Mon.’s Devo - The Judgment of God

Read: Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11
God explains why he hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God chose a man who did not have a heart after him and would never have a heart after him and he used him for his purposes. God wanted His people to see His power and so they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was God. He wanted it to be memorable so that they would tell their children and grandchildren how God dealt with their enemies and saved them. The next plagues were locusts, darkness and finally the death of the first born.
Locusts are a sign of judgment. In Revelation 9:3, locusts will be released once again on the earth to hurt only those who are enemies of God. In Isaiah 45:7 God says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil; I the Lord do all these things.” We have a hard time thinking that God is anything but loving and kind but he has many attributes which all prove his holiness. God was pouring out his wrath on the Egyptians like he will one day do on the earth. The Egyptians were walking in spiritual darkness, now they had to walk in natural darkness. This darkness could be felt for three days.
The last plague was the passover. The lamb was to be a picture of Jesus and his blood was put on the door in the same places He had blood. The sides stood for his nails in his hands and the top stood for the crown and then they put a basin under the door to catch any blood that dripped down and that stood for the nails in his feet. They walked through the door, which represented Jesus and were safe from the death angel. The death angel came to judge all that were not covered with the blood. That same angel will judge the world in the end of the age.
Jesus told the parable about the landowner who agreed to pay his workers the same amount. At the end of the day, those that worked the whole day were angry that they were paid the same as the ones who had only worked a day. He was referring to those that get saved right before they die as apposed to those that spend their lifetime serving the Lord. Salvation is free and has nothing to do with our works. We will be rewarded for our works but salvation is free.
Lord, thank you that all your ways are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of your Word.