Exodus 8:1-19 Those who fear God are fearless and unstoppable

Exodus 8:1-19 Those who fear God are fearless and unstoppable

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs. The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.”’” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. The magicians did the same with their secret arts, making frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “The honor is yours to tell me: when shall I entreat for you and your servants and your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, that they may be left only in the Nile?” Then he said, “Tomorrow.” So he said, “May it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your servants and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.” Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had inflicted upon Pharaoh. The Lord did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, the courts, and the fields. So they piled them in heaps, and the land became foul. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Background

Moses turned up the pressure on the Egyptians with a dreadful plague of frogs. The magicians retaliated with a similar plague against the Israelites. The Pharaoh succumbed to the plague and capitulated to Moses’s demands only to renege after the frogs were removed. Moses followed with yet another plague of gnats against the Egyptians. This time, the magicians could not retaliate while acknowledging the supremacy of the Lord. Indeed, the Egyptian court have come to recognise Moses as the fearless and unstoppable prophet of God. In today’s devotion, we learn: Those who fear God are fearless and unstoppable.

Observation

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs.

The Pharaoh’s obstinacy was met with a sea of frogs. This highly offensive plague is part of a series of signs leading to the ultimate judgment: the death of the first born. Notice, this plague was directed against the Egyptians:

“…your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.”

The magicians did the same to counter the Israelites who were not affected by the plague. There was a hint of deception here. Countering Moses by using the same plague would keep their counter attack from being discovered. A casual observer may perceive the frogs as coming from Moses.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”

The plague of frogs had finally gotten Pharaoh’s attention. The Pharaoh’s resistance to Israel’s freedom appeared to be cracking when he offered to let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. His initial capitulation arose purely from inconvenience and annoyance due to the frogs. Moses gave Pharaoh the privilege to determine the amount of time needed to remove the frogs from the land. Despite Pharaoh’s near impossible request (to remove the plague in one day), Moses accepted the challenge to show the extent of the power he possessed. When the frogs were removed and they were no longer a dreadful nuisance, Pharaoh reneged.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’”

With the third plague, the Lord ratcheted up the pressure on Pharaoh. The gnats struck without warning. The exact nature of the gnat is unclear although it appears to be some kind of insect. For the first time, the magicians were unable to replicate the feat to counter Moses. Rather, they confessed that the “finger of God” had hindered them. Thus, it had become crystal clear to Pharaoh as well as to His army of magicians, wise men and sorcerers that the Lord reigns supreme over the gods of Egypt. The Pharaoh, despite witnessing the supremacy of the Lord continued to harden himself against God’s will.

Truth

Those who fear God are fearless and unstoppable.

Moses fears God. Thus, he became fearless and unstoppable. So much so that the Pharaoh had to capitulate to him. Indeed, the fear of God brings divine favour and authority. Moses fears no one except God. He followed God’s directives to the tee paying no attention to the Pharaoh’s threats. Despite experiencing retaliations in the forms hard labour and demonic attacks, Moses showed no signs of stopping. The demonic powers were subsequently defeated when the magicians could no longer bring on the gnats against the Israelites. The Pharaoh might have contemplated using physical force against Moses but relented because he knew he was powerless against Moses.

God speaks plainly and clearly to those who fear Him

Because Moses fears God, God spoke to him face to face. It is through an audible voice that Moses received God’s directives without ambiguity. By virtue of the way God spoke to Moses and the unequivocal manner the messages were received, Moses carried out God’s plans with absolute confidence. Thus, it is safe to say that Moses’s confidence came from the clear and unequivocal manner that God spoke. Indeed, if we are absolutely sure that God has spoken, then we will possess absolute confidence that God will bring it to pass. Thus, if we can converse with God the way Moses did, then we will become more confident in carrying out God’s will.

God speaks plainly to one who defers to Him in all things

That said, God communicates directly with one who defers to Him in all things, who in the light of His eternal wisdom holds no preference in decision making, who harbours no sacred cows in his belief system, or biases in his perception of people. In other words, if one’s supreme desire is to know God’s will and to align with Him in all things, then God will speak clearly and plainly. But if we harbour preferences, then God will speak through another person. Many cannot converse with God because they have a preference or a hidden bias they are unaware of. In all things, we must be humble and ready to see things God’s way and to adopt His preferences. Only then can we hear God with absolute clarity and walk in absolute confidence, being fearless in the face of challenges.

Application

Make it your lifestyle to converse with God unceasingly. In making decisions, in understanding His perspectives, God welcomes us to converse with Him. If we hold no preferences while giving God full prerogative over our decisions, then God will speak His mind on all matters. When God speaks, He injects a thought into our minds. And if our desire is to know God’s will, then our thoughts will be His thoughts. In matters of great importance, God provides a physical sign to verify the thoughts as coming from Him. This is to put to rest all ambiguities that God has indeed spoken. The nature of the physical signs differs from person to person. Many will sense a tangible energy in the body that turns on and off. God speaks by injecting notions into the mind while verifying the notions through tangible energy. A high tangible energy corresponds to a positive answer. Whilst a low energy corresponds to a negative response. At times, God speaks through open visions and an audible voice. But at most times, He speaks through notions verifiable through tangible sensations.

Do you reject certain beliefs just because they differ from the mainstream? Remove the sacred cows of your belief system and open your mind to what God has to say!

Do you harbour biases towards certain categories of people? Remove your biases and prejudices and allow God to show you the true state of people’s hearts. In so doing, He can use you to minister to others in truth and grace.

Do you fear possible attacks by demonic forces? The righteous are not exempted from the devil’s attacks. But they will quickly rise up with great power. Do not be afraid of the devil’s attack, for they can never overpower us. We may fall in the course of battle, but we will quickly rise up and overrun them. Proverbs says,

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity. – Proverbs 24:16

Dear Lord, I desire to converse with you clearly and plainly so that I may know your perspective in all aspects of life. I defer to you all decisions, perspectives and obey your will. Cause me to discern your voice clearly so that I may carry out your directives without fear. When I suffer and fall in the course of battle, cause me to quickly arise to overrun the evil one. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.