The Angel Of the Lord Goes Before Israel - Exodus 23

First published at 12:55 UTC on September 13th, 2021.

Yahweh is sending his Angel before Israel. What could stand against them? Who is this "Angel?" Do we know him by a different name? Even more, we are given further insight into God's heart for his people and his creation as we are give…

• We are here in this world to be his Imagers. We exist to do his work. How can we be faithful to that?
• Think about all the things we know, have experienced, that Moses did not know! We are so blessed.
• All of directives for this lesson come directly from the Ten Commandments.
• True Justice - God's Justice - is blind to class, wealth and station.
• We are to help out people whether we "like" them, or not.
• God cares about animals and hates cruelty to them.
• God cares about the weak, orphaned, widowed: all those who have no one but God to advocate for them.
• Officials are always tempted to pervert justice.
• God cares about sojourners and reminds the Israelites that they were sojourners. Don't be the Egyptians.
• In this sinful world, it is a sad reality that there are always the downtrodden and lowly. Don't abuse them.
• The principles behind the Sabbath concept show God's kind heart toward the poor.
• This "law stuff" is not just "law stuff." In it we see the Father's heart.
• The Jews never gave rest to land every sixth year. Why? Money!
• The Sabbath is about Rest and Finding Comfort in God's Word.
• In Jesus we have rest for our souls!
• With all the festivals and the Sabbath, God was teaching the important things through repetition.
• God wants us to give offerings because it shows thankfulness and trust in God. He will still provide.
• Our offerings come from the heart.
• The Angel of the Lord is….JESUS!
• Before the time of Christ, the Jews talked about Two Powers. One was the Angel of the Lord. It was the pre-incarnate Christ.
• The Angel of the Lord does things only God can do.
• All of the "ites" (Hittites, Amorites, etc.) people were the nations where the Nephilim were. They would be wiped out.
• The Nephilim were Satan's incursion into the bloodline of Adam and Eve.
• We are still in Cosmological Warfare with the forces of evil.
• God promises to bless faithfulness.
• David and his mighty men finish off the Nephilim (giants).
• As Imagers of God it is our challenge to be in this world of sin but, still be who He wants us to be.