Reflections from February 14, 2011

We see Moses and Aaron begin their campaign to have Pharaoh release the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. However, Pharaoh is very stubborn, and God realizes that he is. God also understands the culture of Egypt and their view of Pharaoh as a god, and the Lord does the same for Moses when He says in Exodus 7:1,
"See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet."
With Pharaoh's statements seen as divine pronouncements throughout the land, they held absolute sway over the people. However, with God's declaration that Moses was now like God to Pharaoh, Moses would be have the authority that Pharaoh could not deny. God had given Moses positional authority, and taught both him and Aaron how to convey leadership in the eyes of Pharaoh. What a mighty way that God used His servants in ways they never dreamed of.

So God goes about to show Pharaoh and all of Egypt that He truly is the Lord and that He alone has power over all creation. He instructs Moses to begin a series of plagues upon Egypt except He did not inflict these upon the Israelites and the land of Goshen, and in chapters 8 and 9 of Exodus, we read about seven of these plagues which are:
* The Nile turns to blood and all the fish die
* Frogs overrun the country and get into everything
* People and animals are invested with lice
* Swarms of flies cover the land
* All the livestock dies
* Boils cover the Egyptians and their animals
* Hail destroys all the crops and kills livestock and people left outside

Each time these plagues came, Pharaoh would say to Moses, "I know that your God is God, please entreat Him to stop." But we read first in Exodus 8:14,
"But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said."
And again in Exodus 9:27, 28, 30:
"And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord, that there may be nor more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.' So Moses said to him, 'But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.'"

So God knew the heart of Pharaoh, and He showed it to Moses as well. Even though the scriptures say God will harden Pharaoh's heart, it is saying that Pharaoh is a strong-willed person, who was set upon showing God, through Moses, that he was mightier than the Lord God. With every plague, he became more determined to show he was in charge and he was right.

We turn to the praises of the Lord as written by David in Psalms 105:1-5 where he writes,
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.

Our society today doesn't have the same emphasis on passing on the stories and the proclamations of past accomplishments. While we still have a day where WWI stopped, we have Pearl Harbor Day, etc., these have lost some of the importance they once held. The passage of time has some to do with this, but more so, in my opinion, with the stories not being told. Stories bring this to life, and the Israelites knew this. They kept the glory of God alive in their culture by singing praises to him as shown in this Psalm, telling and celebrating all that God did for them to bring them out of Egypt.
We can show the world what God means to us with a spiritual publicity campaign as well. We can do this
* Through music
* Through stories -- Personal accounts as well as relating the past
* Through worship in ways that shows we are serious about serving God
* Through personal integrity -- always pleasing God, even when He's the only one there
* Through history -- studying His works and seeing the connection through the centuries directly to today
* Through the Bible -- Showing others what His word says and applying it to our everyday life

We serve an awesome God and we can show Him our love in many ways everyday.

Blessings to all