Tues.’s Devo - The First Plague

Read Ex. 5:22-7:24, Matt. 18:23-19:12, Ps. 23:1-6, Pr. 5:22-23 It was hard for Moses to see the big picture. The Israelites, who he came to deliver hated him because all he brought them was more oppression. God was patient with Moses and kept encouraging him with knowledge about Himself. He gave him the entire game plan how he was going to bring the Israelites out of bondage into a land of their own. God was going to be their God and they were going to be his people. He told Moses and Aaron that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart and then by signs and wonders He would destroy the Egyptians. Moses did his three signs God had given him and just like God said, Pharaoh hardened his hearts. I find it interesting that God gave him signs that He knew the Egyptian magicians would be able to duplicate. They should have saw the writing on the wall when Moses’ snake ate theirs. God was settling his account with Egypt. First, He gave the Pharaoh a chance to repent and when he didn’t he brought him the judgment he deserved like the servant in Matthew. The servant in the New Testament refused to have a compassionate heart so he was turned over to the jailers to be tortured. Pharaoh is going to experience this same punishment. While Moses and his people are going through great tribulation we read in Psalms that God is our Shepard and that we will never be in want. His rod and His staff will comfort us. Lord, in you we will not fear evil because your goodness and love follows us all the days of our lives.