Fourth Plague: Flies

Fourth Plague: Flies

Exodus 8: ²⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ²¹ Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. ²² And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. ²³ I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ ” 

 

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GOD returns to HIS Warning Action Response (WAR) structure by giving Pharaoh another warning through Moses. HE told Moses to meet Pharaoh early in the morning when he comes out to the water and warn him to let HIS people go that they may serve HIM. If Pharaoh would not comply, GOD would send swarms of flies.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave Pharaoh the fourth warning to let HIS people go to serve HIM.
• GOD gave Pharaoh twenty-four hours to comply.
• GOD told Pharaoh what would happen if he did not comply.

 

Flies were not worshiped by the Egyptians, but they were revered as tenacious. This is similar to a sports team being named after an animal. One fly would be admired for its bothersome nature. But what would happen when billions of flies would be released.

 

GOD wanted HIS people to serve HIM versus Pharaoh. The plague of the flies was not lethal. GOD never said, “Or you will die.” HE was warning Pharaoh that HE would use what they revered as tenacious to show how stubborn they were being. There is a difference between tenacity and stubbornness. The WAR against GOD would prove futile.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the warning HE gave Pharaoh?
• Have you ever refused to do something GOD wanted you to do or surrender?
• Is GOD lovingly changing your mindset by allowing the same trial to repeat in your life?

World’s Best Isn’t Good Enough

World’s Best Isn’t Good Enough

Genesis 47: ²⁷ So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. ²⁸ And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. ²⁹ When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”

 

And he said, “I will do as you have said.”

 

³¹ Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.

 

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After living in the land of Egypt for seventeen years, Israel spoke to Joseph. His one request was to be buried outside of Egypt, back in the land of his fathers.

 

My Observations:

• Goshen was the best land Egypt had to offer and the Israelites prospered more than they ever had.
• Israel and Joseph got to spend a great amount of time with each other during the seventeen years he was there.
• Israel saw the ways of the Egyptians and did not want any parts of it, so he made Joseph promise to bury him with Abraham and Isaac.

 

Israel’s request was a strong rejection of the Egyptian ways. Egyptians regarded Pharaoh as a god. They believed in multiple gods and worshiped the sun and even frogs. Israel had spoken to the one and true GOD. I believe he had encountered the preincarnate JESUS.

 

Israel’s desire to be physically buried near his fathers was highly symbolic. He made Joseph place his hand under his thing, similar to Abraham’s oath he made his servant take. This is something Joseph would never forget! Goshen represents wealth and the best. But the world’s best falls short of GOD’s glory.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Israel making Joseph take an oath?
• Are you pursuing the world’s best, thinking it will save you from your current situation?
• Have you placed a priority of obtaining the world and watching a little piece of your soul go away in the pursuit?

Undeserved Favor Again

Undeserved Favor Again

Genesis 47: ⁵ Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. ⁶ The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”

 

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After Joseph’s brothers told Pharaoh that they were shepherds, Pharaoh told Joseph to give them the “best of the land.” He also asked if there were others and if so, make them chief herdsmen.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph’s brothers hated him, BUT GOD showed them favor despite their actions.
• Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, BUT GOD raised Joseph to rule over Egypt.
• Joseph’s brothers lied about what they did as a cover up, BUT GOD blessed them to have the best land in Egypt during a famine that was causing people to starve.

 

There was nothing the brothers did to deserve this much favor. BUT GOD used their evil for good. This is an important lesson for us. We may talk bad about oppressors or avoid patching up a relationship, thinking we are doing the right thing.

 

GOD’s ways are higher than our ways. HE sees solutions way beyond the current situation. HE gave grace and favor to people who could care less about changing. HE did this for the ultimate purpose of saving you and me. If HE wiped out evil people, there would be no human who could open the scroll that sentenced Satan and redeemed humans. GOD sees around our shortcomings to achieve a greater purpose. That’s favor.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the favorable statement given by Pharaoh?
• Have you ever received favor and thought it was because you were temporarily being good?
• Can you praise GOD today for the undeserved favor in your life?

Moved to the Best

 

Moved to the Best

Genesis 46: ²⁸ Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen. ²⁹ So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.

 

³⁰ And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

 

³¹ Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’ ³³ So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ ³⁴ that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

 

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Jacob sent Judah as the guide to Goshen. All of their possessions were loaded on carts and their herds had to walk to Egypt. Joseph came out to be reunited with his father. He then told his brothers what to say in order to live in Egypt peacefully.

 

My Observations:

• The move to Egypt took a long time because seventy people and their cattle had to walk.
• Israel was delighted to see Joseph alive!
• Joseph gave the brothers insight into Egyptian culture from his vast experience with them.

 

Being reunited with Jacob was the pinnacle of Joseph’s life. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that he would ever see his father again. Jacob may have felt the same way. BUT GOD orchestrated a strange move that brought Israel to Egypt.

 

Goshen was a land made for cattle and sheep. The flocks would flourish there if the right people tended to them. Joseph told his brothers that shepherds are loathed, so tell the Egyptians that you tend livestock. He wanted them to put a positive spin on their occupation to live in the land in peace. GOD used what was meant for evil to bring good to the p[people of Israel.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about what Joseph did and said to Israel?
• Have you ever got a new occupation and did not know what to say?
• Is GOD using your experience to move you to a new occupation where HIS plan will continue through you?

Undeserved Favor

Undeserved Favor

¹⁴ Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

 

¹⁶ Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. ¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the ^[c]fat of the land. ¹⁹ Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. ²⁰ Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

 

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During Joseph’s big reveal of his identity to his brothers, his weeping was so loud that all the Egyptians around him could hear. News made it to Pharaoh’s house making him aware that Joseph had long-lost brothers. Pharaoh told his brothers that he would give them the best land.

 

My Observations:

• Pharoah saw the power of GOD through Joseph and probably wanted more power so he gave the brothers the best land.
• Pharaoh was inviting towards Joseph’s family possibly for his own selfish reasons, but little did he know it was part of GOD’s plan.
• Joseph’s family was about to experience a luxurious lifestyle despite their hateful, jealous, lying and blaming ways.

 

Jacob, who was renamed to Israel, was a deceiver. His son’s murdered a town of men and raided the town of everything. They also planned out the murder of their own brother. BUT GOD made a promise to Abraham that HE would keep. HE saw the sins of Israel, his son’s sins, your sins and mine and forgave us through belief in JESUS.

 

Sometimes we try to think that life can be “fair,” but if it were, we would already be eternally condemned. We don’t want fair, we want grace and mercy. Joseph’s pain was now turned into provision for his entire family. Even Pharaoh, who looked at himself as a god, recognized the power of the MOST HIH GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Pharaoh’s decree?
• Have you ever experienced undeserved favor?
• Is your focus on blame or blessings from GOD?

Excited to be Reunited

Excited to be Reunited

Genesis 45: ⁹ “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. ¹⁰ You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

 

¹² “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

 

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After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, he told them to “hurry up” and get his father.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph had not seen his father in decades and was filled with excitement!
• Joseph gave his brothers words that should fill Israel up with excitement.
• Joseph made sure to mention to Israel that GOD would make the famine last another five years, so that he would not refuse.

 

GOD was moving the twelve tribes of Israel to the promised land and no one knew what HE was doing. HE made the famine and HE raised Joseph to a position of power to enable the movement of his brothers to Egypt which was near the promised land. Israel and his sons would not have moved otherwise.

 

Joseph was so excited that he could hardly wait! He was put in a position where he had plenty to provide for his entire family and their families. This reunion was ordained by GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s commends to his brothers?
• Have you ever wondered if you will see GOD’s deliverance?
• What famine are you in and how is GOD using it to deliver you and HIS people?