Wed.’s Devo - The Plagues

Read: Exodus 8:1-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5 The Nile was full of blood and now God sent Pharaoh back to him to tell him if they didn’t let the people go to worship God, He would send a plague of frogs. They would come out of the river and into every area of their lives. Then Aaron raised his hand over the waters and it happened. Pharaoh’s sorcerers were able to do the same thing, but obviously, they couldn’t take them away. *** After a while, the pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and begged them to take the frogs away. When Moses asked him when this should happen, he said, tomorrow. No doubt, he had some reason for not saying, “right now”. It probably had to do with some ritualistic number of the day or something crazy like that. These plagues were against the gods of Egypt so every plague was associated with with a god the Egyptians worshipped. *** Moses prayed and the frogs died and remained only in the Nile. Now, the problem was all the dead and stinking frogs. One false god - gone! *** Next, God struck the ground and destroyed their land. The dust on the ground became gnats. This time, Pharaoh’s men couldn’t counterfeit it. They claimed it was the finger of God. *** God sent Moses back to meet Pharaoh on his way to the river. He told him that if they didn’t let God’s people go he would also get swarms of flies. But this time, he would spare the land of Goshen where God’s people lived. God would draw a line and separate his people from Pharaoh’s. *** It happened just like Moses said and the whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos because of the flies. *** Pharaoh called Moses in and told him to go make sacrifices but they had to stay in the land of Egypt. Moses explained that they couldn’t offer the sacrifices God required where the Egyptians could see because they would retaliate. They worshiped the animals, God required for the sacrifice. They must go three days away. Pharaoh finally agreed but told him not to go too far. *** Moses prayed and the flies disappeared but Pharaoh refused to let them go. *** God sent Moses back to Pharaoh to tell him that if they continued to hold them back from sacrificing to him. he would strike all their livestock with a deadly plague. It would not affect the cattle of Goshen. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but none in Goshen died. Pharaoh’s heart still remained shut and he wouldn’t let them leave. *** God told Moses and Aaron to take soot from their oven and let Moses throw it into the air while Pharaoh was watching. The ashes became boils that broke out on the people and animals. The magicians were not able to stand before Moses. They had lost their arrogance, but Pharaoh was still proud and hardened. *** God sent Moses back to meet with Pharaoh and tell him that God could have killed him long time ago, but allowed him to live to show him His power and to spread His witness over the earth. Tomorrow, God would send a storm of hail like he had never seen before. He warned him to bring in any livestock and his servants out in the fields or they would be killed by the hail. Some of his servants did heed the warning, but those who didn’t lost whatever was left outside. *** The storm was full of thunder, hail and lightning like had never been upon the earth. It left Egypt in ruins, but Goshen was untouched by the storm. Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and this time he actually confessed he had sinned and that God was the righteous God; his people were wrong. He begged Moses to ask God to end the storm. He promised to let God’s people go. But after all this, God said that Pharaoh and his officials still didn’t fear Him. Their talk was good, but their hearts were still not changed. Sure enough, as soon as Moses prayed and the stormed stopped, Pharaoh changed his mind…again. *** In Matthew, parents brought their children for Jesus to lay his hands on and bless. The disciples tried to stop the parents, but Jesus objected. He wanted to bless the children because the Kingdom of Heaven belonged to them. *** A man came to Jesus and asked what good deed could he do to have eternal life. Jesus answered to keep the commandments. The man explained he did that so what else must he do. Jesus told him if you want to be perfect, then give all your money to the poor and follow him. The man left sad because, he owned much. *** Jesus told his disciples that it was almost impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. His disciples were shocked because they had been taught by the priests that wealth was a sign of God’s approval on a person. They asked, then who could be saved. Jesus answered it was impossible to do it in the flesh, but could only be done through God. That rich man was trying to make it to heaven with his works. He was trying to be good enough to enter heaven but Jesus was saying that there would always be something he wouldn’t be able to master. Only through Christ and his grace, can we be saved. Only being like the children, can we see God. *** Then, Jesus gave them a glimpse into the Kingdom on earth. Jesus would sit upon the throne and his disciples would sit upon thrones with him and judge the tribes of Israel. Everyone who has died to this world to choose Christ will be rewarded a hundred times in return and they will inherit eternal life. The ones who are great in the world now will be the least and vice versa. *** Lord, we look forward to the regeneration of the world when the world is restored to your authority. We are watching this happen and rejoice. We will reign with you as kings and priests to You. May we have clean hands and pure hearts.