the dust o fate ground.  The plague of the flies occurred when the Lord ‘did this’ (v. 24).

After the plagues of the frogs and the flies, Moses prayed on behalf of the Pharaoh for God to remove the plague, and it was so.

Exodus 9:  The plague on the livestock occurred when the Lord ‘did this’.  The plague of hail occurred when the Lord told Moses to stretch his hands to the sky.  We read in verses 6 and 26 that the plagues did not affect the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived, nor did it affect the Israelites.

Ephesians 1:  When you believe in Jesus, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit which is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance.   

Paul give thanks for the Ephesians, and he asks God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so they can know him better.  He prays the ‘eyes of their hearts’ will be enlightened, so they may truly know the hope – His glorious inheritance and his great power for those who believe.