MONDAY, JANUARY 28
Exodus 7-11
Psalms 9:9-10

“The LORD also will be a refuge
for the oppressed …”

SUMMARY OF LESSONS FROM THE PLAGUES

It is useful to have an overview of the lessons to learn from the ten plagues: “… that ye may know how that I am the LORD” (Exod 10:2). Right from the start, Pharaoh challenged the LORD (Exod 5:2). It was god against God. And the LORD responded by showing him that He was the Supreme God by crushing one Egyptian god after another. The LORD knew how Pharaoh would behave throughout (Exod 7:4), and He planned to use his stubbornness to show forth His powerful miracles. To prove to the Egyptians (Exod 8:22) and to the world (Exod 9:16) that He was the Almighty God of this earth. Pharaoh’s stubbornness allowed the LORD to show forth His power through the plagues (Exod 10:1). He also would use it to show the Hebrews who their God was (Exod 6:1-8). He was a faithful covenant keeping God, and the omnipotent God. While the plagues would judge the unbelieving, at the same time it strengthened the Hebrews’ faith. The Egyptian god-king and their gods could not protect the Egyptians at all. The LORD showed the Hebrews His power and protection over them.

Let us not fear or trust in the gods of this world. Let us not worship grades, success, fame, money, our children, and even health. God will show us that these cannot help us. Also, let us remember in trials, He is still the God who controls the elements of nature, the hearts of man and beasts. If He has allowed difficulties, it is so that we will learn, experience His power and protection, and thus grow in faith. Let us not be impatient and give up. Have you obeyed some command in God’s Word only to encounter more difficulties in life? Yes, He can allow trials to intensify, but He also can cause the swarms of danger to bypass you. Moses’ faith and courage grew and he no longer needed Aaron but faced Pharaoh head on himself. His walk deepened with the LORD as the people and Pharaoh rejected him. If he did not press on, he would not have seen God’s power too. May these chapters increase our faith in God!

THOUGHT: The LORD has His timing and purpose as I obey Him.
PRAYER: LORD, help me to persevere and trust Thee all the way.