The Undercover Adventist

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 4 -  Tuesday   The Lord Is a Warrior Scripture Reading: Exodus 2:23–25; Exodus 12:12–13; Exodus 15:3–11 The Lord Fights for His People When the Israelites groaned under Egyptian oppression, their cries rose up to heaven. “God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exodus 2:24). The Lord’s response was not passive sympathy—it was powerful action. He entered the conflict as a warrior , determined to deliver His people from the tyranny of Pharaoh. In Exodus 12:12–13, we see this divine warrior striking down the gods of Egypt through the plagues. Each plague was not random; it was a direct challenge to Egypt’s false deities, showing that Yahweh alone is the true and living God. When the blood of the lamb marked the Israelites’ doors, the Lord Himself became their defender. Judgment passed over those who were under His protection. Then, in Exodus 15:3–11, as the Israelites st...

  “Let Them Go—But Not My Heart” Scripture: Exodus 12:31–36 Introduction: In Exodus 12:31–36, we witness a pivotal moment in the story of God's deliverance. After the death of every firstborn in Egypt, Pharaoh finally calls Moses and Aaron and gives the long-awaited command: “Go, serve the Lord, as you have said.” At first glance, it appears that Pharaoh is surrendering—but is he really? Let’s take a closer look, because even in Pharaoh’s apparent submission, there’s a strange and revealing request. He says, “Also bless me.” The Strange Request: “Bless Me Also” (v. 32) Pharaoh, who has opposed God at every turn, now asks Moses and Aaron for a blessing. This is the same Pharaoh who said “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?” (Exodus 5:2). But now he begs for divine favor. What changed? Pharaoh is not converted. He is not repentant. He is desperate. He does not truly want to worship the Lord—he wants relief from judgment. His heart is still hard, but his world is...

  "The Justice and Love of God: Understanding the Death of the Firstborn and the Flood" Scripture Focus: Exodus 12:29–30 Genesis 6–9 Romans 11:22 2 Peter 3:9 Introduction: There are few passages in the Bible that stir as many difficult questions as the death of the Egyptian firstborn during the final plague (Exodus 12:29–30) and the great Flood in Noah's time (Genesis 6–9). Many struggle to reconcile these judgments with the Bible’s clear proclamation that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). How can a loving God strike down children? How can He flood the earth, ending countless lives? These are not questions to brush aside, but to wrestle with honestly and humbly, remembering that God's ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). God's Justice Is Always Righteous The first step to understanding God's actions in these difficult moments is recognizing that He is perfectly just. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and ...

  “What You Sow, You Reap – The Firstborn Struck Down” Text: Exodus 12:29–30; Hebrews 11:28 Introduction: Turn with me to Exodus 12:29–30 , where the Word of God records one of the most sobering and devastating moments in biblical history: “At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt—from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.” This is the moment of divine judgment—the tenth and final plague. The Lord Himself struck Egypt at its heart. Why the firstborn? Why this specific blow? What can we learn from it today? Why the Firstborn? The firstborn in ancient cultures held a place of honor. In Egypt, the firstborn son represented legacy, inheritance, strength, and future leadership. Strik...

  “The Final Warning—Exodus 11:1–10” Text: Exodus 11:1–10 God is not impulsive. He is not rash. And He is certainly not unjust. When judgment falls, it is never without warning. In Exodus 11:1–10 , we witness the sobering moment before the final and most devastating plague—the death of the firstborn. But even then, we see that God, in His mercy, gives a final warning. He speaks clearly through Moses, offering Pharaoh and Egypt one more opportunity to repent. God Warns Before He Judges (vv. 1–2; cf. Amos 3:7) In verse 1, the Lord tells Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here.” God reveals His plan in advance—He always does. This is consistent with Amos 3:7 , which says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” Before the flood, Noah preached. Before Sodom was destroyed, Lot was warned. Before the fall of Jerusalem, the prophets cried out. And here, before t...

  “When the Heart Grows Hard: Pharaoh, Judas, and Us” Text: Exodus 7–11; Matthew 26:14–16; Acts 7:51 Introduction There’s a frightening reality found in the story of Exodus that we dare not ignore: a man can see the hand of God at work—again and again—and still say No. He can be surrounded by light and still choose darkness. He can be offered life and still prefer death. Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, was given chance after chance to make the obvious, reasonable, and righteous decision: Let God’s people go. But he didn’t. He hardened his heart. And in doing so, he offers us a sobering picture of how self-deception and sin can destroy a soul. The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart The Bible repeats it like a drumbeat: Pharaoh hardened his heart. In Exodus 7:13, “Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen.” Sometimes it says he hardened his heart (Exodus 8:15), other times that God hardened it (Exodus 9:12). These are not contradictions—they are complementary. God confirmed ...

  “When the Heart Refuses to Yield” Text: Exodus 9:13–10:29 Introduction Stubbornness is something we all struggle with. It may show up in our relationships, in how we handle correction, or even in our response to God. Pharaoh’s resistance in Exodus is the ultimate picture of a hardened heart. Through nine devastating plagues, God demonstrated His supreme power—not just over Pharaoh, but over Egypt’s gods as well. Yet Pharaoh still refused to yield. What can we learn from this? Let’s walk through Exodus 9:13 to 10:29 , and consider: How successful were the plagues in changing Pharaoh? What false gods were defeated? And how should we guard our own hearts today? God’s Warning and Ultimate Claim (Exodus 9:13–21) God tells Moses to go early to Pharaoh and say, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.” But this time, God adds something more intense: “For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may kno...

  "Freedom to Reject, Mercy to Warn" Text: Exodus 8:20–9:12 We stand in awe of the mighty works of God—His wonders in the heavens, His miracles on earth, and His supreme authority over all creation. Yet, Exodus 8:20–9:12 shows us a sobering reality: even in the face of overwhelming divine power, human hearts can remain stubborn, hardened, and defiant. In these passages, God sends plague after plague, each one revealing not only His power but also His mercy, warning Pharaoh and Egypt again and again. But Pharaoh chooses to reject God. Today, we’ll explore this truth: however great may be the manifestations of God's glory, humanity still has the freedom to reject Him. We'll see how this applies to us today—and why we must guard our hearts from pride and hardness. The Plagues: God's Power Unleashed Exodus 8:20–9:12 covers the fourth through sixth plagues: Plague of Flies (8:20–32): A swarm of flies fills the Egyptian homes and land, except in Goshen, wher...

  "Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart?" Scripture: Exodus 7:3, 13, 14, 22 Have you ever wondered why some people, even when they clearly see the truth, continue to resist it? Why do some harden their hearts even in the face of undeniable evidence that God is at work? That question brings us to the heart of Pharaoh’s story in Exodus. In Exodus 7:3 , God says, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart.” Then in verses 13, 14, and 22, we see the results: Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. He refused to listen, to believe, or to change course. But does this mean that Pharaoh had no choice? Was he just a puppet in God's grand plan? Let's explore what these verses really teach us about free will , God’s sovereignty , and our own choices today. God’s Foreknowledge Is Not the Same as God’s Control When God says in Exodus 7:3 , “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,” He is not saying Pharaoh was innocent and God made him bad. Rather, God is revealing that He knows the kind of man Pharaoh is—a pr...

  When Obedience Makes Things Worse Before They Get Better Text: Exodus 5:3–23 Key Verse: “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” – Exodus 5:21 (NIV) Have you ever obeyed God—and immediately regretted it? Not because it was the wrong thing to do, but because the consequences felt worse than before you obeyed? In Exodus 5:3–23 , Moses and Aaron finally stand before Pharaoh with a divine message: “Let my people go.” But what follows is not a triumphant breakthrough—it’s backlash. Pharaoh not only refuses but intensifies Israel’s suffering. And the people? They turn their anger on Moses and Aaron. It’s one of those moments when doing the right thing seems to make life worse. But in that painful tension, God is at work. The Immediate Outcome of Obedience (vv. 3–19) Moses and Aaron obey God’s command. They speak directly to Pharaoh: “The God of the Hebrews has met with...