Exodus 9:8-35 We save the world not by fleshly anger but by divine mercy and power

Exodus 9:8-35 We save the world not by fleshly anger but by divine mercy and power

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.” So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth. But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.

Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”’” The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses; but he who paid no regard to the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. Now the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.

Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” (Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late.) So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the Lord; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

Background

The Pharaoh’s intransigence had brought upon the Egyptians plagues that continued to reveal God’s unbounded mercies and power to the world. Indeed, it was the Pharaoh’s hardened rebellion that occasioned God’s display of His nature so that the world may know and respond to Him. Likewise, only when people see God’s mercies and power manifested through us, will they come to acknowledge God as their Lord. Indeed, wise and gracious execution of divine authority brings salvation. Fleshly wrath only drives people away into the darkness. Today’s devotion teaches: We save the world not by fleshly anger but by divine mercy and power.

Observation

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.”

The sign of the Lord continued to escalate through the plague of boils. Here, not only did the magicians fail to counter the Israelites with a similar plague, they could not protect themselves from it. They were badly afflicted by the boils just like the rest of the Egyptians. Then, it became evident to all that the Egyptians were fighting a losing battle. Still, the Pharaoh hardened himself and rebelled against God.

“But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”

Once again God spoke to the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. God made known the reason He allowed the Pharaoh to live is to reveal Himself as the all powerful and all merciful God (to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth). If Pharaoh feared His word, he would receive mercy and be adopted into God’s family. Even if Pharaoh choose to disobey, Israel would still be freed and Egypt decimated.

“Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.”

God’s word to Pharaoh was shortly followed by a plague of deadly hail. Unlike the previous plagues, this one was lethal. God warned Pharaoh of this deadly sign and at the same time provided a way of escape. Those who heeded God’s word were unharmed. Whilst those who disregarded the warning suffered great losses of human life and livestock. As expected, the plague decimated the land of Egypt while leaving Goshen untouched.

Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one,…”

The Pharaoh again appeared remorseful and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones…” And he would let the people go in exchange for Moses’s supplication to end the hail. Even though Pharaoh did not fear God, God listened to Moses’s prayer. But as soon as the hail and thunder stopped, the Pharaoh hardened his heart again refusing to let the people go.

Truth

We save the world not by fleshly anger but by divine mercy and power.

The world can only be saved through divine mercy and power

Under all circumstances, when we exhibit divine mercy with great power, we are one step closer to saving the world around us. Despite Pharaoh’s repeated rebellion against God’s righteous demand, Moses did not respond in fleshly anger, but exercised restrain towards him. In fact, it is Pharaoh’s intransigence and rebellion that occasioned the display of God’s mercies and power to the world. God displayed His power by bringing the hail, and His mercy by giving them clear instructions on how to avoid it. When the world observe how with great mercy and power the God of Israel dealt with the Pharaoh, they began to understand who God is. In that process, they come to know God and respond to Him.

Likewise, when people see divine mercy and power manifested through us, they come to acknowledge God as their Lord. That is why believers must in all circumstances exercise self-control and refrain from vengeance. Indeed, the wrath of man cannot fulfil the salvation plan of God. The apostle James said,

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. – James 1:19-20

Our words and actions must be restrained and led by the Spirit

A word spoken or command given cannot be revoked. Thus, we must not be led by our base instincts but rather be led by the Spirit. It is good policy not to speak until the human instincts of bitterness, hate and anger are abated. And we should act only when we have acquired God’s perspective and wisdom on the issues and people concerned. Even so, our words must be spoken in the right setting and circumstances,

Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
– Proverbs 25:11-12

God grants authority to one who possesses wisdom and self-control

Therefore, it is all the more important that believers develop wisdom and self-control. Without which, God will never entrust His authority to us. Observe how great an authority God had entrusted to His prophet Jeremiah. That at Jeremiah’s word, nations were built up and broken down.

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.”
– Jeremiah 1:9-10

Wise and measured execution of divine authority brings salvation. Fleshly wrath only drives people away into the darkness. God grants great authority to Moses to display His power to the world, not to destroy it but to save it. God chose Moses for this purpose because he is restrained and merciful in spirit.

Application

Do you harbour resentment against authorities and people whom you think are unjust? What would you do if you possess great authority to change the world for good? If you desire divine authority to influence and to make the world a better place,… Then, study and understand how God works in history. Consider the following:

– God did not use the plagues to destroy Egypt, but drowned the Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea to save Israel.

– God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah to save Lot and his family from evil.

– God destroyed the world to save Noah and his family from evil.

– God destroyed the inhabitants of the Promised Land to establish Israel.

– But God allowed Jesus to be unjustly condemned on the cross so that the world may be saved.

God does not wish for the death of the wicked. But will judge them when the righteous is threatened. The bible says,

Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? – Ezekiel 18:23

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

Even then, God sacrificed His own Son so that the world may be saved. Until we replace our resentments with divine mercy and grace can we be made worthy instruments of peace and salvation to the world.

Dear Lord, help me understand your ways so that I can be your instrument of peace and salvation. Remove my resentments and feelings of injustice. Sanctify me with the truth and grace of your Spirit. Use me to reveal your power and mercies to the world around me. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.


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