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?

First Plague: Water Becomes Blood

First Plague: Water Becomes Blood

Exodus 7: ¹⁴ So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. ¹⁵ Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. ¹⁶ And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear! ¹⁷ Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. ¹⁸ And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.” ’ ”

 

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GOD spoke to Moses and let him know that Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the people go. GOD gave Moses a warning to tell Pharaoh what HE was about to do.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to use a structure of Warning, Action and Response (WAR).
• GOD was taking down a mindset versus a particular nation.
• Pharaoh would have to go through nine other plagues.

 

To take down a mindset, GOD would give Pharaoh a warning. HE would then take action. And Pharaoh would respond. Pharaoh was at WAR with GOD and fighting a losing battle. The first plague was turning the river into blood.

 

This was the lifeline of commerce, cleanliness and food. I also believe that GOD was responding to a previous Pharaoh who demanded that the Hebrew male children be thrown in the river. GOD would use the WAR pattern nine more times until Pharaoh let the people go. This was the first warning.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to Pharaoh?
• Have you ever been too scared to heed a warning and ultimately got hit with the problem?
• Is it possible that GOD is warning you to surrender your plan to HIM?

Dead Right

 

Dead Right

Revelation 16: ⁸ Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to burn people with its fiery heat. ⁹ They were burned by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God, who has authority over these plagues. But they would not turn from their sins and praise his greatness.

 

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“You may not want to do what you are about to do” was the warning I received. But I felt strongly that “I” could do the thing I was trying to do. I did the thing and was able to complete what I set out to do, but the consequences of what I did were not accounted for.

 

• I was right, but ended up figuratively dead.
• I was able, but did not take into consideration the consequences of my actions.
• I did what I did and said what I said, but ended up in a worse situation than before the warning.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the fourth angel pour out the fourth bowl containing GOD’s anger out on the sun. People were burned and they knew this was a curse from GOD, yet they refused to turn from their sins. They may have figured that they would be in control by rebelling against GOD directly.

 

My Observations:

• My heart needs to be protected from getting cold and stony against GOD.
• Whatever is in my heart will come out in my words and actions.
• GOD sees my heart and want to change it to follow HIM in a loving way.

 

I can do anything, but is anything I do good for me? I mean, if I rebel against GOD, is that a good idea? No! Unfortunately, there are times when I don’t want to listen to the warnings or even the corrections sent by GOD.

 

Fortunately for me, HE sends HIS soft correction to me and allows me to come back to HIM. HE always accepts my ask for forgiveness and restores me fully. Anyone who refuses to ask GOD for forgiveness may experience the pain of HIS wrath.

 

Challenge

• Why did the writer include who had the authority?
• Have you ever done something wrong and deserved to be corrected?
• Will you seek GOD’s correction in your life so HE can forgive you and set the wonderful plan HE has for you into action today?

Stubbornness is Not Permanent

 

Stubbornness is Not Permanent

Romans 11: ²⁵ There is a secret truth, my friends, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God. ²⁶ And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says,

 

“The Savior will come from Zion
    and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.
²⁷ I will make this covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

 

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Speeding past the “slow” drivers felt great until I hit traffic. I was getting impatient. I saw an empty lane and wondered why no one used it to “get ahead” of the other cars. I darted into the empty lane only to see there was an accident ahead in that lane. Wanting to get back in “my” spot in the lane I left, the other drivers would not let me in. I recognized a few cars I had sped past.

 

• There were times when I was too stubborn to change.
• There were times when I needed to change but lacked surrender.
• There were times when I thought I should be first but wound up last.

 

Paul explains GOD’s grace for the Israelites. The nation will someday believe that JESUS was and is the Messiah. But, instead of being first in line to receive GOD’s blessings, they will have to wait until the full number of Gentiles comes to GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to know that the last will be first and the first will be last.
• GOD wants me to understand that HE can outwait any stubbornness I may hold onto.
• GOD wants me to surrender to HIM because HE has all the answers.

 

Stubbornness in one case refers to not following GOD the way HE wants me to. I mean, I can get mad at HIS timing, methods and lack of doing things “my” way or I can surrender my life to HIS timing, methods and doing things “HIS” way.

 

GOD wants me to say “JESUS is LORD”, “JESUS died for me” and “JESUS is alive” every day. I cannot be too stubborn to mention HIM daily. I surrender my life to HIM and HIS grace is sufficient.

 

• Are you battling GOD with something?
• Are you too stubborn to see you need to surrender, even when you thought you already had?
• Will you allow GOD to open your eyes to the true Messiah, namely JESUS, who will guide you to HIS purpose today?

Can, Will and Does

 

Can, Will and Does

Romans 9: ¹⁴ Shall we say, then, that God is unjust? Not at all. ¹⁵ For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish.” ¹⁶ So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God's mercy. ¹⁷ For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, “I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world.” ¹⁸ So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

 

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Hearing how others had “gotten away” with stealing. I tried my hand at it. I didn’t have enough money to pay for the pants and I really wanted to join the organization that required all of us to wear the same thing.

 

I lingered around the pants for what seemed like hours but it was probably minutes. I gave the pants to another person who was also joining the organization and he walked out the door. The deed was done.

 

• There were times when I thought I was getting away with something.
• There were times when I thought I was in control.
• There were times when I thought I could do my sins in secret and pretend to be innocent.

 

Paul gives some hard medicine to swallow. GOD takes mercy on whom HE wishes. On the contrary, GOD makes stubborn anyone HE wishes. Is there any hope? Yes! HE gives me choice.

 

• GOD wants me to surrender my stubborn will so HIS mercy can be shown through me.
• GOD wants me to say “I need JESUS as my Savior” so HIS mercy can be multiplied on me.
• GOD wants me to believe that JESUS is the only way to have an eternal existence with HIM.

 

All seeing, all powerful and everywhere is GOD. HE can do, HE will do and does anything HE pleases. The part of me that gets angry at that statement is the sin that fights against HIM. I mean, there is a part of me that wants to be GOD. That is the part of me HE hates.

 

HE still decided to show mercy on me. Mercy means I know I am guilty and fully aware I deserve the consequence of my actions, but the forgiver throws away my sentence and says I am free to go. Looking back, I can see an incredible amount of grace and mercy HE has shown to me. I can only say thank YOU.

 

• Are you fighting GOD thinking you will win?
• Do you think your stubbornness is a good quality?
• Will you surrender your life to the Most High GOD, by believing you need JESUS as your Savior, so HE will not harden your heart any further?

Trying to Lead You

 

Trying to Lead You

Romans 2: Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? You have no excuse at all, whoever you are. For when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself. ² We know that God is right when he judges the people who do such things as these. ³ But you, my friend, do those very things for which you pass judgment on others! Do you think you will escape God's judgment? ⁴ Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent. ⁵ But you have a hard and stubborn heart, and so you are making your own punishment even greater on the Day when God's anger and righteous judgments will be revealed.

 

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“I hate sneaky, deceptive people!” I said to myself in reference to my boss. He had a habit of snooping around my desk to get new ideas he could steal. I thought of a great plan. I left a terrible idea I heard from someone else on my desk.

 

I would then “hide” around the corner and peek on occasion to see if he took the bait. I wasn’t being sneaky because I was trying to catch him, right? Wrong.

 

• There were times when I justified my judgment of people and did the same things as them.
• There were times when I did worse things than others and needed grace when I was caught.
• There were times when I blamed other people, never once looking at myself.

 

Paul had just written about those who ignore GOD, substituting evil for what GOD says is right. But then he turns to those who call themselves “righteous” by following GOD’s rules. He asks a simple question. “Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others?” He then says, passing judgment on others brings condemnation on yourself.

 

• GOD wants me to turn away from the sins “I” commit.
• GOD wants me to recognize I deserve the judgment.
• GOD wants me to notice HE is trying to lead me to repent and stop doing the things I blame other people of doing.

 

Judging others is not my job. I mean, GOD is the only one who has a heaven and a hell to place those HE chooses. Yes, GOD does want me and other people to stand up for those being harmed. HE also wants me to protect people from those who want to do evil for their pleasure.

 

BUT GOD wants me to examine myself each day to see if I am judging others and acting the same way. HE has given me a generous helping of kindness, tolerance and patience. HE wants me to combat wrong with these wonderful weapons. I am glad GOD cares enough to try to lead me back to HIS ways.

 

• Are you mad at someone?
• Do you think of how wrong “that” person is?
• Do you talk about how wrong “that” person is with your friends or other family members?
• Will you examine your own heart to see if there is hatred, bitterness, anger or resentment in it so you can ask GOD to remove it and replace it with the same love HE has for you today?

Patch it Up

Luke 12: ⁵⁷ “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?⁵⁸ When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

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“Ooo, you gonna get it!” I said to my sibling in anger. During my rage I wanted someone else to be mad at this person so I figured I would take matters to a higher authority. When I exclaimed my discontent the “judge” punished both of us. “Wait a minute. I didn’t do anything wrong” or so I thought.

• There were times when I wanted to be right and wound up being wrong.
• There were times when I wanted my adversary to be punished and I got punished instead.
• There were times when I poked out my lip and said “but they did it” and was told, “Yes but you know better.”

JESUS cuts through a litigious group who wanted “their” way at every turn. They went off to prove they were right instead of coming to an agreement. The person who dragged another to the judge could possibly wind up in trouble.

• GOD wants me to come to an agreement with those I oppose.
• GOD wants me to not be “right” all the time but be with people in an effort to have peace.
• GOD wants me to have peace with my neighbor without compromising my beliefs and values.

Sometimes by saying “You are right”, gives my adversary room to discover if they are truly right. Joining the person for the purpose of peace brings fruit that I could not imagine. GOD does not want me to violate HIS word so I can still work within my values.

HE simply wants me to review the argument and if it is not violating HIS word, then maybe I should drop the issue and not hold onto being right. Maybe the other person needs to be “right” in order to feel good that day. GOD wants me to drag people off in front of HIM for prayer, but the prayer should be for them to prosper.

• Are you seeking to be right or to be with “that” person?
• Do you want others on your side but maybe you are wrong?
• Will you stop trying to be “right” and seek peace that only comes from GOD today?

Am I building a relationship with GOD?

Exodus 33: ³ “Go up to the land that has plenty of milk and honey. But I will not go with you. You are stubborn. I might destroy you on the way.”

⁴ When the people heard those painful words, they became sad and began to sob. No one put on any jewelry.

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¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If you don’t go with us, don’t send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people? You must go with us. How else will we be different from all of the other people on the face of the earth?”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, “I will do exactly what you have asked. I am pleased with you. And I know your name. I know all about you.”

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Work was the excuse for not going to church when I was in high school. I got off my job at 3:00AM so who would go sit and listen to a boring guy speak? In college I carried my lack of church attendance forward. I was studying… okay I wasn’t studying, but I had things to do.

I wasn’t giving, helping anyone or praying but I did have a problem with how GOD was doing things. I didn’t like how HE made money and relationships disappear. What’s the purpose with church and being a goody, goody?

• When I complain I am trying to get my way.
• When I ignore GOD’s ways I say to HIM I want to be on my own.
• When I pretend to be good in order to manipulate GOD I’m fooling only myself.

GOD wants a real, honest relationship with HIM.  HE doesn’t just want sin admission, HE wants me to want to be with HIM. My heart skipped a beat when I read “GOD would not go with me because I am stubborn.” It really made me examine my motives for serving if I was serving at all.

• GOD wants me to want to serve versus serving out of obligation.
• GOD wants me to want to love others versus being miserable in my actions.
• GOD wants me to want to give versus complaining I don’t have enough.

Free will means I have a choice. GOD wants me to choose HIM but will allow me to choose a different direction. HE will actually let me go on the wrong path which is scary! I thank GOD HE has decided to stay with me and not forsake me!

• Are you being stubborn?
• Are you building a pleasing relationship with GOD or have you decided to do it your way?
• Can you talk to GOD about your sin and be candid and honest with HIM so HE can work it all out?

Being stubborn

Revelation 9: ²⁰ But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! ²¹ And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

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“Wow!” I thought to myself as I read these words.  What encouragement could I get from these words? I mean it seems like a hopeless situation for all humans. What good could possibly come out of this predicted situation?

Here are a few things I realize…

• GOD is giving me plenty of time to turn to HIM.
• GOD is giving me ample notice to turn to HIM.
• GOD is giving me full warning that if I do not turn to HIM HE will turn against me.

Many times I only want to see the loving, “forgive and forget” side of GOD, this way I can continue in the sin I desire to remain in.  I convince myself that there are no consequences for my actions because “HE will forgive me anyway.” There is a better way to look at this “win lose” situation.

• GOD understands I will sin the rest of my life but loves when I make every attempt to seek HIM.
• GOD knows when I feel like being greedy but loves when I finally sacrifice.
• GOD sees when I doubt HIM but loves when I place my dependence on HIM.
• GOD watches me try to justify my lusts but loves when I focus my energy on HIM.

The great news is JESUS did save me from myself. HE knew I would never turn to HIM so HE took the eternal consequences of my sin but that doesn't mean my relative consequence goes away.  I mean if I were to rob a bank and get shot in the process then my consequence for my action would be served.

I do not profess to understand why every sin I do is not met with immediate consequence, in fact it scares me. I do know that when I turn to GOD I am blessed ever time!

• Are you doing something GOD doesn't want you to do?
• Is your heart getting hard toward “that” person?
• Even though you are forgiven for all sins, can you turn away from some of them sometimes?
• Won’t you put your trust in GOD and know HE forgives?

What I really want is my way!

James 4: ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

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⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up

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“That sure is a nice suit” I said to my boss. I couldn’t think of anything else to say but I needed to make small talk because I wanted to get that promotion. Of course I didn’t get the promotion so I stuck my mouth out and started to act like a very deserving employee.

I ranted and threatened and do you know what… I never got promoted there.

• My fake compliment is quickly seen through by GOD.
• My wrong motive for whatever I desire is easily thwarted by GOD.
• My false humility trying to act “churchy” is effortlessly noticed by GOD and HE doesn’t like it.

GOD knows exactly what’s good for me and says “NO” to me quite often. In fact I look back on some of the things I’ve wanted and I am extremely grateful I didn’t get them. Believe it or not, I am also grateful for some of the turmoil I have been put through as well.

Getting “my way” means getting my way and I really don’t want my way when I get my way. I usually end up on a path that’s really bad for me and then I can’t find “my way” out of it. GOD has a remedy.

• HE wants me to submit “my way” to HIS way which means I can resist temptations and the Devil will leave me alone.
• GOD wants me to take a step toward HIM first and HE will come near to me.
• HE wants me to sincerely desire for things to be better for “that” person rather than trying to manipulate them to get “my way.”

GOD wants me to truly be humble, not false humility where other people tell me I’m humble. It means admitting I’m “still” a sinner and my plans will lead to the wrong place.

• Are you trying to manipulate GOD by acting good or by only listening to “godly” stuff?
• Do you think GOD can’t see through your efforts to be good for a moment and turn away from HIM when you get what you want?
• Can you let go of that thing you desire so much and let HIM decide if it is good for you or not?
• Won’t you back down and examine yourself and admit your stubbornness to GOD?