In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross and Whispering Danny discuss the dating of Exodus. They refer to Exodus 12.40-42 as a background for another fascinating detail of God’s activity with his people.
Also, they highlight an intriguing point in verse 46: “You shall not break any of its bones.”
As the Lamb of God and the perfect sacrifice for sin, none of Jesus’ bones were broken.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out (John 19.33-34).
Blessing from Below
In today’s article, I will revisit the final words spoken by Pharaoh to Moses and Aaron. I will also highlight an intriguing reversal of the power to bless.
Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night and said, “Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, serve the Lord, as you said.
“Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And ask a blessing for me, too!” (Exodus 12.31-32).
Walter Brueggemann’s book, “Delivered Out of Empire,” has offered invaluable information that greatly contributes to my ideas.
Initially, Pharaoh held all the power. This was Pharaoh’s response to Moses at their first meeting.
“Who is the Lord, that I should listen to him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5.2).
But as the story unfolds, we see Moses’s influence grow significantly in Egypt.
Moses himself was a man of great importance in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s officials and in the sight of the people (Exodus 11.3).
The Exodus narrative starts with the weeping of Hebrew slaves.
The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cry for help rose up to God from their slavery (Exodus 2.23).
By chapter 12, the lamenting shifts to Pharaoh and all Egyptians.
There was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead (Exodus 12.30).
Pharaoh sends the Israelites away with six commands.
Rise up
Go away
Go
Serve Jehovah
Take
Be gone.
Between Chapter 5 and Chapter 12, something changed. Initially, Pharaoh claimed he didn’t know Jehovah. Now, he’s telling people to serve and worship him.
The Pharaoh’s control is done. His use of cheap labor has stopped. We won’t see any more warehouses built by slaves.
Pharaoh has one more request, “And ask a blessing for me, too!”
The Meaning of “To Bless”
To bless means to put the power of life into someone else. Blessing means that life can be passed from one being to another.
This transfer is often thought of as an action moving from the stronger to the weaker, or from those with more resources to those with less. It’s a process where authority goes from those who have it to those who don’t.
God is assumed to have the ability to bless, as He controls the life force that enables all existence. He’s the one who bestows these blessings.
In creation, it is God who infuses life into creatures with His blessings.
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion . . .” (Genesis 1.28).
God promised to bless his people with economic prosperity.
“There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy,
“If only you will obey the Lord your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today” (Deuteronomy 15.4-5).
Rudy often discusses Aaron’s blessing in our videos. This is where we get the chance to bless others for God.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6.24-26)
A Top-Down Activity
A blessing is a top-down activity from God or people who have more to give. Because they are at the top, they have life’s resources to share.
People, such as political leaders, bankers, and celebrities including sports stars, seem to have more energy in life. They also appear capable of sharing this energy with those who possess less of it.
The Pharaoh had it all – power, wealth, food, and prestige.
Blessing from Below
The Exodus story reveals that blessings can come from anyone, not just those at the top. Even people on society’s lowest rungs have the power to bless.
The Psalms show us how we, lowly people, can bless God. Here are two examples among many.
I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7)
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name. (Psalm 63:4)
It’s a brave idea to think that our blessings can add something to an all-powerful God.
Yet, what God doesn’t have is our hearts. When we offer him our hearts in worship, we provide something he deeply wants. After all, he sacrificed his only Son so this could happen.
Going back to Pharaoh. Before he asked Moses to bless him, he first had to acknowledge that Moses held the power to connect with God and bless him.
Jesus is the perfect model of blessing from below. Despite having no status or importance and being rejected by all authorities during his time on earth, he possessed an unmatched power to bless.
“The blind receive their sight; the lame walk; those with a skin disease are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised; the poor have good news brought to them” (Luke 7.22).
It’s important to remember that those with absolute power often try to get rid of any other sources of influence.
Consider how Pharaoh behaved towards Moses, or how authorities treated Jesus. Even in our current times, we see similar patterns.
When studying figures like Moses or Jesus, remember two things.
First, never underestimate yourself. Regardless of your circumstances, you have the ability to bless others.
Second, don’t let life’s higher authorities intimidate you. Discover your real authority in God through the Holy Spirit.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny and I discuss Exodus 12.40-49 on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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