George Ruheni, PhD.

The book of Exodus tells the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, when God liberates Israel from Egypt and displays his incomparable sovereignty. It is not just an escape story, it is a declaration of God's saving work. It is the final separation of Israel from Egypt and an event around which all subsequent redeemers focus their attention. This happened somewhere near the area of the Nile Delta in the east, where desert, waters, and battle ways cross. Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord .” And they did so (Exodus 14:3). For God, the actions were carefully planned, He told Israel to stay near the sea at the end of the journey. From the human point of view, it may seem a bit unwise. However, it was all done according to God's plan. Moreover, even the actions of Pharaoh turned out to be a part of God's scheme for redemption. The Pharaoh ...

The chapter Exodus 13 occurs in between Passover and liberation (chapter 12) and the miraculous crossing of Red Sea (Chapter 14). The chapter is not one that deals with actions but meaning and identity. We have already been saved but now God starts forming us to be His chosen people. Salvation is the beginning of a lifelong process known as discipleship. First, salvation comes and then instruction on how to live follows. The first thing God did was declare that all the firstborns belong to him. This is in relation to the tenth plague when the firstborns of Egyptians died but those of Israel lived. Firstborn symbolized life, vigor, and continuity. Their being dedicated meant that we had life because of the mercy of God. The method of redemption involved sacrificing animals and redeeming humans (substitute is offered). Life belongs to God because He redeemed it, not because we earned it.   God commanded Israel to annually remember their deliverance. The symbols of remembering wer...

  Passover instructions The deliverance from Egypt, stands as one of the most defining moments in the history of Israel. It was not merely a physical escape from bondage, but a profound spiritual turning point that marked a new beginning, the establishment of a new calendar, a new identity, and a new covenant relationship with God. In this sense, redemption was not only about leaving Egypt, it was about entering a transformed life. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats (Exodus 12:5). The instruction concerning the lamb carries deep symbolic weight. The requirement that the lamb be “without blemish, a male of the first year” signifies purity, perfection, and worthiness. Nothing defective or ordinary could serve as the instrument of deliverance. This points to the seriousness of redemption, it is costly, intentional, and divinely ordained. The option of choosing from either sheep or goats also reflects ac...

THE SHEPHERD AND THE KEEPER God reveals Himself throughout Scripture as the Shepherd and Keeper of His people. This is not a distant or symbolic description, but a deeply personal reality that defines His ongoing relationship with humanity. Like a shepherd who attentively leads, nourishes, protects, and corrects his flock, God is continually involved in the details of our daily lives. Nothing concerning us escapes His awareness, and nothing falls outside His care. David expresses this profound truth when he declares, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” ( Psalm 23:1 ). This statement reflects complete trust in God’s provision and guidance. To “not want” is not merely the absence of lack, but the presence of divine sufficiency. It is the assurance that when God leads, He also provides, and when He directs, He also sustains. His shepherding is not occasional or reactive; it is intentional, consistent, and perfectly timed. The greatness of this Shepherd is further revealed i...

  Israel plunders the Egyptians God warned Pharaoh, that Israel is His son, and if Pharaoh hardened his heart, the decisive plague would be the death of Pharaoh's son to compel him to release Israel. This sets the stage for both judgment and deliverance [Exodus 4:21–23]. The Israelites are instructed to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold. When this happens, the Egyptians willingly give these items. Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold (Exodus 11:2). The Egyptians willingly gave silver and gold, for several reasons. First, divine justice and compensation, a form of back payment for generations of forced labor. The Israelites had been enslaved for centuries, and this plundering represents a kind of restitution rather than theft.   Then, God’s favor, God gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, influencing their willingness ...

  Let my people go God sends Moses to Pharaoh with a clear and consistent message: “ Let My people go, that they may serve Me .” This declaration reveals a profound truth, Israel did not belong to Pharaoh. They belonged to God. Their identity was not rooted in slavery, but in divine ownership and purpose. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me (Exodus 9:1). God’s intention was not merely to free them from oppression, but to bring them into a life of worship and service. Deliverance was therefore both liberation from bondage and liberation for Worship. True freedom is found not in autonomy, but in rightly belonging to and serving God.   This principle extends beyond Israel to all believers. Just as God claimed His people then, He calls His people now to live in a way that reflects His ownership and character. One of the clearest expressions of this is love for othe...