Thurs.’s Devo - The Plagues

Read: Exodus 7:25-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5 Now begins the countdown of the plagues God sent to devastate Egypt and to humiliate their gods. Seven days after the Nile had turned to blood, God sent Moses back to Pharaoh to threaten him with a plague of frogs. His magicians could do the same with their dark arts, only they couldn’t take them away. Pharaoh called Moses and begged him to take the frogs away and promised he would let them go. But, when he was free of the frogs, he changed his mind. *** Next came the plague where the dust became gnats. Pharaoh’s magicians could not do this and they proclaimed it was done by the finger of God. Pharaoh’s heart was once again hardened. *** With the fourth plague, God made a distinction between the land of Egypt and the land of Goshen. God’s people would have no flies. Swarms of flies filled Egypt. Pharaoh promised again to let them go, but told them they had to stay in the land of Egypt. Moses refused saying they would stone them when they saw them sacrificing animals. He insisted they be allowed to go three days into the wilderness. Pharaoh agreed as long as it was not too far. God took the flies away, but Pharaoh didn’t let them go. *** God sent Moses to threaten Pharaoh with a plague on their animals. Only the animals in Egypt died. Pharaoh still refused to let them go. The sixth plague was boiled on the men and beast of the earth. The cattle had already died so the beast were something different. They were the behemoth - the very large quadrupeds that were on the earth. *** Next, the Lord would strike the people with a hail storm. They were to bring what was left of their livestock into barns to protect them. Those who didn’t would lose them to the hail. Hail, rain and fire fell from heaven and struck down all their plants and trees. There was no hail in Goshen. Pharaoh called Moses in and actually admitted they were wrong. He begged Moses to pray that God would take away the thunder and the hail. All their wheat was destroyed. When it was gone, Pharaoh hardened his heart again. *** In Matthew, the children were brought to him to be blessed. When the disciples rebuked the people, Jesus told them not to hinder the children because the kingdom of heaven would look like them. *** A man came to him who was looking for a way he could work himself to heaven by his good deeds. Jesus tested him by telling him to keep the commandments. He told him he already did all that, so Jesus gave him something he couldn’t do, which was to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Then his treasure would be in heaven where no one could see it. He couldn’t do that. *** The Pharisees taught that the way God showed his favor and approval was by blessing them with material wealth. This man was very rich. To give it up would show those he wanted to impress that he had lost the favor of God. This man’s pride and wrong doctrine would keep him from the kingdom of God. *** Jesus commented on how hard it was for a rich person to enter the kingdom, but added that with God, it was possible. *** Peter commented that they had given up everything to follow Jesus and Jesus assured them that they would be rewarded with thrones and they would judge the tribes of Israel. Everyone who gives up everything for the sake of the kingdom will be rewarded and receive eternal life. Those who are last on earth will be first in God’s kingdom and vice versa. *** Lord, may we labor for what lasts and seek your kingdom first.