Righteous Invasion of Truth

Dr. Abel Damina: Go ahead and give Him praise tonight. Give thanks unto the Father who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who had delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all of His benefits. Praise you, Father. Glory to the Lamb in the name of Jesus.

Father, we rejoice that tonight we have this another opportunity to come before Your holy, precious written word. Thank You that the mighty Holy Spirit lives on our inside, so revelation knowledge is our right in Christ. We take off and we take from the Spirit tonight inside into the deep things of God by the Holy Ghost.

Minds corrected, doubts dissolved. There is no limit in this environment. There is no error in this atmosphere. The word comes with clarity. Your people are built up, equipped, edified, and Jesus is glorified. Thank You, Father, for answered prayer. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says a powerful amen. Glory!

Lift your right hands to heaven. Let us release our faith together as we say these words. I am born of God. I am born of the word. The word of God is my nature. I do not struggle to do the word. I do the word naturally. Therefore, today, I will understand the word of His grace. I will be built up. By the end of this service, I will never be the same. Never ever be the same again. In Jesus' name, and every believer says a powerful amen. Glory!

Are we excited to study God's word tonight? Are we excited to be here? Can we celebrate our fellowship with a shout tonight? Glory! Grab your pen, your notebook, your Bible. You can be seated with your sweet, smart self tonight as we get into the word of His grace. It is 30 Days of Glory 2025, and this is the last week of 30 Days of Glory 2025. Soteria Season 12, we are examining the character of God in salvation.

Guest (Female): And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Dr. Abel Damina: Brother Paul, writing to Timothy who is a bishop over churches, begins to put to Timothy's remembrance the whole essence of scripture. Now, we have said scripture will be Genesis to Malachi. That is the textbook from which Jesus taught. That is the same textbook from which the apostles taught.

That is why Luke 24 will say, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. So, Moses and the prophets. In Luke chapter 24 verse 44, that same day when He met another group, He said to them, these are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you, that all these things must be fulfilled, which were written again in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me.

That was the textbook from which Jesus read: Genesis to Malachi, all the scriptures. Brother Paul now says to Timothy that the scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. This means the entire message of the scriptures is salvation. That is the entire message of the scriptures: salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

We can say that the entire message of the scriptures is the gospel because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. If the scriptures are salvation, able to make you wise through faith which is in Christ Jesus in salvation, and the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, then the entire message of the scriptures is the gospel concerning Christ.

This means the Bible has a bias, and the bias of the scriptures is Christ, the things concerning Himself. That is the bias of the scriptures, and the message of Christ, who is the bias of the scriptures, is salvation. We can say that the Bible is a salvation book. Again, the Bible is a salvation material that is centered on the person of Jesus Christ.

Observe the progression: that all of scripture, again Genesis to Malachi, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. It is useful or advantageous. Number one, for doctrine. The word doctrine is teaching or explanation. Doctrine will bring evidence. This means the scripture has the evidence of salvation.

Salvation is not taken from experience. Salvation is not taken from how I feel. Salvation can only be taught from the scriptures. The scriptures carry with it the wisdom of salvation. This means any question or any issue concerning salvation is carefully taken care of in the scriptures.

Let me also add this, which means that the truth concerning God in the scriptures can only be found in Christ. This means the only message in the scriptures that is comprehensive and complete will be salvation. It is the salvation plan of God for man, the purpose of God for man, and the plan of God for man.

Yesterday, we continued our study in understanding the historical and the cultural context of the scriptures. We began to look at the concept of the firstborn. Exodus chapter four, verse 22.

Guest (Female): And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn.

Dr. Abel Damina: Israel is my son, even my firstborn. How many of you observe that the writer referred to an entire nation as God's firstborn? Israel is my firstborn. We said the word firstborn there has to do with authority, or office, or position of a man. The authority, the office, or the position of a man, that is the word firstborn.

That same word can be used as birthright, the birthright or the firstborn. In the natural in Bible days, that word firstborn is for the first male child. As we began to study the narrative of scripture, we found that the firstborn in scriptural context is not the first male child.

The first male child was used in their culture to communicate a spiritual reality. The word firstborn would mean authority, it will mean office, or it will mean the position of a man. When you study, we began to see that it was Abel, not Cain, even though Cain was the firstborn.

Then we saw that it was Isaac, not Ishmael, even though Ishmael was the firstborn. Then we saw that it was Jacob, not Esau, even though Esau was the firstborn. Which means firstborn in scriptural context is not the first male child. It means one who inherits your office.

What office? The office of Abraham. What was the office of Abraham on the earth? The office of Abraham was a prophet. Abraham was a prophet of God, and the mission of Abraham was to preach the gospel till all the families of the earth are blessed. Again, take note of the word blessed. Abraham is blessed to be a blessing.

We have seen that the word bless means to be welcomed into God's plan, to be welcomed into God's purpose. So Abraham has been welcomed into God's plan and welcomed into God's purpose, or into the call of God. God now said to Abraham, anyone who blesses you will be blessed. That is, anyone who welcomes you will be welcomed.

Anyone who does not welcome you will not be welcomed into God's plan and into God's purpose on the earth. Abraham as a prophet therefore has a mandate to preach. Is it not the same thing Jesus said? He that receiveth you receiveth me. He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

It is the same thing. He said, into whatever house you enter and you are received, let your blessing abide. If you are not received, shake off the dust of your feet. Same thing God told Abraham. It has been the mandate from Genesis. When you say the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it means Isaac and Jacob inherited the office of the prophet.

Abraham was God's prophet, Isaac was God's prophet, Jacob was God's prophet on the earth. Yesterday, we began to see how that Esau despised the birthright. He despised the authority. He despised the office. He despised the influence of God and the position of his father and the position of his grandfather.

Esau never got into the blessing. The Bible called him a profane person, a man of no value, a man of no regard because he looked down on the call of God. He looked down on ministry and he said, is it not ministry? I do not want ministry. I prefer beans to ministry. I want beans. Let me eat beans rather than answer the call of God.

A man that is in honor and knoweth not is like the beast that perish. God called him to a place of honor. Scripture says no man taketh this honor to himself except he is called. The call to ministry is God's honor upon a man. As we continue the study on the character of God, it is imperative to examine the deliverance of the children of Israel from oppression and bondage by the hands of the Egyptians.

We want to examine that critically tonight as we look into God's character within this narrative. Please don't forget, we are establishing how to critically examine God's part and man's part where it has to do with the scriptures and how God's plan has evolved over the years. Exodus the 19th chapter, the fourth and fifth verse.

Guest (Female): Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Dr. Abel Damina: And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. That is the call of God. That is our collective calling in the kingdom. You all of Israel, don't forget Israel is my son. My son, my firstborn. That is, I have put my mantle of the prophetic on the nation of Israel to preach my gospel to the nations of the earth.

Israel is my firstborn. That is the mantle of the prophetic for Israel to be the nation that will carry the gospel to the earth is upon them. So let my son go. Why? That he may serve me because that is the mantle and the mandate upon this nation.

God is now saying, you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and kings, which means the call of God is for all believers, the priesthood of all believers. The call of God is on every child of God. There is a call of God on your life. There is a mandate of God on your life, and you are not a profane person.

So you will not prefer business and porridge to ministry. Of course, you will do business. Business will help to assist you in doing ministry. The greatest honor God can put on anybody is the honor to serve His purpose. Let my son go that he may serve me. Why will they go?

Israel is my son, my firstborn. Israel is the one that will occupy the office, my authority, and my position on the earth to proclaim my message to the nations. We saw how that God began to say, I bore them on eagles' wings. I did this to the Egyptians, and I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you unto myself.

Therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, or keep my promise, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people for all the earth is mine. Now let's examine how they were delivered from bondage in the land of Egypt. Please pay attention. Let's begin with the plagues of Egypt. Exodus the 12th chapter, the 12th to the 14th verse.

Guest (Female): For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Dr. Abel Damina: Again, remember the word firstborn was translated from the Hebrew word *bekor*, which implies the chief or principal. The writer, which is Moses, taught with the same word in context. Same word. Look at Exodus chapter 12, verse 29 and 30.

Guest (Female): And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Dr. Abel Damina: He begins by saying, I am the Lord. That statement, "I am the Lord," was translated from the Hebrew word *Yahweh*. Moses began to teach with the word recurrently in the same book. For instance, Exodus chapter 3, verse 14 to 18. Verse 14 says, "And God said unto Moses, I am that I am. And he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you."

Verse 15: the Lord God of your fathers. Verse 16: the Lord God of your fathers. Verse 18: the Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us. The Lord God of your fathers, the Lord God of your fathers, the Lord God of the Hebrews have met with us. Then Exodus chapter four, from verse one to verse six.

In verse one he says, the Lord hath not appeared unto thee. In verse two, the Lord said unto him. In verse four, and the Lord. In verse five, that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. Verse six, and the Lord said.

In those scriptures, those verses I just read for you, that reference to God, the God of their fathers, will refer to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Now there's another word we saw when we read the first scripture this night in Exodus: the word Passover.

The word Passover was translated from the Hebrew word *pesach*, which is from another word *pasach*. *Pesach*, taken from *pasach*, implies to skip. It implies to prevent, or to cause to skip over. To cause to skip over, to skip, to prevent, or to cause to skip over, the word Passover.

Then there's another word we looked at, the phrase "I will." That phrase, "I will pass," was translated from one Hebrew word *abar*. I will pass, from the Hebrew word *abar*, which implies to cross over. Then there's another phrase, "I will smite." I will smite, translated from the Hebrew word *nakah*, which implies to strike, to slay, to kill.

The statement, "I will execute," was translated from the Hebrew word *asah*, which means to make, to accomplish, to do. Also, recall that in Hebraism, there was no clear distinction between permissive and causative tenses. So there is the need to patiently and diligently read the entire narrative of the writer.

Since there's no causative and permissive, you have to read all of the narrative together to get what the writer is communicating. You've got to read the whole context. You can't afford to cherry-pick. If you do, you will end up at a destination that is not scripture.

In order for you to understand the intent of this explanation, let's go back. Exodus chapter 12, verse 12. I'm going to highlight a few things. In verse 12 he says, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt." Then verse 13, "I will pass over you."

From the writer's narrative of verse 12, evidently, the destruction of the firstborn of the land of Egypt is one of the several plagues that happened at that time in history. Don't forget we're examining the character of God beginning from the Old Testament. We are building our study on knowing our Father's character because there's been a lot of misrepresentation of God.

A lot of people have preached a God that we don't understand, and a lot of people have been disenchanted from this God. A God that will kill and a God that will make alive. A God that is responsible for people's sin and He will come back and punish them. I saw one bishop somewhere in Ghana saying, God is responsible for all things. God is in control of all things.

If God is in control of all things, you know what you're saying? I don't think you do. I think you need to cool down and think about it. Which means God is in control of sin. Which means it was God that made man sin because God is in control of all things. Poor theology, unschooled theology.

God can't be in control of all things. The moment you say God is in control of all things, then it means man is a robot. It means God really didn't give you free will. It means God is the one manipulating you to do things even when you don't want to do them. Oh, God is sovereign, but the sovereignty of God is limited to the framework of His salvation because He gave man free will to decide whether to follow Him or not.

Man has free will. That is why God in His sovereignty put consequences to man's actions. When man sinned against God, because God is a God of justice, He became a man and punished Himself for man to demonstrate His love for man, undeserving man. That's the justice of God. That's the sovereignty of God.

God cannot be tempted. God cannot sin. God cannot lie. So God cannot be in control of all things because He has given man the management of the earth. Let them have dominion over the earth, not let us. When God said that, by law, He exited Himself out of the operations of the earth.

He only gets involved when man legally invites Him. That's why prayer is the legal way through which a man can bring God to intervene in the affairs of the earth. That kind of teaching is why people will say, how can God say He is God, and He's the one killing everybody in Egypt? That's why we're taking time to examine these plagues of Egypt and the firstborns of Egypt so that we can give you clarity on the character of God.

But I have news for you before we even get into the technicalities. God is a good God. There is no death in God. There is only life in God. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. Every good and perfect gift cometh from above from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, and with God there is no shadow of turning.

Jesus the same yesterday, today, and forever. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. This then is the message that we have heard, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. That's a teaser before we get in here. That should calm you down like chilled water.

From this writer, which is Moses, it is evident that the destruction of the firstborns of the land of Egypt is one of the several plagues that happened at that time in history. This explains why Moses began to teach in earlier chapters about the plagues.

The first plague was the turning of water into blood. Exodus 7:17-21. The second plague were frogs all over Egypt. Exodus chapter 8, verse 5 to 10. The third plague was the plague of lice all over Egypt. In Exodus chapter 8, verse 16 to 18. Then the fourth plague is the plague of flies all over Egypt. In Exodus chapter 8, verse 20 to 24.

The fifth plague was the plague of the death of livestock all over Egypt. In Exodus chapter 9, verse 1 to 6. The sixth plague is the plague of boils, boils all over the land. Exodus chapter 9, verse 8 to 12. The seventh plague is the plague of the hails. Exodus chapter 9, verse 23 to 24.

The eighth plague was the plague of the locust. In Exodus chapter 10, verse 12 to 15. The ninth plague was the plague of darkness all over the land. In Exodus chapter 10, verse 21 to 23. Then the 10th plague is the death of the firstborn. Exodus chapter 12, verse 29 to 30.

Guest (Female): And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Dr. Abel Damina: There was not a house where there was not one dead. Now, from the writer's narrative, there were ten plagues. Also observe the recurrent phrases in Moses' explanation in these scriptures. Number one, he said, "I will smite." Number two, "the Lord smote." Number three, "the Lord brought." Number four, "the Lord rained."

So the question that comes to the fore is, did the writer imply that God brought destruction upon the nation of Egypt with the plagues? From Moses' explanation in the book of Exodus, Egypt was renowned for idol worship. Renowned for idol worship.

In Exodus chapter 12, verse 12, "And against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord." Exodus 15:11, "Who is like unto thee, oh Lord, among the gods?" Exodus chapter 18, verse 10 and 11. Verse 11, "I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods." Now observe closely. Exodus 12:12.

Guest (Female): For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

Dr. Abel Damina: "And against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord." That phrase, "against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment," evidently implies that the ten plagues of Egypt represent the gods of Egypt. Historically, let me list for you the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt that were worshipped as idols.

Number one, Hapi. That's the god of the Nile. Number two, Heqet. That's the goddess of fertility, water, and renewal. The next one is Geb, the god of the earth. The next one is Khepri, the god of creation, movement of the sun, and rebirth. The next one is Hathor, the goddess of medicine and peace.

The next one is Nut, the goddess of the sky. The next one is Seth, the god of storms and disorder. The next one is Ra, the sun god. The next one is Pharaoh, the ultimate power of Egypt. These are the gods and the goddesses of Egypt. Ten of them, and the plagues were how many? Ten of them.

Egypt also had magicians and sorcerers. Exodus chapter 7, verse 8. "And the Lord spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron saying, when Pharaoh shall speak unto you saying, show a miracle for you, then thou shalt say unto Aaron, take thy rod, cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent."

Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded. Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Verse 11: "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers. Now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments." Verse 12.

Guest (Female): For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Dr. Abel Damina: But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. Now the word miracle there, which we saw in verse nine, miracle was translated from the Hebrew word *mopheth*. It implies wonders. The writer used that word recurrently in the same Exodus.

Exodus chapter 4, verse 21. "And the Lord said unto Moses, when thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all these wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand, and I will harden his heart that he shall not let the people go." Exodus 7:3. "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 11, verse 9 to 10. A lot of scriptures good for your health. Now observe that after Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants and it became a serpent, Pharaoh's magicians and sorcerers in like manner or did like the same with their enchantments.

They turned their rods into serpents. However, Aaron's rod swallowed theirs. In Exodus chapter 7, verse 8 to 12, it was "show a miracle." Then look at Exodus chapter 8, verse 7. "And the magicians did so with their enchantments and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt." There was power display.

They brought up frogs. Verse 18 of Exodus chapter 8. "And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not." So there were lice upon man and upon beast. In verse 19 of Exodus chapter 8, then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God."

The magicians said to Pharaoh, sir, this is the finger of God. This is not ordinary level, sir. Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said. Here, the magicians and enchanters brought forth frogs upon the land of Egypt. Now, in chapter 9, verse 11 of that same Exodus, the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils.

The boils affected the magicians. All of them carried boils and they could not stand before Moses, for the boil was upon the Egyptians and magicians. Can you imagine? Boils everywhere. Their whole bodies are full of boils. Power.

Therefore, it is evident that the nation of Egypt worshipped idols, gods, goddesses, some of which we have looked at in our readings. They also had magicians and sorcerers who with their enchantment did miracles and wonders. Their rods turn into snakes, bringing frogs upon the land of Egypt.

In that Exodus chapter 12, verse 12 again, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord." The word gods was translated from the Hebrew word *Elohim*.

Small "g" is the same word. *Elohim*, which implies one who is superior, superior beings. It's often employed to refer to a being of might and power, *Elohim*. It's critical to note that in the writings of Moses and the prophets, the writers taught with the word *Elohim* to refer to the God of Israel.

When you hear *Elohim*, it refers in Hebraism to the God of Israel. It also refers to idols, the same word. *Elohim*, the God of Israel. It refers to idols. *Elohim* is used for angels in the same Old Testament. *Elohim* is also used for man: judges. Even today in the court of law, we call our judges "my lord."

So when you hear *Elohim* in the Bible, don't always think of the God of Israel because *Elohim* has several interpretations of the same word. *Elohim* is the God of Israel. *Elohim* also is idols. *Elohim* refers to angels. *Elohim* refers to man. When you hear *Elohim*, you need to read the narrative to know who is the *Elohim* in that mix.

Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Verse 3: "And God said, let there be light, and there was light." Verse 4: "And God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness." Verse 5: "And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night, and the evening and the morning were the first day." Exodus chapter 1, verse 17.

Guest (Female): But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Dr. Abel Damina: The midwives feared God. Exodus 2:23 to 25.

Guest (Female): And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Dr. Abel Damina: Joshua 1:17. "According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." In these scriptures I just read, it refers to God *Elohim*, the God of Israel. Judges chapter 13, verse 20 to 22. Listen.

Guest (Female): For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Dr. Abel Damina: "We shall surely die, because we have seen God." But Manoah in verse 21: "But the angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel, and Manoah said unto his wife, we shall surely die because we have seen Elohim."

Observe Manoah's word: "We shall surely die because we have seen God." In verse 20 and 21, the writer clearly said it was the angel of the Lord. So *Elohim* was in reference to angels. Now *Elohim* was also used in reference to idols. Exodus 12:12. "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment." Against all the *Elohims* of Egypt.

1 Samuel 8:8. In Hebraism, the word *Elohim* is used for gods.

Guest (Female): According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Dr. Abel Damina: "And served other Elohims." Jeremiah 2:28. "But where are thy gods that thou hast made them?" Where are thy *Elohims* that thou hast made them? Isaiah 36:18 to 20. "The Lord deliver us: hath any of the gods of the nation delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?" Verse 19: "Where are the gods of Hamath, the gods of Sepharvaim?" Verse 20: "Who are they among all the gods of these lands?"

2 Kings 1:2 to 3. Then Psalm 97, verse 7.

Guest (Female): Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord. For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

Dr. Abel Damina: So gods were called *Elohim*. Then judges in the court of law were called gods or *Elohim*. Exodus 7:1. Pay attention.

Guest (Female): And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Dr. Abel Damina: I have made you, Moses, an *Elohim* to Aaron, a god. So when you hear *Elohim*, an *Elohim* said, or an *Elohim* killed, you need to find out which because *Elohim* is not exclusive to the God of Israel.

Exodus 21:6. "Then his master shall bring him unto the judges, unto the Elohims." Exodus 22, verse 8 and 9. "Before the judges, and whom the judges shall condemn." 1 Samuel chapter 2, verse 25.

Guest (Female): If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

Dr. Abel Damina: To understand the intent of the writer with the word *Elohim*, it is pertinent to read the entire context of the narrative in order to understand who was being referred to, which could be God, which could be gods (idols), which could be man (human being or judges), or which could be angels.

Back to Exodus 12:12. Are you in the building?

Guest (Female): For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

Dr. Abel Damina: "Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment." Read verse 13 now.

Guest (Female): And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Dr. Abel Damina: Please don't miss this. "I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." If you're reading contextually, observe the writer's explanation of how this particular plague of the firstborn happened. Remember, the term Passover implies to skip.

The term Passover implies to prevent from danger. Now the writer will use in Exodus 12:23 that word Passover. Watch, he is giving us the whole narrative and we are tracing him to the end.

Guest (Female): For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Dr. Abel Damina: And will not suffer, suffer the destroyer, the Lord will pass over, and the Lord will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Which means there's an invisible destroyer that the Lord is trying to prevent those that will listen to Him from.

The Lord is not the one destroying. The Lord is only preventing those that will listen from this destroyer that is not too pronounced. Two characters: number one, the Lord; number two, the destroyer.

Now let's look at the word destroyer. The phrase "the destroyer" translated from the Hebrew word *shachath*. *S-h-a-c-h-a-t-h*. It is a verb, which implies to ruin, to corrupt, to mar, or to utterly waste. That word destroyer, translated from the Hebrew word *shachath*, is a verb: to ruin, to corrupt, to mar, to utterly waste.

Moses in the same chapter or earlier on used the same word. Exodus 8:24.

Guest (Female): And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.

Dr. Abel Damina: Underline "was corrupted." The land was corrupted. In this narrative, the plague of the swarm of flies corrupted or brought destruction to the land. The noun of the word *shachath* was translated from the Hebrew word *perits*. *P-e-r-i-t-s*. That is the noun of the word *shachath*. David taught with the same word in Psalm 17, verse 4.

Guest (Female): Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Dr. Abel Damina: "I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." Other prophets use that same word too in teaching, like Isaiah 35:9. "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there."

Then Jeremiah used it: Jeremiah 7:11. "Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord." Ezekiel 7:22.

Guest (Female): My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.

Dr. Abel Damina: Then Exodus 18, verse 10, and Daniel 11:14. So the word *perits* implies a violent one, a robber, a murderer. That word *perits* implies a violent one, a robber, a murderer, a tyrant. In grammar, the noun oftentimes explains the verb.

This implies that the writer taught with the term *shachath* to describe the destroyer as one who is violent. The destroyer murders and the destroyer destroys. He is violent, he murders, and he destroys. And I'm referring to the destroyer.

Then there's that scripture, "will not suffer." That phrase, "will not suffer," was translated from the Hebrew word *nathan*. *N-a-t-h-a-n*. How many of you remember *nathan*? We've been talking about *nathan* the past few days. *Nathan* implies not to allow or not to permit.

If the writer explained that the Lord will pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you, then this clearly implies that the one who brought destruction via the plagues is the destroyer. The person who brought destruction via the plagues all over Egypt is the destroyer.

This is because God cannot be the destroyer and also the one who preserves from the destroyer. God cannot be the destroyer and the one preserving from the destroyer. So the writer was obviously referring to these two distinct personalities. In essence, the writer in his narrative makes a clear distinction between the destroyer who will smite and the Lord who will not allow the destroyer to smite.

Clear difference. The destroyer who will smite, and the Lord who will not allow the destroyer to smite. And this is evident from the writer's explanation contextually from verse 14 to 23 of Exodus 12. And I'd like you to read it when you get home. Exodus 12:14 to 23.

Now, if you read that scripture, you will observe the instructions. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread, even the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses, for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you. No manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread, for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt.

Therefore, shall you observe this in your generations by an ordinance forever. In the first month, on the 14th day of the month at even, you shall eat unleavened bread until the 21st day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses, for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger or born in the land.

You shall eat nothing leavened in all your habitations, shall you eat unleavened bread. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said unto them, draw out and take you a lamb according to your families and kill the Passover. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin, and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

That was the instruction. Now observe, Moses instructed Israel to kill a lamb, Passover. Put the blood on the lintel, the side posts. Anyone who obeyed Moses' instruction was protected by God from the plague of the killing of the firstborn in the land of Egypt.

All they were required to do was kill, put the blood on the doorposts, relax inside the house. Watch: even if people that don't believe in the God of Israel are in your house, as long as the blood is on the door, they are protected. They don't have to believe, even if they are strangers, and you pack them and put inside your house, and you put the blood, how much more can you be protected?

All you've got to do is, you don't believe in the God of Israel, but there's a believer near you, you enter his house till the destruction is over. Those who didn't accept God's protection, God cannot go out of what He has established as His preservative measure to force them inside.

So the destruction will happen when you refuse to obey, because then God will be inactive in that destruction. That's the absence of God, which is what we now call the wrath of God. The absence of God due to man's rebellion against God and refusal to heed, the inactivity and the absence of God, we now interpret it in our language as the wrath of God.

The wrath of God is man-made, because God has no wrath. We have decided to explain away when God allows you to have your way independent of Him as the wrath of God. Now this clearly helps you to understand the other plagues.

God's role from the narrative of the writer was to protect from the plagues. That was why he clearly explained in during the plague of the boil. Look at the explanation. Exodus chapter 9, verse 4 to 6.

Guest (Female): And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land. And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

Dr. Abel Damina: Not one died. The Lord severed. This side, this side. Everybody that comes here, you're saved. If Egyptians come here, they'll be saved. It's like whosoever believe in Him shall not perish. He that believeth not is condemned. It's the same, it's the gospel.

The gospel was preached to them as well as unto us, but the one preached to them did not profit them because they didn't mix it with faith. Same thing. Look at it in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 2. The same thing. Then the plague of the hail also explains it. Exodus 9:25.

Guest (Female): And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

Dr. Abel Damina: In the land of Goshen, where Israel were, no hail. So all you needed to do, if you were not in Goshen, was to temporarily move to Goshen. During lockdown, there's COVID, everybody lock yourself in your room. You locked yourself in your room and you survived.

Those who didn't lock themselves out of busy body, some of them died because they contracted the virus. It's as easy as that. Go into your houses. Me, I didn't lock myself fully. I collected virus too. Oh yes, I collected, but I survived. I killed the virus, and I'm still alive.

In the night when it was trying to mess me up, I would open my eye like this and I would tell the virus: you will die under my watch. I'm serious. All the symptoms: I lost smell, I lost everything. Temperature as if you put water on my body, gari will be ready in a second. For three complete weeks and I was preaching here every day with the COVID.

I would come. Once it's five, I would stand up. Mama would say, see, it's like witchcraft. Once it's five, you're normal. After eight, you will come here like a vegetable. Then five is like clockwork. For this purpose was I born, and to this end came I into the world. Nothing can stop me until I finish my assignment.

Paul told that shipwreck and told that storm right inside the water. He said, no, no, I shall not die. God told me I shall appear before Caesar. Until I see Caesar, nothing can take my life. Glory to God! Lift your hand and say, I will fulfill my ministry. I will not leave this world one day before because I have a mission. I'm a man on a mission to preach the gospel until all the families of the earth are blessed.

He keeps explaining the role of God and the role of the destroyer. He explained it again. All the plagues in Egypt, which represented some of the gods and goddesses, idols, gods that are worshipped in ancient Egypt, were not God's actions of inflicting sickness and destruction of people and animals.

Rather, God's role was to protect the children of Israel and anyone who hearkened to the word of God. And that was the message of Moses. That was the message of Moses. In Exodus chapter 12, verse 12 as I close. What a service!

Guest (Female): For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

Dr. Abel Damina: I am the Lord. Now recall, they need to read patiently. Read patiently. Within the explanation of the writer to properly interpret the intent of the writer. Because in Hebraism, there's no permissive or causative tenses. There's no cognitive and volitional tenses in Hebraism. So you've got to read carefully and read everything together to know exactly what the author is saying.

So from this, things we have studied tonight, it is evident that the term "I will pass," "I will smite" are permissive verbs. "I will pass," "I will smite" are permissive verbs. And they were applied by the writer in the construction of sentences in his explanation of God's inaction.

The writer used it, applied the permissive and causative in his explanation of God's inaction because of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Because of their disobedience and because of their disregard for His word. Because of Pharaoh and the people of Egypt's disobedience and disregard for God's word, which was communicated to them by Moses and Aaron.

Moses and Aaron preached the message to the whole of Egypt. They preached the message. Even before Pharaoh, they preached it. And Pharaoh's servants who obeyed had some safety. On the other hand, the term "I will suffer," "I will suffer," "I will not allow the destroyer" is a causative verb, which explains God's actions to save, to protect, to deliver from the destroyer.

God's actions to save, to protect, to deliver from the destroyer. God's role in the plagues was to preserve the children of Israel from destruction. The one who destroyed using the plagues was the destroyer and not God. God is the Savior of mankind. God's role always in all disasters is to save.

Anywhere you find destruction, when God shows up, the only party He plays is to save. The thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But I am come that you may have life and be abundant. Glory to God! Somebody say, that's my Father. He saves, and saves, and saves, and saves only.

Not by force. He doesn't save by force. He saves when you cooperate because He's not a tyrant. Love does not insist. Love will allow you, and that is the love of God. Who is blessed tonight? Stand on your feet and say, hey neighbor, this is the message. This is the message.

Put it up for me in 1 John chapter 1, verse 5. Let's read it like a mass choir before I pray tonight. Everybody, let's go.

Congregation: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Dr. Abel Damina: God is what? Light. And in Him is no darkness at all. Is destruction light? What is destruction? Darkness. So God cannot be the one destroying. Is salvation light? Who is the Savior? So anywhere you see destruction, what is God's role in that place? To save.

Does He save by force? So even when He reaches out His hand and you refuse to pick up His hand, He will keep His hand there and watch you till you die because He can't help you. Peter is sinking. Jesus didn't say, stubborn boy, stubborn boy, when I say come, be looking at me, you didn't look at me, drink some water, Joe, so that next time when I say come, you will look at me completely.

No, no, no. Jesus moved quickly, held him and said, why did you doubt? Held him, saved him. If it was some of you, you would let him drink some. You would do like you didn't see him. Then when he says, hey, come, come, come. You have taught him some lesson, you don't hear word.

But Jesus ran quickly, Peter, come. Why did you doubt? That's how God operates. He's the Savior of mankind. Aren't you glad that's your Father?

Father, we thank You tonight for Your word. Your word is reigning in our lives. Revelation knowledge is growing, and Your character is being revealed to us from the scriptures. So I declare that revelation knowledge continues to flow like a flood all over the nations of the earth.

Mindsets are corrected, and confidence is growing. Intimacy is growing, and total trust is growing in the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for answered prayer tonight. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says that amen on a note of celebration. Amen! Well, go ahead and celebrate that word tonight. Glory! Amen.

Grab your honor offerings. Let's give tonight as we celebrate Jesus, and then I'll be joining Mr. Michael Bush in two, three minutes for Ask the Counselor now so we can bring clarity and dissolve doubts and fix up whatever is lacking in the understanding of God's people. Online, the banking details are there on Facebook or TV. Lift up your offerings.

Father, we give in faith, we give in joy. Thank You for the privilege of giving tonight. And we rejoice that through our giving, the gospel reaches the ends of the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says a powerful amen. Glory!