Scripture

“I will make the Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.”

Observation

The Lord again commands Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh. Pharaoh demands to see a miracle, so Aaron throws down his staff which turns into a snake. Pharaoh summons his magicians who do a similar miracle, although Aaron’s staff eats their staffs.

Then the Lord tells Moses to meet Pharaoh at the river. When Pharaoh again refuses to release the Israelites, Aaron raises his staff over the river, and the Lord turns it into blood, killing the fish and making it undrinkable.

Pharaoh’s heart remains hard, and he refuses to let God’s people go.

Application

God confronts Pharaoh’s heart, multiplying miracles in Egypt to convince him that the Lord is the one true God.

The plagues that afflict Egypt seem random to us, but to God they had a definite purpose- to destroy Egypt’s religious system and demonstrate that the Lord, the God of the Hebrews is greater than the gods of Egypt, even on their home ground.

The Egyptians worshipped the Nile because it was the source of life and prosperity for them. When the Lord turned it instantly into blood, becoming dead and putrid, it shod that God’s word is greater than the river gods.

This is not just about water, important as that is. It is the religious issue of the source of life.

It is God who gives us life. In many western nations there is a push to liberalise abortion and assisted suicide laws. Soon the State will be seen as the source of life and death.

Christians must proclaim that the Lord, and the Lord alone, gives life.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the gift of life in this world and in the world to come. Amen.

Scripture

But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I am such a clumsy speaker! Why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Observation

The clans and the ancestors of Moses and Aaron are listed.

Moses and Aaron are the ones to whom the Lord gave the commandment to go to Pharaoh to demand that he sets God’s people free.

Moses had said to the Lord, “I can’t do it!”

Application

It has been said that we can tell when it is God who calls us to a task by the fact that it is too hard for us in our own ability.

Moses felt that he was incapable of speaking to Pharaoh. This was despite the fact that he had been brought up in Pharaoh’s palace and given all the training and education necessary for being a government leader.

When God calls us, we are often most aware of our inadequacy. This is a good thing because it negates pride.

God does not call the most talented, or the smoothest speaker. Rather, He calls those who are available, and then He equips them for the task.

Just on 24 years ago, God ed Margaret and me to start a new church. We have no idea why it was us, except that we said “Yes” to the call.

We endured many years of very little in the way of salary. We enjoyed countless miracles of God’s provision. And so we persevered.

That is the story of many of God’s people, including Moses. After his initial attempt to rescue the Hebrew people, he fled to the desert and stayed there for 40 years. That was not the end of the story because, as inadequate as Moses felt, He was God’s man for the job.

Prayer

Help me Lord to trust you every day for the things and the skills I need to carry out your plan for my life. Amen.