What is your first thought when you think about fuel?
Gasoline or electricity is a typical fuel that enables vehicles to get us from point to point.
Wood is an excellent fuel for a campfire.
Physically, we use food as fuel to nourish and sustain our bodies.
But there are other fuels to consider.
For example, Exodus 12:27 ends with the phrase, “And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”
What fueled this worship response?
Fueling the Worship Response | Exodus 12:27 | A Brief Review
As with any chapter in any book, context is critical to understanding.
Exodus 1 quickly reveals that Jacob’s descendants suffered oppressive slavery at the hands of the Egyptians. The Lord had revealed this would happen to Abraham back in Genesis 15:13.
The intensity of this oppression extended to the point of their sons being murdered at the order of the ruling Pharoah in Exodus 1:22.
But Pharoah’s own daughter spared one brave Israelite couple’s baby boy. She named him Moses. (Exodus 2:1-10)
Moses grew up, murdered an Egyptian, fled to Midian, and then was called by God to return to Egypt as God’s spokesperson to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. (Exodus 2:11-4:9)
Since Moses was reluctant, God also enlisted Aaron, Moses’ older brother. (Exodus 4:10-28)
29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. [1]
Why did the people believe Moses and Aaron? (See Exodus 3:18)
Fueling the Worship Response | Exodus 12:27 | From Bad to Worse
However, the Israelites’ belief wavered at Pharoah’s very first refusal. (Exodus 5:19-21)
After consulting with the Lord, Moses repeated the Lord’s promises to the Israelites again. (Exodus 5:22-6:8)
9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.[2]
What hindered the Israelite’s belief?
Then things got interesting.
Consider the following statements the Lord gave to Moses.
19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.[3]
6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.[4]
4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.[5]
What is the Lord’s main point to the Israelites?
Fueling the Worship Response | Exodus 12:27 | And Worse Yet
Review the following editorial headings.
- The Plague of Blood (Exodus 7:14-24)
- The Plague of Frogs (Exodus 7:25-8:15)
- The Plague of Gnats (Exodus 8:16-19)
Egyptians and Israelites all experienced the above three plagues.
Why would it be important for the Israelites to experience these plagues along with the Egyptians?
Fueling the Worship Response | Exodus 12:27 | A New Distinction
Review the following editorial headings.
- The Plague of Flies (Exodus 8:20-32)
- The Plague on Livestock (Exodus 9:1-7)
- The Plague of Boils (Exodus 9:8-12)
- The Plague of Hail (Exodus 9:13-35)
- The Plague of Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20)
- The Plague of Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29)
The Lord states he will distinguish between the Egyptians and the Israelites during most of the plagues above. This distinction is that only the Egyptians would suffer them.
How might this distinction fuel belief within the Israelites?
Fueling the Worship Response | Exodus 12:27 | The Climax
After all this incredible devastation, Moses warns Pharoah of one more plague, the Plague on the Firstborn.
Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. 7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’[6]
The Lord then gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions for the Israelites to protect them from the Plague on the Firstborn. (Exodus 12:1-23)
24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’ ” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. [7]
Remember the primary definition of worship is to honor or show reverence for a divine being or supernatural power.
This study presumes acceptance that there is one supreme or ultimate reality who is perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness and the creator and ruler of the universe known as the LORD God as revealed through the Holy Bible.
Fueling the Worship Response | Exodus 12:27 | Application
The struggle in the chapters reviewed above reveals how powerfully our beliefs can fuel who or what we worship.
Moses and Aaron believed in God.
Pharoah repeatedly refused to believe in Moses’ and Aaron’s God. His refusal caused significant damage to the Egyptians, their country, and himself.
The Israelites were quick to accept Moses and Aaron’s report of God’s care for them. But they needed more convincing when things got worse instead of immediately better for their circumstances.
Ultimately, it was their belief in God that fueled their response to bow their heads and worship.
Belief is a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing.
The question remains, did they believe God only because they were protected from seven of the ten plagues? Why or why not? (See again Exodus 3:18)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [8]
Spend some time this week reflecting on how you came to believe in God.
Share your story with someone who needs encouragement.
What else fuels your worship of God?
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 4:29–31.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 6:9.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 3:19.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 6:6.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 7:4.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 11:4–7.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 12:24–27.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 2:8–10.