December 20, 2020
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Reading along with us in some Exodus? Here’s today’s reading:
Exodus 10 (NIV)
The Plague of Locusts
1 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 signs of mine among them 2 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.....Continue Reading
God asks Pharaoh ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?”
Pharaoh’s pride is overwhelming any logical thought pattern by this point! His refusal to give in to God’s request to let His people go was at the determent of himself, his people, and his land. So many people come to God this way kicking and screaming only to get to the end of their stubbornness to see God’s way is the best way after all!
God once again warns Pharaoh about what He will do before He does it. It is ultimately a chance for Pharaoh to do what God through Moses has been asking him. God even appeals to Pharaoh’s concern for his people. But in the interplay of Pharaoh being prideful and hardening his own heart and God enhancing what is there and hardening him as well, Pharaoh refuses. He does try to make a deal with God/Moses. But God is not open to negotiation here. It is all or nothing and Pharaoh refuses and the locusts come and do the damage God predicted.
The next plague is interesting. I do wonder what darkness one can feel was like. Clearly it was daunting. We are probably not so aware of our need for light because it is so abundant through natural and artificial sources. It is not surprising as God is a God of light. But this plague leads Pharaoh to make a sweeter deal with God. And when God clearly shows that we come to Him on His terms and not ours, Pharaoh reacts in frustration and drives Moses out and tells him not to come back. It is probably not a good idea to kick out the one who stands between you and God. But Pharaoh is used to being in control, not being controlled. So even though he is confronted by a greater power, he chooses to exert some of his own…..
Exodus 10
God’s intent is to show His power and might, so that all will know that He is the Lord.
“Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”
In Revelation 16 darkness is poured out: “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.”
It’s hard to believe that people’s hearts were/are/will be so hard that even in the face of clear judgment they refuse to repent….
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 signs of mine among them 2that 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