Grietje Commelin 
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) In many cultures, the heart has a special symbolic meaning. It is for example seen as the source of our emotions (think of love!). The Bible also considers the heart as the center of our thinking, feeling and decision … Lees meer
“But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.” (Hosea 13:4) God has rescued the Israelites out of Egypt. He has eventually brought them into the promised land of Canaan. He has made himself known to the Israelites and … Lees meer
“It shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:9) We tend to forget things, even things we consider important. That’s … Lees meer
“And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.”(Exodus 12:51) God’s promise of deliverance has come true. He has done what He told Moses and the Israelites, and what He had promised Abraham centuries before. 430 years after the Israelites settled in Egypt, … Lees meer
“And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say…” (Exodus 12:26-27) The Israelites have to celebrate their deliverance out of Egypt every year. This is not only to praise God and to remindthemselves how great the Lord is; it is also a good opportunity to tell their … Lees meer
Historical background Naomi was an Israelite woman living in Israel “in the days when the judges ruled”. That is the period roughly between 1300 and 1050 BC (see timeline), when the Israelites already lived in the land of Canaan but did not yet have kings to rule them. Naomi was married to Elimelech and had … Lees meer
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) The Israelites were safe from God’s plague over Egypt, if they had the blood of a Passover lamb on their doorposts. This was a specific command in a specific situation. But there was more to it. This ritual Passover meal had to be repeated … Lees meer
‘The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.’ (Exodus 12:13) The final plague will come over Egypt: all of their firstborns will … Lees meer
“But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.” (Exodus 9:34) The Egyptians were deeply impressed by the plagues God brought upon them, “such as had never been in all the land ofEgypt since it became a … Lees meer