Exodus 11
Preparation for final plagueverses 1-3
And the LORD said to Moses
Yet will I bring ONE PLAGUE MORE on Pharaoh
and on Egypt – afterward he will let you go hence
When he shall let you go he shall surely thrust you out
hence altogether
Speak now in the ears of the people
and let every man BORROW of his neighbor
and let every woman of her neighbor
JEWELS of silver
and JEWELS of gold
And the LORD gave the people FAVOR in the sight of the Egyptians
moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt
in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants
and in the sight of the people
Firstborn going to die (tenth plague)verses 4-8
And Moses said – This says the LORD
About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt
and all the FIRSTBORN in the land of Egypt shall die
FROM the FIRSTBORN of Pharaoh
that sits on the throne
EVEN to the FIRSTBORN of the maidservant
that is behind the mill
and all the FIRSTBORN of beasts
And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt
such as there was none like it
nor shall be like it any more
BUT against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move
his tongue – against man or beast
that you may KNOW how that the LORD does put
a DIFFERENCE between the
Egyptians and Israel
And all these your servants shall come down to me
and bow down themselves to me – saying
Get you out – and all the people that follow you
and after that I will go out
And he went out from Pharaoh in a great ANGER
LORD hardened heart of Pharaohverses 9-10
And the LORD said to Moses
Pharaoh shall not hearken to you
that MY wonders may be multiplied in the
land of Egypt
And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh
and the LORD HARDENED Pharaoh’s heart
so that he would not let the children of Israel
go out of his land
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. (7592 “borrow” [sha’el] means to inquire, to request, to demand, ask, beg, consult, or wish)
DEVOTION: Our idea of “borrow” is something someone does with the intention of returning something. The children of Israel were commanded of the LORD to go to their neighbors and ask for their wealth. They had no intention of returning it.
The Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. Why were they afraid? They had seen nine plagues come to their land. They had asked Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. His officers had asked him to let the Israelites go. He was stubborn. He wasn’t going to give in to anyone. He had the belief that he was in control of what was happening around him. He had magicians that could copy the plagues of the LORD.
He didn’t realize that the enemy of the LORD was working in his nation. He had a nation that worshipped the creature rather than the Creator. He had a nation that thought they could conquer any people.
He had promised Moses and Aaron on a number of occasions that he would let them leave. He lied. God knew the heart of Pharaoh. HE knew that Pharaoh didn’t fear HIM. HE had a point to prove. HE was showing the nation of Egypt that HE was in control. HE also showed us that there are people who will never listen to HIM. They say NO long enough and God says OK. They will spend eternity in the lake of fire to prove that they will not yield to the LORD.
One this occasion the Israelites were to take all the silver and gold they could get from the Egyptians. The children of Israel under God’s command are to spoil Egypt. These are the wages they should have received if they were paid for their work all the years after Joseph. The LORD makes sure that everything is balanced either here or in eternity. NO one gets away with anything.
God sees everything that is happening to HIS people both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We have different promises and blessing than Israel but the LORD remains the same. We are in the world to bring glory to HIM. Our part is to spread the Good News to everyone in our world.
Today many are not doing a good job because they have been caught up in the world of bottom line. Many Christians are gathering material wealth and not gathering wealth that will last for eternity. Our responsibility is to gather wealth that will last for eternity. Remember to witness to those in our world. They need the LORD. We need to give them the Good News. Start today. Remember that follow up is just as important as sharing the Good News. Thanks.
Don’t fall into the belief that you can keep all your wealth. The Egyptians/World thinks that they will keep their wealth and spend it as they please. We have found out that a 401 is not a genuine that when we retire we will have a lot of money.
CHALLENGE: Remember the LORD has promised to provide our every need. Praise HIS name.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. (2580 “favor” [chen] means grace, acceptance, popularity, good-will, agreeableness, kindness, or compassion)
DEVOTION: After the first nine plagues the people of Egypt understood that the LORD did what Moses said HE would when HE said HE would. They were afraid of more plagues. They were willing to give up their jewels of silver and jewels of gold. They would have been willing to give up almost anything to have the children of Israel leave their land before there were more plagues.
The LORD allowed them to realize how important Moses was to HIS plan. He gained a lot of fame not only in Egypt but around the then known world. There were many merchants that traveled and spread the news of what was happening in Egypt. The new reached the Promised Land as there was a lady in Jericho that knew all about what was happening in Egypt.
So Moses became a great man in the eyes of the Egyptians and others around the world. So people treated them with kindness. They wanted to be on the good side of the LORD.
Sometimes there is the thought in the minds of Christians that there are super Christians that God blesses more than others. There are good spiritual leaders who are used of God for HIS glory. These men and women would not want others to think of them as super Christians. They would want to manifest humility before the LORD and their fellow believer.
Those who don’t know Christ would see a man or woman used of God considering them great leaders. They would look up to them. God would allow this to a point.
God knows that even great leaders can fall and HE wants everyone to look at Jesus Christ as their primary example. Moses was an example of a servant of God to the Egyptians. He was being used of God and they considered him a great man.
Greatness in public can be a blessing and a curse. There was no desire on the part of Moses to be a great man after his time in the wilderness. That is when the LORD allowed him to be great.
CHALLENGE: Should people be looking up to you or I as a great man? We have to always turn them toward Christ as the leader they should follow. Every believer should be praying for those who more public than others.
: 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast that you may know how that the LORD does put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. (6395 “difference” [palah] means set apart, distinct, marked out, be separated, or be distinguished)
DEVOTION: There was going to be a lot of crying over lost firstborn children but not in the camp of the Israelites. There would be no noise related to the death of a firstborn in the land of Goshen. Their children were going to be save with the celebration of the first Passover by the children of Israel.
God had made a distinction between the children of Israel and the Egyptians. HE still makes a distinction between those who are genuine believers in Jesus Christ and the rest of the world.
HE blesses HIS own children. The ones that are not obedient HE chastens to bring them closer to HIM. Just as we are to chasten our children HE does it for our benefit. HE wants us to stay close to HIM.
Remember that the LORD promises HIS children the peace that passes all understand. This doesn’t mean that there will not be hard times in the life of HIS children but HE is right there by our sides to encourage us.
The children of Israel had peace in the midst of plagues. Our trials might not ever amount to anything like what they had gone through for over four hundred years.
CHALLENGE: Celebrate the peace that the LORD gives us each day.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. (7235 “multiplied” [rabah] means 1 be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things). 1a2 to be or grow great. 1b (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many. 1c (Hiphil). 1c1 to make much, make many, have many. 1c1a to multiply, increase. 1c1b to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly. 1c1c to increase greatly or exceedingly. 1c2 to make great, enlarge, do much. 2 (Qal) to shoot. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: By this time, Pharaoh and his officers had witnessed 9 notable miracles (more than that if you count the signs of Moses and his hand as well as Moses and his staff). Yet Pharaoh had progressively hardened his heart and had refused to acknowledge to supremacy of the LORD as manifested by these signs. Each successive sign brought a much more severe affliction on the people of Egypt, as each showed that a god of Egypt was powerless to protect them against the LORD. There would be one more sign, and that would be the death of the firstborn.
There is coming a time yet in the future where God promises to again multiply His signs and wonders. This is foretold in the book of Revelation, and will be the time of judgment upon the world where God comes to claim His children who are to be a part of His kingdom. As a warning of the impending return of Jesus Christ, there will be numerous signs and wonders. This was also foretold by Joel in his prophecy which Peter quotes on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:19).
Does God have to show us signs and wonders today in order for us to believe in Him? The answer should be no, since we are supposed to believe in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Christ without the need for signs and wonders. Jesus Himself told Thomas that those who believed in Jesus because of faith were to be more blessed than those who had the actual privilege of seeing the resurrected Lord.
CHALLENGE: Are you still waiting on anything to confirm your faith in Christ? If so, stop for a minute and acknowledge Christ as Lord of the cross and of the resurrection. (MW)
: 10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. (4159 “wonders” [mowpheth] means signs, miracle, a marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent, often with an emphasis on communicating a message, symbol, or portent)
DEVOTION: It seems to be hard to imagine someone being so stubborn after all the things that had happened in Egypt. Moses had shown Pharaoh the miracle of the rod that turned into a serpent that ate all the serpents of the magicians.
Moses had announced all of the nine plagues that had happened so far. He had brought Pharaoh the news that the firstborn were going to be slain at midnight. Pharaoh didn’t believe him even after seeing all that had happened.
He was fooled into believing that his magicians were just having an off day when they couldn’t copy what the LORD was doing. He thought that he could outwait the LORD.
He was blind to the fact that the LORD was omnipotent. HE had manifested some of HIS power but Pharaoh was not moved. He was stubborn and the LORD allowed him to continue to be stubborn.
In the book of Romans, we find groups of people who wanted to sin and were not concerned with judgment. Paul states through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that God gave them up to their sins. HE allowed them to live in their sins until HE brought judgment on them.
This was true in the days of Pharaoh even though it seemed that Pharaoh’s servants were beginning to realize that they needed the favor of the children of Israel if their nation was going to still be in existence when they finally left for the Promised Land.
There are consequences when someone or some government doesn’t honor the LORD after many warnings from HIM. Egypt reaped what it sowed. Nations today will reap what they sow by disobeying the commandments of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: The LORD has a purpose for what is happening in our world. The warnings are there but we need to heed them.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10
MY wondersverse 9
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Pharaohverses 1-10
Egyptverses 1, 4, 6, 9
Egyptian neighborsverses 2, 3, 7
Israel borrowed: jewels of silver, jewels of gold
Israel found favor
Pharaoh’s servantsverse 3
Great cryverse 6
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Hard heartverse 10
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Provision of the LORDverse 2
Differenceverse 7
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mosesverses 1-10
One more plague
Very great in sight of Egyptians and Pharaoh servants
Midnight
Firstborn will die
Great anger
Peopleverses 2, 3
Borrow from Egyptians
Favor in sight of Egyptians
Children of Israelverse 7
Put a difference
Aaronverse 10
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Firstborn to dieverse 5
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QUOTES regarding passage
4–8 Moses’ speech to Pharaoh continues the remarks he began in 10:29. Unlike all the other plagues, this time the Lord himself (notice the emphatic repetition of the pronoun—ʾanî yôṣēʾ, “I, I will go out”) would march (yāṣāʾ is often used in military contexts) through the land of Egypt (v.4). There would be no secondary causes or utilizing instruments such as a strong east wind. The firstborn of all Egyptian families—slaves and cattle (v.5)—would die at midnight (the exact day was not specified). An unprecedented outpouring of grief would follow, but among the Israelites there would be such tranquility on that evening that not a dog would have occasion to bark (vv.6–7)!
A possible historical reminiscence of this event has been uncovered by Mordechai Gilula (“The Smiting of the Firstborn: An Egyptian Myth?” Tel Aviv 4 [1977]: 94–95). In the Pre-Mosaic Pyramid Texts (par. 339 a–b), there is a reference to “that day of slaying the firstborn” spelled smsw in Egyptian. Likewise, the Pre-Mosaic Coffin Texts (VI:178) refer to “that night of slaying the firstborn,” while another coffin text has both “that night … that day of slaying the firstborn” (II:163 b–c). In the Coffin Texts the Egyptian word for “firstborn” is wr or wrw meaning “great” or “eldest.” Interestingly the firstborn in the Coffin Texts are gods, while the Pyramid Texts do not say.
Moses’ final word was that the Egyptians on bent knee would beg the Israelites to please leave those parts immediately (v.8). Moses said, “After that I will leave” (ʾēṣēʾ, “go out”—reechoing the Lord’s “going out” in v.4). But the stupidity and waste of all those lives just because of stubborn sinfulness made Moses exceedingly angry. To be in the presence of evil and not be angry is a dreadful spiritual and moral malady. (Kaiser, W. C., Jr. (1990). Exodus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, pp. 369–370). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
In several of the other confrontations Moses gave Pharaoh opportunity to release the people as a means of warding off the announced plague. Not so this time. The plague would come; then Pharaoh would let the people go. Moses’ angry pronouncement was final. Never again would he confront Pharaoh with the option to repent (cf. comments on 10:28–29). In the previous plagues Moses and Aaron had a part, but not in the final judgment; this was to be the work of God alone. (Hannah, J. D. (1985). Exodus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 126). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 8. And all these thy servants, &c.] Pharaoh’s nobles, ministers, courtiers and counsellors, who were then in his presence, and stood about him, to whom Moses pointed: shall come down unto me; from Pharaoh’s palace, which might be built on an eminence, to the place where Moses had dwelt during the time he had been in Egypt, which might lie lower; or these should come from Zoan, or from Memphis, whichever of them was now the royal city, to the land of Goshen, which lay lower than the other part of Egypt; or it may only denote the submission of Pharaoh’s servants, that they should in the time of their distress be so humble and condescending as to come themselves to Moses, and as it follows: and bow down themselves unto me; in the most obsequious manner, humbly entreating, and earnestly begging him: saying, get thee out, and all the people that follow thee; or are at thy feet, that were at his beck and command, and under his power, as Aben Ezra; or that followed his counsel and advice, as Jarchi, that did as he directed them, and went after him as their leader and commander, even every one of them; they that brought up the rear, he, and all of them, would be desired to depart, and not a man remain behind: this was fulfilled, ch. 12:31: and after that I will go out; out of the land of Egypt, Moses, and all the children of Israel: and he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger; as soon as he had said the above words, because he had bid him be gone from him, and had threatened him with his life, if ever he saw his face more; and because he was so rebellious against God, whose zeal inspired the heart of Moses with indignation against him, though the meekest man on earth, and for whose glory he was concerned; though some understand this of Moses going out from Pharaoh, when he and not Moses was in great anger, because of what Moses had now threatened him with, and told him what would be the issue of things, the submission of him and his nobles, and the dismission of Israel; but this sense is not favoured by the accents. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 367). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
With the new divine command swelling in his heart, Hoses speaks his last word to Pharaoh, towering above him in righteous wrath, and dwindling his empty threats into nothingness. What a contrast between the impotent rage of the despot, with his vain threat, ‘Thou shalt die,’ and the unblenching boldness of the man with God at his back! One cannot but note in Moses’ prediction of the last plague the solemn enlargement on the details of the widespread calamity, which is not unfeeling gloating over an oppressor’s misery, but a yearning to save from hideous misery by timely and plain depicting of it. There is a flash of national triumph in the further contrast between the universal wailing in Egypt and the untouched security of the children of Israel, but that feeling merges at once into the higher one of the Lord’s’ gracious action in establishing the ‘difference’ between them and their oppressors. It is not safe to dwell on superiority over others, either as to condition or character, unless we print in very large letters that it is ‘the Lord’ who has made it. There is a flash, too, of natural triumph in the picture of the proud courtiers brought down to prostrate themselves before the shepherd from Horeb, and to pray him to do what their master and they had so long fought against his doing. And there is a most natural assertion of non-dependence on their leave in that emphatic ‘After that I will go out.’ He is not asserting himself against God, but against the cowering courtiers. ‘Hot anger’ was excusable, but it was not the best mood in which to leave Pharaoh. Better if he had gone out unmoved, or moved only to ‘great heaviness and sorrow of heart’ at the sight of men setting themselves against God, and rushing on the ‘thick bosses of the Almighty’s buckler’ to their own ruin. Moses’ anger we naturally sympathize with, Christ’s meekness we should try to copy.
The closing verses, as we have already noticed, are a kind of summing-up of the whole narrative of the plagues and their effects on Pharaoh. They open two difficult questions, as to how and why it was that the effect of the successive strokes was so slight and transient. They give the ‘how’ very emphatically as being that ‘Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart.’ Does that not free Pharaoh from guilt? And does it not suggest an unworthy conception of God? It must be remembered that the preceding narrative employs not only the phrase that ‘Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart,’ but also the expression that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. And it is further to be noted that the latter expression is employed in the accounts of the earlier plagues, and that the former one appears only towards the close of the series. So then, even if we are to suppose that it means that there was a direct hardening action by God on the man’s heart, such action was not first, but subsequent to obstinate hardening by himself. God hardens no man’s heart who has not first hardened it himself. But we do not need to conclude that any inward action on the will is meant. Was not the accumulation of plagues, intended, as they were, to soften, a cause of hardening? Does not the Gospel, if rejected, harden, making consciences and wills less susceptible? Is it not a ‘savoir of death unto death,’ as our fathers recognized in speaking of ‘gospel-hardened sinners’? The same fire softens wax and hardens clay. Whosoever is not brought near is driven farther off, by the influences which God brings to bear on us.
The ‘why’ is stated in terms which may suggest difficulties,—‘that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.’ But we have to remember that the Old Testament writers are not wont to distinguish so sharply as more logical Westerns do between the actual result of an event and its purpose. With their deep faith in the all-ruling power of God, whatever had come to pass was what He had meant to come to pass. In fact, Pharaoh’s obstinacy had not thwarted the divine purpose, but had been the dark background against which the blaze of God’s irresistible might had shone the brighter. He makes the wrath of man to praise Him, and turns opposition into the occasion of more conspicuously putting forth His omnipotence. (MacLaren, A. (2009). Expositions of Holy Scripture: Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers (pp. 35–37). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Isaiah 6
Isaiah is commissioned to become a prophet to Israel.
INSIGHT
Isaiah sees the Lord in a terrifying vision which makes him acutely aware of his sinfulness and God’s holiness. The Lord takes away his sin–seeing the repentance of his heart–and then commissions Isaiah to serve Him as a prophet. This event illustrates how the Lord calls His servants. First, He reveals Himself through His Word. When the hearer receives the Scriptures, he becomes aware of his sin and asks God for forgiveness and salvation. God then sends him into the world to take the message of salvation to others.
(Quiet Walk)
THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scriptures cannot be broken…. John 10:35
Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms–Christ accepted it all and asked the disciples to consider its teaching concerning Himself. And He expounded it to them. I refer to John 10:35, where He tells us, “If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scriptures cannot be broken….” So in the last analysis our authority for our understanding of inspiration is to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. That was His view of the Scriptures.
Now I know there are many who want to ask a question at this point. What about the various differences, what about certain discrepancies, and so on? Well, there is a very comforting answer to all that. There are, as we have them in our versions, certain things that we simply cannot explain, and it is our business to say that quite readily and frankly. But let me hasten to add that most of these so-called difficulties and discrepancies that the critics bring forward can be explained; indeed, most of them have been explained. Many of them have been explained in the last few years as a result of archaeology and further linguistic understanding of the Scriptures.
Still, there are a certain few differences that remain, but it is significant that they are never with respect to doctrine or historical facts. It is a matter of figures or something that is comparatively unimportant and can be explained quite readily–the mistake, perhaps, of a copyist or of some translator. There is nothing that in any way interferes with vital, essential doctrine. So what we affirm and state is this: The original documents, as first given, are inerrant and infallible.
Finally, you cannot prove to anybody that the Bible is uniquely and divinely inspired. Ultimately people have to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
A Thought to Ponder
The original documents, as first given, are inerrant and infallible.
(From God the Father, God the Son, p. 32, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Magnificent Obsession
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” (1 Corinthians 9:19)
In his letter to the Ephesians (4:11-16), Paul noted that Christ had given specific gifts to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Paul himself was all of these, however, and he wanted to win as many people as he could from all walks of life. He therefore sought to be “made all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
This, indeed, was a magnificent obsession, and every Christian should seek to emulate it as the Lord enables. Paul was not saying, however, that a man should become as a woman to win women to the Lord, or that a woman should become as a man to win men; neither should he become a humanist to win humanists. One should never dilute the doctrines of the faith or Christian standards of conduct in order to win commitments to the church.
Paul was not laying down guidelines for witnessing, either for the church or for individual Christians; he was giving his own personal testimony. Nevertheless, we should seek to be understanding and sympathetic to people of every background. “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32). We should try to “be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Remembering it is “God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7), we should never compromise truth in order to gain converts, but “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) beseech others to “be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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