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Exodus 7:14-9:35<\/strong><\/span> Today in Exodus chapters 8 & 9 we read about many of the plagues!\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019ve got to say, for some reason the plague of frogs really resonated with me in today\u2019s reading.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure why \u2013 but for some reason I could really envision frogs being everywhere\u2026\u00a0 and how disgusting this would truly be\u2026<\/span> An interesting thing I read in a commentary today is that the plagues in some ways were direct attacks on the Egyptian \u201cgods\u201d.\u00a0 For example, the Egyptians had a god named Hopi, who was god of the Nile river.\u00a0 Hopi couldn\u2019t stop the river from turning to blood. They had a cow-goddess named Hathor, who couldn\u2019t stop the livestock from dying.\u00a0 They had a sun-god named Amon-Re who couldn\u2019t stop darkness from coming over the land. (in tomorrow\u2019s readings).\u00a0 God\u2019s plagues were going after these false gods \u2013 and showing to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and the Hebrews too I think, who the one true living God is, was, and forever shall be.\u00a0 Did you ever stop and wonder if there were masks out there that depicted the various plagues of the Exodus?\u00a0 Me neither.\u00a0 But they exist!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span> Chapter 8 verses 18 & 19 stand out: \u201cPharaoh\u2019s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered all the people and animals. \u201cThis is the finger of God!\u201d the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh.\u201d <\/em>The magicians tricks were beginning to fail!\u00a0 They realized that God was creating the plagues with their exclamation, \u201cThis is the finger of God!\u201d\u00a0 God\u2019s name & fame was becoming known.\u00a0 Have you seen or experienced the finger of God in your life?\u00a0 Below is a super-sized image that will give you an idea of the grossness of the plague of gnats:<\/span> Chapter 9 verse 16 is powerful: \u201cBut I have let you live for this reason\u2013that you might see my power and that my fame might spread throughout the earth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 In the New Testament, Paul quotes this verse in Romans 9:17, which we\u2019ll view in context here from Romans 9:14-18 \u2013 \u201cWhat then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, \u201cI will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\u201d It does not, therefore, depend on man\u2019s desire or effort, but on God\u2019s mercy.\u00a0 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: \u201cI raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.\u201d Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0Wow\u2026 great stuff in this Roman\u2019s verse\u2026 it does not depend on our desire or effort, but on God\u2019s mercy.\u00a0 Do you believe in God\u2019s mercy?\u00a0 Will you relinquish any of your own desire or efforts over to God\u2019s mercy?\u00a0 As you probably have seen by now, I\u2019m trying to cover many of the plagues in today\u2019s readings with images\u2026 so now I give you pharaoh and the flies!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span> Exodus chapter 9 verse 20 is also powerful, as we read about some Egyptians beginning to believe in God: \u201cSome of Pharaoh\u2019s officials believed what the LORD said. They immediately brought their livestock and servants in from the fields.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>How about us today?\u00a0 Do we believe what the Lord says?\u00a0 Like these Egyptians in this instance, do we then also immediately do what the Lord says?\u00a0 In verse 27 Pharaoh finally confesses his sin: \u201cThen Pharaoh urgently sent for Moses and Aaron. \u201cI finally admit my fault,\u201d he confessed. \u201cThe LORD is right, and my people and I are wrong.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Though he doesn\u2019t stay repentant for long.\u00a0 How about us \u2013 do we confess our sins to God \u2013 and then not stay repentant for long?\u00a0 Can we instead confess our sins to God and make a complete U-turn \u2013 go completely in the other direction and not look back?\u00a0 Below we have the plague of hail \u2013 and I guess that fire is from the lightning strikes.<\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on the plagues of Exodus titled \u201cThe Finger of God\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span> Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Exodus reminded me of Kristian Stanfill\u2019s song \u201cDay after Day:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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