Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

Exodus
6:9 - "...they [the Israelites] would not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery." In other words, they had lost all hope. Since this escape from Egypt is used often as a foreshadowing of our escape from the slavery of sin, could this verse also apply to our world today?

6:16,18,20 - Notes on ancestry:

• Levi - Kohath - Amram (Jochebed) - Moses
• Jochebed, the mother of Moses, was also his great aunt. (Amram married his father's sister.)
• According to Ruth 4:18 (and other sources), Aaron's wife Elisheba was of the tribe of Judah: Judah - Perez - Hezron - Ram - Amminadab - Nahshon, who was Elisheba's brother. Nahshon's name is mentioned often as a leader among the Israelites. It doesn't mention that here, but I thought the name sounded familiar!
  
• Aaron (Elisheba) - Eleazar - Phinehas (priests we hear about later, as I recall) His other sons - Nadab & Abihu - are infamous for offering strange fire before God.

7:3 - God says, "I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I will multiply my signs and wonders...The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." Hard times ultimately show God's power.

Notes on plagues:
7:14 - 1st plague - Water turned to blood - 7 days - duplicated by Pharaoh's magicians. Pharaoh makes no promises.
8:1 - 2nd plague - Frogs - duplicated by Pharaoh's magicians. V. 8 - Moses to Pharaoh - "When do you want the frogs to go away?" Pharaoh's people could make them appear, but not disappear. Pharaoh promises, then reneges.
8:16 - 3rd plague - Gnats (not duplicated by Pharaoh's magicians.) Pharaoh makes no promises, but his magicians believe - "This is the finger of God!"
8:20 - 4th plague - Flies (except in Goshen). v. 25 - Pharaoh suggests compromise - "Sacrifice here." Then v. 28 - "Okay - leave. But don't go far. And pray for me." He reneges again.

Luke 23
vv. 1-5 - Accusations against Jesus before Pilate:

1. He perverts the nation
2. He forbids us to pay taxes
3. He says he is the Messiah - Then, when Pilate is not convinced -
   
4. He stirs up the people by teaching throughout Judea (from Galilee). Then Pilate passes him to Herod.
   

vv. 6-12 Herod views Jesus as some kind of circus act. Jesus refuses to answer his questions.

vv. 13-25 - The mob prevails over the leader, Pilate.

Reactions of witnesses to the crucifixion

• Simon of Cyrene forced to carry the cross behind Jesus
• Women wail and beat their breasts
• Those who crucify him cast lots for his clothing
• People stand by, watching. Leaders scoff.
• Soldiers mock him
• One of the criminals derides him
• The other rebukes the first and appeals to Jesus to remember him in His kingdom

Witnesses of his death

• Centurion recognizes him as innocent
• Crowds go home, beating their breasts
• Acquaintances stand at a distance and watch

Witnesses of his burial

• Joseph of Arimathea buries the body in a tomb where no one has ever been laid
• Galilean women follow Joseph and observe the place of burial
• Women go home to prepare spices and ointments
• Women rest on the sabbath