WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Exodus 7:1-7
Numbers 12:6-8

“Thou shalt speak all
that I command thee …”

GOD AGAINST GODS

The LORD said to Moses, “… See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet” (Exod 7:1). Moses would stand in God’s position. Aaron was Moses’ prophet because Aaron was supposed to say what Moses said (as God commanded) to Aaron. The LORD forewarned Moses that Pharaoh would not listen to him. But He reminded Moses that it was not due to him but because God would harden Pharaoh’s heart as he performed the many miracles. Ultimately, the LORD told Moses, the Egyptians would know very clearly that “I am the LORD” (Exod 7:5) who had done all these and brought His people out of the land. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three at that time. Pharaoh was on a collision course with Moses. He saw himself as a god and hence challenged this God of the Hebrew slaves saying, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice” (Exod 5:2). In his mind if he was already ruling the Hebrew slaves, then he himself must be a greater god than JEHOVAH. The Egyptians had to learn that JEHOVAH the great “I AM” alone was indeed the one and only Supreme God and that all other gods were false. But it was also very critical that Moses and God’s people saw, experienced, and knew this intimately for themselves. They had to be prepared for the journey before them. God would use this period to reveal Himself to them.

This is the same for us today. The gods of this world challenge our God daily to make us fear that if we do not kowtow to them, we will suffer and fail in life. Know that God will allow certain trials so that we will know Him and of His power more. This is to prepare us for the greater challenges which He knows are coming our way along life’s journey. Every trial and deliverance will strengthen our faith to trust Him when the trials grow greater. This can come at any age, even at old age like Moses, and during any phase of life. But if we run away from facing it, we will not know deliverance, and we will not grow.

THOUGHT: What god am I slave to today that I still fear?
PRAYER: LORD, may each deliverance increase my faith in Thee!