What does Exodus 12:1 teach about God's authority in setting spiritual seasons? Setting the Scene • “Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,” (Exodus 12:1) • Before Israel ever takes a step toward freedom, God speaks. The initiative is entirely His. • In the very next verse He will declare, “This month is to be the beginning of months for you” (v. 2), but verse 1 already shows who holds the calendar pen. God’s Absolute Right to Define Time • The verse opens with “the LORD”—YHWH, the covenant-making, covenant-keeping God—speaking. • By addressing both Moses and Aaron, He establishes an authoritative chain of revelation: God → leaders → people. • Because God creates time (Genesis 1:14-18) and controls history (Isaiah 46:9-10), He alone can reorder Israel’s calendar. Spiritual Seasons Begin With Divine Speech • Every major shift in redemption history starts with God’s word (Genesis 12:1; John 1:1). • Exodus 12:1 shows that deliverance isn’t triggered by human effort but by God declaring a new season. • The Passover instructions that follow confirm that hearing precedes doing (Romans 10:17). Authority Rooted in Sovereignty • Daniel 2:21: “He changes the times and seasons.” Exodus 12:1 is an early demonstration of that truth. • Acts 1:7: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.” God’s prerogative in Exodus anticipates this New-Testament principle. Practical Takeaways • Trust: If God can reorder Israel’s calendar, He can reset ours—moving us from bondage to freedom at His word. • Readiness: Spiritual seasons shift when God speaks; stay alert to His Word daily. • Obedience: When the Lord marks a new beginning, our role is to respond immediately, just as Israel prepared the Passover lamb that very month. Final Thought Exodus 12:1 may appear as a simple narrative hinge, yet it quietly asserts that the Maker of time alone determines its sacred rhythms—and invites His people to walk in step with Him. |
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