January 24: Exodus 9 to 11

Today's passage continues the 10 plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians. Through each one, we witness a hardening of Pharaoh's heart and his blinding to the fate of his people.

I would like to focus attention on the purposes of these plagues. From an outside perspective, it might appear that God is acting vindictively. As we reflect, however, we can see several key outcomes of these plagues:

1. Demonstrating God's power and glory. The Egyptians could not replicate what God had accomplished through Moses and Aaron, pointing to the divine source. All spiritual authority ultimately comes from God, and, when we seek it based on who we are rather than in God Himself, we miss finding true authority.

a. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.'" (Exodus 10:1,2)

b. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you--so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.'" (Exodus 11:9)

The battle between the Lord and Pharaoh offers striking similarity between the ongoing cosmic battle between God's Kingdom and the Evil One's principality. We know the ultimate outcome in both cases, but the intrigue of the battle offers insights into God's character.

2. Impressing the Egyptians with His power. Even the Egyptians come to respect the Israelites because of what God had done. In Exodus 11:3, we read: "The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people."

3. Using a professedly weak Moses and Aaron. Because God worked through humble servants, it points to God's power and not man's.

4. Pointing to the certainty of their hope and to build a reminder of God's goodness among the Israelites. By carrying out such a variety of plagues and bringing freedom to His people, God gave testimony to the hope that the Israelites might have in any other of God's promises. We may trust in God's faithfulness too, as we reflect on all that He has done in our life, in the lives of others, and in the testimony of Scripture.
　

QUESTIONS

1. What works of God bring you hope at this point? How can you better remember and reflect on these?

2. What was a time in which you were unable to tackle something on your own, but God arrived to strengthen you?