Exodus 8:20 – 9:7 The Lord is exalted when the world sees blessedness through our eternal life
Exodus 8:20 – 9:7 The Lord is exalted when the world sees blessedness through our eternal life
Now the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they dwell. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land. I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”’” Then the Lord did so. And there came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us? We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He commands us.” Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me.” Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you, and I shall make supplication to the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”
So Moses went out from Pharaoh and made supplication to the Lord. The Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’” The Lord set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died. Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Background
Pharaoh again went back on his promise to release the people. The Lord brought on a series of plagues that made Israel richer and Egypt poorer. Because Israel belongs to the Lord, God is glorified among the nations through Israel’s riches. In the same way, the Lord is glorified when the world sees our blessedness through our eternal life.
Observation
Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses…
Pharaoh’s renegement prompted yet another plague: swarms of flies invaded every Egyptian household that laid waste the land of Egypt. This time however, God announced that He will again thwart the magicians’ attempt to replicate the plague, something He had been doing since the plague of gnats. Thus, this would be a sign that the LORD is sovereign over all nations (I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land): a flies-free Goshen surrounded by flies-plagued Egypt.
I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.
The sign of God’s sovereignty is unequivocally displayed through the ”division between My people and your people”. Here, God has the absolute right to show mercy to anyone as He desires. In this case, God showed mercy to the Israelites by calling them “My people”. In the same breath, He rejected the Egyptians by hardening the Pharaoh and calling them “your people”. Indeed, all of God’s ways are just and righteous for He does nothing without reason (see Psalm 33:4). Because His wisdom are infinitely higher than man, man finds himself incapable of comprehending God’s ways. Israel received mercy from God because they chose to acknowledge Him as the Lord. Because they chose to obey, they are blessed. The psalmist says,
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. – Psalm 33:11-12
Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.”
Pharaoh called Moses and offered a concession in exchange for the removal of the flies. However, Pharaoh’s offer required the Israelites to sacrifice to God in the land of Egypt. Moses rejected Pharaoh’s proposal and convinced him to let them go a “three days’ journey into the wilderness”. That said, Pharaoh dealt deceitfully again by hardening his heart after the flies were removed.
Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field…
Moses returned to Pharaoh with another plague. This time, it targeted Egypt’s agricultural assets. A very severe pestilence would soon wipeout the livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks. Here, the distinction between Israel and Egypt couldn’t have been clearer: But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel. Pharaoh, having seen and realised that not even one of the livestock of Israel dead continued to harden his heart. Each time, the Pharaoh hardened his heart, the LORD’s name was exalted as Israel became richer and Egypt poorer.
Truth
The Lord is exalted when the world sees blessedness through our eternal life.
The Lord is exalted when the world sees Israel’s distinct blessedness through their wealth. Indeed, as the series of plagues unravels, Egypt became poorer while Israel became richer. Similarly, the Lord’s true nature and glory is manifested when the world sees our distinctive blessedness through the eternal life we live. Unlike the Old Testament that typically characterises blessedness in the form of military might and earthly possessions, the New Testament teaches blessedness as possessing eternal life or the attributes of Christ. The Lord is truly exalted when the world sees eternal life; Christ’s wisdom, virtues and divine power lived out in us.
Many churches today, in wanting to glorify themselves tout the gospel as a means to material wealth. We see the idolizing of celebrity pastors and their pervasive abuse of scripture. Church leaders exalt themselves above one another by showing off their popularity and achievements. As a result, many people who love the world are in the churches today. These are not looking to grow in truth and Christ-likeness but to fulfil their fleshly desires. And God cannot be glorified in such churches. Jesus said to the church,
Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked…” – Revelation 3:17
Jesus taught that the Father is glorified unequivocally by the believer’s fruit of eternal life. When we converse with Christ and obey His directives on a daily basis, we live out the fruit of eternal life and glorify God. Jesus said,
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” – John 15:7-8
While the unrighteous seek out wealth, the righteous hunger for the truth that leads to eternal life. Therefore, the way to glorify God is to make a distinction between us and the world through our eternal life: divine virtues, wisdom and authority. In exalting Christ through our lives, we draw all men towards Him.
Application
How do we exalt the Lord on a daily basis?
When we are wronged, we remain compose while actively seeking reconciliation with the offender. By seeing the bigger picture and by not dwelling on how we have suffered loss, we sacrifice personal rights for the benefit of the whole. In so doing, the world sees our graciousness and glorify God.
When we are faced with an important decision, instead of rushing into it, we seek God’s perspectives and directives. By deferring to God our decisions, we sacrifice personal preference in exchange for a prosperous outcome. And the world will see our wisdom and glorify God.
When we do good without drawing attention to ourselves, we become the light of the world. By focusing on bringing joy to another while denying our personal importance, we derive the greatest joy within ourselves. In so doing, the world sees divine love in action and glorify God.
When we treat everyone with respect regardless of their social status, we bring dignity to all. People are often treated according to their race and social status. But if we are friendly and unassuming, we lighten up our world by bringing joy to all we meet. In so doing, the world sees our positive energy and give glory to God.
When we are faced with a series of unfortunate events, instead of feeling downcast, we choose to thank God for the breakthroughs that are coming. Many Christians believe that bad things should not happen to those who believe. But scripture is filled with stories of great men and women who held on to God’s promises despite dire circumstances. When we speak and act in faith during tough times, the world will be encouraged and glorify God.
Dear Lord, make a distinction between me and the rest of the world so that I may glorify you. Sanctify me so that I can be as virtuous, wise and powerful as you are. Use me as a light of the world. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.