An Opportunity for Faith
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,
2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”
3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him,
Introduction:
300 Illustrations for Preachers Bakery Protected by Chuck Norris
An upscale bakery in Split, Croatia, had a problem with break-ins until they put one of Hollywood’s leading tough guys to work. As a joke, employees of the bakery put a life-size poster of Chuck Norris in the window along with a sign reading, “The shop is under the protection of Chuck Norris.” When the sign went up, the break-ins stopped. Sales Associate Mirna Kovac says the idea worked better than anyone thought. She says everyone in town is familiar with Norris’ movies; even the thieves seem to respect him and have left the shop alone. Kovac says since the sign went up, several people have stopped in to ask for the actor’s autograph. She adds, “They really believe he is hiding in our storeroom out the back ready to pounce on any burglars.”
Which makes sense, considering Chuck Norris once had an arm wrestling contest with Superman. I’m not going to say who won, but the loser had to wear his underwear on the outside for the rest of his life.
The perception of power and authority was all that little bakery needed.
Pharaoh and everyone in Egypt needed first hand experience of Yahweh’s power and authority over everything.
A reputation of power is exactly what God is establishing with the Egyptians and the Hebrews.
The plagues in chapter nine show a stronger hand than the first few from chapter Eight.
The Plagues also serve other purpose as we stated in the beginning.
To display Yahweh’s authority and power.
They are to assert His Hierarchy above all.
To reveal Himself to the Egyptians and Hebrews.
The Plagues provide reasons for the Egyptians to fear Him and evidence for the Hebrews to follow Him.
The Hebrews had been slaves of Egypt for 400 years, and the time of their freedom has arrived.
One commentator states God is impacting the Hebrews.
Exalting Jesus in Exodus Spiritual Slavery (1:8–2:25; 9:1)
God’s goal, then, included more than simply getting His people out of Egypt. He wanted to get Egypt out of His people.
After 400 years in Egypt, as all of us understand, there would have been some assimilation by the Hebrews into the Egyptian culture.
Part of that assimilation would’ve been adopting the Egyptian Idols and bringing them into their homes.
God made sure by the time the Hebrews came out of Egypt that those deities were nothing and He is everything!
He is worthy of their worship and will be their King who fights for them, provides for them, and protects them.
As we seen in the text 2 weeks ago, the plagues have shifted after the admittance of the Sorcerers to all the plagues being the finger of God.
19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
Going forward the plagues would only be against the Egyptians; not the Hebrews in Goshen.
22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.” ’ ”
God created a division between them.
Have you ever noticed how division between people groups breeds hate and dissent?
The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 was born from this exact thing.
One group was lead to believe they were treated as a lesser people; while deserving more than the others.
Imagine the change in relationships between the Hebrews and the Egyptians during the rest of the plagues.
There has only been one that crossed that threshold: The flies.
24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.
Today we will read of plagues 5-7 and they are intense!
Plague 5 (1-7)
Plague 5 (1-7)
It begins with the authoritative demand:
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Automatically Pharaoh would take offense from being challenged!
It sets him on edge right away.
Especially since with the first 4 plagues he was forced to ask Moses to use his authority to remove the plagues.
Makes sense that he wouldn’t be excited to see Moses and Aaron.
With his feathers fluffed Moses tells him “or else”.
2 For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them,
3 behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.
This time it isn’t going to be discomfort or inconvenient, it is described for him as “very severe”.
The impact would be
Horses, donkeys, camels, any herds of animals and any flocks of birds will die.
This provides something unique to Pharaoh.
Does he believe the God of the Hebrews?
Illustration:
When we lived in Fort Myers we had the opportunity to experience hurricanes.
It is a unique thing, you can plan and nothing can happen, or you can plan and the worst happens.
(detail the small window of opportunity to get out and all that you deal with in the process)
When we thought danger was coming our way we planned accordingly.
Pharaoh was told what was coming and exactly what would be affected.
4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.” ’ ”
God segregated the Hebrews from the death of their animals.
He also told him when it would happen.
5 And the Lord set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”
Pharaoh is now faced with some decisions.
Humility and believe Yahweh or hope in his idols.
What did Pharaoh do?
6 And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died.
7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Pharaoh decided that the livestock would be fine, as there is no way Yahweh has the authority over their sacred cows.
They worshipped bulls as we recognize a little while after they are in the wilderness, when Moses left the Hebrews and went up into the mountains.
They all were in fear of dying and thought that they needed to make an idol to the idol Apis who is the god of incarnation or life.
It would’be been an multiplicity of idols for the bull.
Apis:
Who is considered a fertility god for grains and herds.
This is the god whom Yahweh decimated through this plague; but also impacted the other 2.
Hathor:
She was the “celestial” goddess, also known as a multiple deity, not just one; but over many and of many.
She is one of the “big ones”.
Isis:
She was the goddess of kingship and protection of the kingdom.
She would’ve been one of the main deities, one of the “big ones”.
Transition:
God’s grace had been extended by providing an option to Pharaoh.
What could Pharaoh have done after he knew what was coming tomorrow?
Listen to the option he had:
3 behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.
Everything that is in the fields!
He could’ve moved the animals into the storehouses if he believed Moses’ God had that kind of power over the “big deities” of Egypt.
He definitely did.
To pour fuel on the fire:
7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
We are all given many opportunities to believe God.
From the simplest of things like He knows the numbers of the hairs on our heads
To the grandest of things like His second coming and orchestrating of it all fulfilling any promises and prophecies exactly as they are told.
Too many times we accept our own desires and beliefs and harden our hearts as Pharaoh did against God, against His word, or against His church.
God won’t quit on you, He will pursue you as He continued doing to Pharaoh and all the inhabitants of Egypt.
Because of Pharaoh God brought:
Plague 6 (8-12)
Plague 6 (8-12)
8 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.”
It is supposed that the soot was from where the Hebrews made bricks; kind of a representation to rub it in; that their business in bricks was done, unless the Egyptians wanted to begin the labor themselves.
When it is thrown into the air it’s also a sign of justice over their priests which would do a similar thing as a sign of blessing.
We have many examples of boils throughout the whole bible.
Leviticus, Deuteronomy, 2 Kings, Job, Isaiah, and Revelation.
They are always itchy, painful, and possibly leprous.
This is an power move over the deity Serapis whom could heal.
He had no authority to heal who God gave them to.
Also notice who God mentions takes direct punishment from this plague.
11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians.
The Magicians are never mentioned in Exodus after this point.
God removed any notion of power they thought they had and they weren’t successful in their dark arts.
This kind of reminds me of Daniel.
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,
10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
This was the challenge.
Daniel’s faith was in God and to honor Him he chose to not defile himself or the other Israelites with food offered to Idols.
It would be logical for them to loose strength and be unhealthy for not eating the “best” of meals.
They chose to honor God instead.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.
20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego became Cyrus’ most trusted and wise advisors because of what God did, and because of their faith.
Pharaoh didn’t like his deities being emasculated of their power, and hated the fact that his magicians were cowards and left.
But the thing that really got at him, was that the plague only the Egyptians and not the Hebrews:
Since he wasn’t in control, he hardened his heart and would not give the Hebrews what they Demanded.
12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
Since he did not concede God brought:
Plague 7 (13-35)
Plague 7 (13-35)
13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.
Early in the morning Moses was supposed to pester Pharaoh with the same demand: Let my people go, thus saith the Lord!
With the demand he would offer another “or else”.
He also makes a distinction with this next plague:
There will be none who are of Egypt that will not be impacted from this plague.
Aside from the Hebrews.
All classes of people will be affected.
The “higher or wealthier”. (Expressed by Pharaoh himself being impacted)
The “middle class”. (Expressed by “your people” the Egyptians)
The “lower class”. (Expressed by “your servants”)
No one is exempt from the Lords will and power!
Which should challenge us to acknowledge the fact that everyone must submit to His authority over us.
He is over all authorities, both physical and spiritual!
That means this coming November: He will enact His will of which “king” is over our kingdom.
He revealed to us in Daniel this truth about Himself over authorities.
God sent a vision to King Nebuchadnezzar and because there was none who could interpret it to him he was about to kill all of the “wise men”, in perfect time Daniel sought the Lord and He gave Daniel the interpretation.
He praised the Lord:
20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
We can trust who He places in there is for the working of His will!
With Pharaoh: he is told that God can do anything at any time; but He wants to use him!
15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.
16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
Pharaoh’s hard heart is being used to proclaim God’s power and authority to the world.
Instead of removing Pharaoh He will continue using him until what He told Moses happens.
They will be pushed out by the Egyptians and plunder them without any war!
17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.
18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.
He gives Pharaoh another opportunity for grace and faith in Yahweh.
Pharaoh was told what will happen tomorrow.
19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.” ’ ”
20 Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses,
21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.
Something to take note of here with a question:
Does this contradict the fifth plague where it is stated that all the livestock die?
No, considering an overlooked point we get from scripture:
3 behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.
It states that the livestock in the field would be killed, this should reveal to us that there were some inside and some outside.
That is how we can have more “livestock” here in the plague of hail.
20 Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses,
21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.
There were some who showed their faith in God and saved their animals.
There were others who’s faith in Pharaoh killed their animals and servants.
Hail wasn’t normal for the area.
Neither were storms.
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.”
23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.
The violence of the hail storm was nothing short of what we would call an act of God!
Pharaoh knew he would have to appeal to Moses again to remove the plague.
27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.
28 Plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.
Pharaoh has no excuses!
30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.”
31 (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.
32 But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.)
33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth.
34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
Pharaoh sinned again by lying to Moses, he wasn’t going to let the Hebrews go.
Conclusion:
In Exodus Chapter 9 we may focus on the Plagues which brought death; but in these encounters with Pharaoh God is revealing:
He is all Authority and Power
and Pharaoh along with all of his servants can lay down their pride and accept by faith Yahweh.
How many times has God revealed His authority or power in your life?
Did you respond by faith or did you harden your heart?
Soften your heart today, ask Him forgiveness and submit to Him
Whether it is for salvation
Or for His will in your life instead of your own.
If you have humbled yourself before Him, maybe your given this message to bring to someone else to help them.
Pray about it.
See what God will do through you.
- Pray.
