Most people have heard the story of Moses. Exodus 5-12. The plagues that hit Egypt. God opening up the Red Sea so Israel could walk over dry land. It’s like a fairy tale correct? Like some kind of mythical story. We started yesterday (click here for Day 7) with Moses story, now we continue.
Even Christians recite it as something of the past. Something fantastical. But with no expectations that God is the same God and can do the same things.
But why did He do them then?
Why was Pharaoh’s heart so hard for so long?
It’s clear that even with signs and wonders, some people just will not believe God.
In fact, the magicians, the spiritualists, the occultists – they have powers too. They can produce signs.
So who do you believe? Who do you trust?
God told Moses ‘that you may tell in the ears of you son, and of your son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt and my signs which I have done among them, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD’.
EXODUS 5-12
Link to Online Bible to read Exodus 5-12 is here.
The whole earth was filled with the terror of the God of Israel by the end of this series of events.
To this day, thousands of years later, the story is still told.
The question is, do we know this Lord? Is he our Lord?
God wanted his people to obey his command. Pharaoh increased the burdens, the work, and the drudgery.
How many times have you wanted to give to God, to do something for God, and then more bills have come, more hours at work have been put on you, and some difficulty that has come in between you obeying the voice of faith?
Your prayers and cries to God are not wasted
When burdens piled up, the people couldn’t hear Moses (or God) because of the anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage – they just could/would not hear. They were stuck in their reality.
But God said, NOW YOU WILL SEE WHAT I WILL DO…..
Ah, God. Who is now revealing himself as JEHOVAH. In Hebrew, Yehovah – the self Existent or external.
In the early stages, the magicians could mimic what Aaron did with the rod. They could copy the signs and wonders.
But then came the day when they could not, when the land was infested with lice. And they said ‘This is the finger of God’.
Where else is this statement made?
Jesus said ‘but if I with the finger of God cast out devils no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you’ (Luke 11:20)
So, the Kingdom of God is tied to the signs, the demonstration of power, of the proclamation of The Lord! Something to consider.
Despite all the proof still, Moses said to Pharaoh ‘I know that you will not yet FEAR THE LORD GOD’.
There will be some who will never believe. Never yield. But the people who know their God will DO! (Daniel)
God said to Moses ‘See, I HAVE MADE THEE A GOD TO PHARAOH’…. OMG.. blasphemy!
Can you imagine if someone said this today? ‘God as made me a god to demonstrate his power?’
CAN YOU IMAGINE?
They’d kill you. Stone you. Ridicule you as false.
Do we even know God?
The whole way through these horrible plagues God divided the ‘world’ and his people. Egypt coped with it all, the Israelites were left untouched.
Pharaoh wanted to make deals, to compromise.
God wanted ALL or nothing – hence the pile up of pressure.
NO compromise on the command.
These chapters are deep with the revelation of God, and what it is to be His. They are worth deep thoughts, and prayers, asking for the Holy Spirit, so that we may put our trust in Him in all things.
