Exodus 10
Today's Passage: Exodus 10
The National Geographic describes Pharaoh’s role as the religious leader of Egypt, “Pharaoh was considered the divine intermediary between the gods and Egyptians. Maintaining religious harmony and participating in ceremonies were part of the pharaoh’s role as head of the religion. Pharaoh was considered a god—his primary responsibility was maintaining order or “harmony.” As we open Exodus 10 and read about plagues 8 & 9, Pharaoh clearly has no godly power to maintain anything. Looking at the chart below from the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Israel’s God created disorder in every area of responsibility of Egypt’s gods. Whether or not the plagues were a direct “attack” on Egypt’s gods is fun to speculate. However, they did show the ineptitude of Pharaoh.
The power and might of an ancient empire was considered directly related to the power of that nation’s gods. Israel, a stateless nation, had a God more powerful than that of Egypt. It’s hard to overstate how impossible that idea was in the minds of the people in that day. What stands out to me in this passage is the bargaining with God that Pharaoh attempts to do. As stated, he’s holding no cards, he has no power. Yet, in verses 9–11 Pharaoh tried to find a middle ground. He would let the men go, but not sons and daughters. Then again, in verse 24, all the people may go, but not the livestock.
How often do we do the same thing? “Lord, if you would just…, then I would…” God calls us to full obedience, and we justify our sin with half measures. We have no power or dominion over anything in our lives. Everything about us is subject to God’s power and plan. Yet, we fail to surrender things that aren’t even ours to begin with. We struggle to trust God with our time, because other facets of life seem more urgent or important to being obedient in community or serving. We struggle to trust God with our plans. We struggle to trust God with our resources. We struggle to trust God in so many areas because every sin in our lives begins with distrust in power and provision of the Lord. At its core, sin says, “I know better and I can have better than what God is doing.”
God has entrusted much to us to steward and then we fail to trust him enough to give it back when He asks for it through His Word. Like Pharaoh we harden our hearts, and the Lord gives us over to our sin in order that, though disaster may come, we might know repentance. As it says in verse 2, let us be like the children and grandchildren learning through these events that Yahweh is Lord of all Creation. Let us also personally surrender and let Yahweh be Lord of our lives as well.
Written By: Tyler Short
The National Geographic describes Pharaoh’s role as the religious leader of Egypt, “Pharaoh was considered the divine intermediary between the gods and Egyptians. Maintaining religious harmony and participating in ceremonies were part of the pharaoh’s role as head of the religion. Pharaoh was considered a god—his primary responsibility was maintaining order or “harmony.” As we open Exodus 10 and read about plagues 8 & 9, Pharaoh clearly has no godly power to maintain anything. Looking at the chart below from the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Israel’s God created disorder in every area of responsibility of Egypt’s gods. Whether or not the plagues were a direct “attack” on Egypt’s gods is fun to speculate. However, they did show the ineptitude of Pharaoh.
The power and might of an ancient empire was considered directly related to the power of that nation’s gods. Israel, a stateless nation, had a God more powerful than that of Egypt. It’s hard to overstate how impossible that idea was in the minds of the people in that day. What stands out to me in this passage is the bargaining with God that Pharaoh attempts to do. As stated, he’s holding no cards, he has no power. Yet, in verses 9–11 Pharaoh tried to find a middle ground. He would let the men go, but not sons and daughters. Then again, in verse 24, all the people may go, but not the livestock.
How often do we do the same thing? “Lord, if you would just…, then I would…” God calls us to full obedience, and we justify our sin with half measures. We have no power or dominion over anything in our lives. Everything about us is subject to God’s power and plan. Yet, we fail to surrender things that aren’t even ours to begin with. We struggle to trust God with our time, because other facets of life seem more urgent or important to being obedient in community or serving. We struggle to trust God with our plans. We struggle to trust God with our resources. We struggle to trust God in so many areas because every sin in our lives begins with distrust in power and provision of the Lord. At its core, sin says, “I know better and I can have better than what God is doing.”
God has entrusted much to us to steward and then we fail to trust him enough to give it back when He asks for it through His Word. Like Pharaoh we harden our hearts, and the Lord gives us over to our sin in order that, though disaster may come, we might know repentance. As it says in verse 2, let us be like the children and grandchildren learning through these events that Yahweh is Lord of all Creation. Let us also personally surrender and let Yahweh be Lord of our lives as well.
Written By: Tyler Short
1 Comment
I think one of my greatest struggles with trusting God is when chapters close, especially with friendships. Why do they have to end? Sometimes it’s geographical, sure. But why do relationships with some people change from positive/friendly to conflictual/antagonistic? The thing that’s helped me most with this is someone telling me that God is the best StoryWriter; and He places certain people in our lives for certain chapters, others for other chapters - and that they belong where God put them, and He knows why.