More Powerful Than Magic

More Powerful Than Magic

Exodus 7: ⁸ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ⁹ “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ” ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

 

¹¹ But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. ¹² For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. ¹³ And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

 

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Moses and Aaron did a lot of walking in their lives. They were eighty and eighty-three, respectively. They walked down Mount Hebron or Sinai and went back to Pharaoh. They performed the miracle of the rod turning into a snake. The Egyptian magicians easily did the same. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up all their rods.

 

My Observations:

• GOD demonstrated that there is an evil layer of power that is higher than humanity, but lower than HIS power.
• GOD knew Pharaoh would ask for Moses and Aaron to prove their power.
• GOD was in the process of dismantling a belief that people could be gods.

 

This set of scripture scares me. It shows there is an evil layer of power that humans can tap into that helps them do supernatural things. BUT GOD is not scared at all. HE was about to easily defeat the Egyptians and can easily protect you and me.

 

Magic is real, BUT GOD’s power is above magic. We try to reduce GOD to magical powers as shown in Hollywood, BUT HE is so much more. HE is all knowing, all seeing, all powerful and lives everywhere. HE cannot be stopped, defeated or opposed. Aaron’s rod is a demonstration of how GOD allows us to be part of HIS plan. Any magic was defeated because of GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the magicians he faced?
• Have you ever encountered strange occurrences that seemed to oppose your efforts to simply serve and worship GOD?
• Can you focus on the almighty GOD to protect you, guide you and raise you up?

 

Zilpah’s Sixteen

Zilpah’s Sixteen

Genesis 46: ¹⁶ The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. ¹⁷ The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister. And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel. ¹⁸ These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.

 

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Leah had children, but wanted more. She became barren and decided to “own” her handmaid’s children as her own. Laban, her father had given her Zilpah as her handmaid, or property. Zilpah and Jacob had children.

 

My Observations:

• Zilpah was born in the land of the Philistines and picked up some of their ways.
• Zilpah’s beliefs influenced her children.
• Leah, Zilpah, Rachel and Bilhah all believed in magic and ancestor worship.

 

As GOD was moving the tribes of Israel to Egypt, HE also was moving a variety of beliefs. Slavery was a belief that was deep rooted. Zilpah may have considered herself as property, because she was told she was. She easily had children when Leah went barren.

 

Leah and Rachel had a sibling rivalry that also involved the handmaids. When one handmaid had a child the other was told to have another child. This rivalry and belief in slavery would shape the nation of Israel in a not so good way.  GOD knew who would truly follow HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Zilpah’s children?
• What limiting beliefs have you possibly picked up?
• Is it possible that you may have placed limits on GOD because you are forcing HIM to act a certain way versus how HE is blessing you?

Not Me

Not Me

Acts 8: ⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ¹¹ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

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“Who broke this?” was the question angrily asked to me. “Not me” I answered quickly, trying to protect myself. “Who left the window open while it was raining?” “Not me” was my go to answer that I had become good at saying. “Who cleaned up?” was asked in a delighted tone. “Me!” I said proudly as I beckoned for the credit.

• There were times when I wanted to be noticed for good thing “I” did.
• There were times when I did not want to accept responsibility for things others considered bad.
• There were times when I enjoyed the spotlight when things were going well.

Simon was a sorcerer who was able to do things people could not explain away with science. The people of Samaria held him in great esteem, as did he. But when Philip arrived and spoke about JESUS, they turned to belief in the Savior. Even Simon had to believe.

• GOD wants me to point my life to HIM.
• GOD wants me to give GOD all the credit.
• GOD wants me to claim that HE is the only one who is great.

“Not me” are great words to use when it comes to GOD. “Who saved me?” “Not me” will be the answer, because JESUS did that. “Who gave me gifts and talents?” “Not me” is the answer again, for all my abilities come from HIM.

GOD gave me everything I have and placed me in places I am amazed at. HE is my provider, protector and pursuer. I am grateful HE goes after me when I run away from HIM.

• Are you trying to get likes and congratulations from people?
• Do you seek public affirmation for what “you” do?
• Will you start giving GOD credit for your gifts and talents so people will believe in JESUS today?

Nothing is Impossible

Matthew 17: ¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

¹⁷ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

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Faith is a strange thing. It is not enveloped in my lust, desires or sight. It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. But what should I hope for? Should I hope to be the richest person on the planet? Should I hope that a person be healed from a terminal illness?

• GOD loves when I align my desires with HIS.
• GOD sees my tiny faith and couples it to HIS.
• GOD gets excited when I use my faith for something HE believes in.

Sometimes I thought faith was having magical powers to do some impossible things… quite the contrary. GOD wants me to believe HE can do anything and have the faith to watch the situation unfold in HIS timing.

• Faith takes time to grow as I account for the many times GOD has rescued me.
• Faith means I watch GOD at work daily to understand just how amazing HE is.
• Faith is quite powerful and only comes from GOD.

When I think “I” have to have faith I fail. When I believe GOD can do anything and I rely on HIM I succeed abundantly!

• Do you have faith in GOD?
• Do you believe HE can do anything?
• Will you allow HIM to handle the situation, HIS way in HIS time?