The plagues du jour are locusts, darkness and death.
Somehow if the words were available in ancient Egypt, Pharaoh might have said something like "lions and tigers and bears; Oh my!"
The events of these days give us a look at God's awsome power, plan in general, orgainzation, attention to us, love of Israel, and specific plan for salvation.
Think of a hardened heart. No, not in the clinical sense of hardening of the arteries or a loss of compliance due to excess work due to high blood pressure, diabetes, or other disease; but rather a hardening due to among other things, sin and unrepentence.
Pharaoh's actions toward the Hebrew was perhaps motivated by fear, pride or power; nonetheless, his actions were based on dealing shrewdly with the Hebrew people. This shrewdness aomong other things lead him to harden his heart through the first 5 plagues. It was God who hardened Pharaoh's heart durning the last 5 plagues. A hard heart is a filter that prevents the individual from seeing truth, acting truthfully, or appreciating spiritual fruit.
It has been said that by expecting different results from the same behavior may, in part, lead to physical or psychologic disease. Imagine Pharaoh; with his behavior of promising to allow Isralite freedom if the plague is lifted, turning back on his word, only to have his nation subject to a subsequent plague. This lack of repentance, and downward path through the plagues ultimately led to death of the firstborn.
Enter into our reading the plague of death. You know of this plague, so far in our readings mankind has been under the plague since the last half of our first day's reading when Adam ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Look at God's plan for salvation in this situation:
There is a plan, a meal, they were told to
Take from sheep or goats 1 year old male
without defect
Care for lamb for 14 days
Slaughter lamb at twilight
Place blood on sides and tops of doors
Roast with bitter herbs
Eat in haste, unlevened bread, tunic
tucked in, sandals on, staff in hand
Burn the leftovers before morning
All who did not particpate in the passover were visited by the angel of death and the firstborn died.
Pharaoh let the Israelites go and asked for the Lord's blessing. God gave instructions for foreigners to participate in the passover.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28 18-20 NIV
Thoughts:
What might be hardening your heart? Will you tell Jesus, ask forgivness and for the Spirit's strength to repent?
Have you been led to new life and freedom from death by faith in God's Perfect Lamb, who died in your place on the cross and rose again or are you still among Pharaoh's family?
How would you tell a "foreigner" about the passover God provided for you in Jesus?
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