George Ruheni, PhD.

  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 ...