Exodus 7:1-24
Thursday, 6 May 2021
“The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” Exodus 7:5
All through the Bible we read about God’s Hand at work. We see the divine hand at work in Genesis 2:7 which says that “God formed [fashioned] man.” This Hand has not rested; His hand has been working for His people right up to this day—as a Hand of Blessing , a Hand of power and deliverance and a Hand of correction.
God in response to the cry of His people, sends out His messengers to Pharaoh with the message to set His people free. Until then people knew gods only as territorial gods. YHWH now reveals himself to the nation of Egypt that He alone is God and that He could act and speak anywhere! In this process we witness His divine hand at work through a simple rod in the hand of Moses.
In today’s text, we read of two miracles that Moses and Aaron perform. What is the purpose of these?
First miracle (Exodus 7:8-12)
The Pharaoh’s head gear depicted a snake on it, symbolic of the goddess Wadjet represented as a cobra who protected the crown and the royal family. The first miracle that God’s Mighty hand performed was of the rod turning into a serpent that swallowed up the magician's serpents .Though it may seem strange to us readers, what was God meaning to do? He wanted to show that He had power over Pharaoh and his gods could no longer protect him.
YHWH was & is powerful and in control. Protection comes from Him alone. But is that all that God wanted to prove? No! God wanted to show the old serpent in the garden who deceived Eve that his end has come. Jesus came just to do this. 1 John 3: 8 says “… the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.” How did He accomplish this? "… having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."(Col.2:15)
God is powerful even today to break the hold of the devil over your life. He accomplished it 2000 years ago, but this would be evident only when your life is surrendered under His Mighty hand.
Second Miracle (Exodus 7:19-24)
YHWH now stretches out His mighty hand to strike down not one but all other 'gods' of Egypt. He begins with the river god Nile. This river was considered the river of life the Egyptians but to the Israelites it had proved to be the river of death when all the baby boys were thrown into it.
Now was YHWH's turn to prove who The Author of Life truly was! When Pharaoh did not yield to freeing the slaves, God asked His servants to stretch forth the rod over every water source in the land. The Divine Hand of God brought on the rod of punishment across the land. The source of life became the source of death.
LIFE & DEATH ARE IN YHWH’s HANDS!
Years later YHWH knowing that the sins of men could not be atoned by the blood of bulls and goats, stretched forth His Hand of wrath against His only Begotten Son to save you and me! The Giver of Life Gave up His Life to rescue us from eternal death.
The Egyptians did not turn their hearts to YHWH rather hardened it. What about you? Eternal Life is brought to the world through the Divine Hands of Christ that were nailed to the cross. His Life's blood was the price paid to rescue us from sin and death. Today His Hands are stretched out to you to bring you into a relationship with Him. Would you take the offer? If you've done this, then could you pray as the disciples did in Acts 4:29 - for God's hand to be stretched out toward you to do great things for Him. [paraphrased]
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
"You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
(Ps 89:13)