Verse for the Day, 26 June 2014.

Exodus 8:16-24  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'"  (17)  And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.  (18)  The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast.  (19)  Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.  (20)  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and 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 and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.  (22)  But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.  (23)  Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen."'"  (24)  And the LORD did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

The first three plagues, blood, gnats and frogs have come upon the land as a result of Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh’s magicians have been able to reproduce in part the first two plagues, but not third and even they acknowledge that there is a greater power at work, a work and power that is not human but divine and thus they advise Pharaoh “This is the finger of God.” One would think that Pharaoh might have listened to what his magicians said and reconsidered, but he continues on in the hardness of his heart and now leads himself and his own people into even greater suffering and loss. Up to this point both the Egyptians and Israelites have suffered as a result of these plagues, and therefore one could argue that it was a series of unfortunate events that came upon the nation of Egypt. But now God is going to act with even greater power and greater clarity, to the point that Pharaoh will have to accept that this is indeed the work of God and not nature.

Moses tells Pharaoh that God will now distinguish between the Egyptians and the Israelites, for the plagues that are still to come will be visited only upon the Egyptians. The Israelites will know the favour, protection and prosperity of God, whilst the Egyptians will suffer in great anguish and loss. As this takes place Pharaoh is clearly shown that this is God’s work; that God is the LORD in the midst of the earth, that He is the true and great God, and Pharaoh will see that the Israelites are the people of God’s favour. Thus if he continues to refuse Moses and ultimately God, then he is taking a stand against the God, the LORD of all the earth, and against the people of God’s favour. In doing so he is inviting the judgement and wrath of God, which he and all his people, the Egyptians receive.

God’s preservation and protection of the Israelites from the coming plagues would have served to greatly encourage and assure them that they were indeed the people of God’s favour and that God was working their deliverance. As believers in Jesus Christ we have that same encouragement and assurance for we shall, in the time to come, be spared, protected from the judgement and wrath of God that shall come against all the ungodly. We may know many troubles and trials in this life, and be greatly, even severely opposed and persecuted, but as we endure this opposition we can do so comforted by the fact that the day of God’s judgement is coming when all shall have to give an account. We will be spared by God because of Christ, spared from the judgement and wrath that we so justly deserve, whilst the wicked, the ungodly shall have to endure that judgement and wrath for all of eternity. In that day God shall clearly distinguish between those who are and are not His people, and all the earth shall know that He is the LORD. As comforting as that coming day of justice is, it should also cause us to pray for those who oppose us and for those who will face this just wrath, we should pray that God might bring them to salvation and spare them, as He has so graciously spared us. We should not take delight in the death and eternal sufferings of the wicked, we should desire to see them saved from a worthless and destructive way of life and be brought back to God in salvation.

Our great God we praise You today for You are the LORD of and over all the earth. We worship You for the favour You have extended towards us in making us into the people of Your favour. Through this we have received eternal comfort as we no longer fear Your judgement, but look forward to receiving Your favour in its fullest measure for all eternity. We pray for the many who do not know this favour, who refuse to acknowledge You and are storing up greater and greater wrath for themselves. We pray that in the same manner in which You showed mercy and favour to us, that You would extend mercy and favour to them, bring them into true eternal life. Amen.

Verse for the Day, 25 June 2014.

Exodus 7:1-6, “And the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.  (2)  You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. (3)  But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, (4) Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.  (5) The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them."  (6) Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them.”

Exodus 7 begins the record of the plagues that God brought against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, due to Pharaoh’s hardness of heart and refusal to let the Israelites go. There is a mysterious tension in the account of the Exodus with regards to Pharaoh’s own disobedience and hardness towards God, and the extent to which God further hardened Pharaoh’s heart. It is important that we understand that prior to God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh was is no way concerned with God, or even remotely partial or favourable to God. He believed in his own gods and as with many other Pharaoh’s before and after him, he believed himself to be a god. Pharaoh’s heart was already against and opposed towards God, his heart was already proud and hard.

Why then does God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and strike not just Pharaoh but the whole nation of Egypt with the various plagues? There are several answers, it comes as judgement against them for enslaving the Israelites and treating them in a very harsh, unjust and cruel manner. It comes as judgement against them for their idolatrous ways, bowing down to other gods and rejecting the only true and living God. However, there is a greater purpose, one that is often overlooked, note what verse 5 says, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD…” There is a missionary, Gospel purpose to this work of God.

The judgements and plagues that God sent down against all of Egypt demonstrated two crucial truths; God was greater than Pharaoh and God was greater than all the gods of Egypt. The mighty Pharaoh of Egypt and the strength of the Egyptians gods were powerless, were left utterly defeated and broken by the God of the Hebrews. Why does God do this? God does this not to pointlessly humiliate the Egyptians, but so as to show the Egyptians, Pharaoh included, who the true God is. God is essentially opening their eyes and humbling their proud idolatrous hearts through these judgements and plagues. The chief end and purpose of this is that the Egyptians might turn away from their idolatry and worship the true and living God. This is not a case of seeing whose God is bigger and stronger, it is the reality of people being saved out of idolatry and being brought a saving knowledge of the real and only God.

As we continue to read through the Bible we will see that the nation of Israel was to have this very same missionary and Gospel purpose. They were made to be God’s people, not because God was only choosing one nation, but so that through that one nation God might demonstrate to all nations the truth of who He is and thus cause many to turn to Him. Israel was to be a light to the nations, so that all the nations might know and see that the LORD is God and then come to God to worship Him, as their very own God.

We live in a world similar to that of Exodus 7, there are large numbers of people who have hardened their hearts against God and against God’s people. Some are so opposed that they will enslave, abuse, imprison and even execute those who are true believers in Christ. Many have turned aside to false gods and idols, and even more are caught up in the worship of themselves. Yet the Bible makes it clear that this missionary and Gospel purpose that was given to Israel, has now been passed on to the Church, to believers in Jesus Christ. We are the people who belong to God, not so that we might just be the privileged few, but so that through us, through our lives God might show the world that He is the only true God. God works in us and in His Church, so that the world might know that the Lord is God and that salvation is found only in Him. God gives us this work so that through our witness and conduct as the people who belong to God, people might see the truth of who God is and be drawn to Him in belief. This is a task of tremendous privilege, and yet it is one that suffers severe neglect, or is done poorly. It is tragic than many Christians become like the nation of Israel did, completely indistinguishable from the nations and people around them. Is our church like that, are you as a Christian like that?

Lord of heaven and earth, You are the only, true, living God, beside You there is no other. Thank You that You have revealed Yourself to us, so that we might know You, and not just know You, but be saved by You through the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for the missionary, Gospel work that You have given us, that we are to be the fragrance of life and the light to world, that through us You reveal Yourself to those around us and draw them to Yourself. Forgive us for neglecting this task, and for the many times we have be poor witnesses, renew our desire to be people who shine clearly with Your light, the light of the Gospel. Amen.

Verse for the Day, 23 June 2014.

Exodus 6:1-9  But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land."  (2)  God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD.  (3)  I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.  (4)  I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.  (5)  Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.  (6)  Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.  (7)  I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  (8)  I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'"  (9)  Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

After having received such a harsh response from Pharaoh, the Israelites are feeling dejected and utterly downcast. Their hopes had been raised with Moses’ arrival and the promise of deliverance, but those hopes were dash with cruelty by Pharaoh. In Exodus 6, God seeks to speak words of comfort and encouragement to them.

God restates His promise to deliver them from the land, and He points the attention of the Israelites to His previous works and promises, so as to give them the assurance that He does what He promises. God reminds them of their heritage, He had revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He had entered into a covenant with these men and made a promise to give them the land of Canaan, a covenant and promise that He has not forgotten. He reminds them that He has heard their groaning and desperate pleas for rescue, and has come now to their aid.

In verses 6-8, God makes a wonderful promise to them, He tells them of that which He is going to do. He speaks of how He will bring them out of slavery into freedom and in doing so He will reveal Himself to the Israelites, they will see and know that He is God, He is their God, they will know His salvation. Also they will see His power as He breaks the bonds and burdens of the Egyptians, as they witness His acts and works of great power. He promises to enter into a covenant with them, He will become their God and they will become His people, His promised nation, and a people belonging to God. Finally God promises to bring them into the Promised Land, and not just bring them into it, but give it to them as their very own possession. They will not be sojourners in the Promised Land, it will be their land.

This is a remarkable promise, one that should have greatly encouraged and assured the Israelites. But in the midst of their harsh slavery they were unable to find encouragement and assurance, if anything these words seemed too good to be true and thus false, more hurtful than helpful, as they feared they would never come to pass, why taunt us with these promises, when they are a false and vain hope.

Often we are the same as the Israelites, we refuse to be comforted by God’s Word, God’s promises, God’s presence and God’s works. We can find ourselves in the midst of deep and great distress refusing the comfort of God, refusing to find encouragement and assurance in God’s Word. We look at our situation, the source and cause of our distress and allow it to determine our reality, both present and future. We allow it so dominate our minds, hearts and sight, so that we can see any further than this trial. It is tragic that in these times we can accuse God of failing to be compassionate, concerned or even present, we think that He is not coming to comfort us, and is deaf to our prayers. This could not be further from the truth, God’s Word shouts out words of comfort, encouragement and assurance, yet we will not hear them, receive them, or believe them. God’s Word reminds us of God’s promises, works and presence, yet we will not be comforted by them, we think them to be false and vain hopes. It is in these times that we need to lift our heads and look up to God and realise that God is the only one that determines reality and controls the future. Thus the trials may threaten, the burdens may be great, but they do not control our future. Though all may be darkness and distress now, that doesn’t mean that it will be darkness and distress forever more because this trial has defeated God. We need to take ourselves to these words of comfort, to the true and certain promises of God, we need to bathe our minds and hearts in them, clinging on to them, meditating upon them and trusting that they will come to pass in the sovereignty of God.

Our great God, we thank You that Your Word and Your promises are not defeated by our trials and distress, but continue to stand and shine out with hope and comfort even in the midst of the deepest and blackest darkness. We pray that You might help us to bask in the light of Your Word and Your promises, instead of dwelling in the darkness of our distress. Help us to cling fast to Your Word and look forward to Your deliverance, no matter how long it might take to come. Amen

Verse for the Day, 20 June 2014.

Exodus 5:1-9, “Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"  (2)  But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go."  (3)  Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."  (4)  But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens."  (5)  And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!"  (6)  The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen,  (7)  "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves.  (8)  But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'  (9)  Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

Exodus 5 records for us Moses and Aaron’s first meeting before Pharaoh so as to request the release of the Israelites. The whole nation of Israel waited in eager anticipation for the outcome and the news of their release. They had joyfully received the news from Moses that God had appeared to him and spoke of how He would deliver them from the hands of the Egyptians and bring them into the Promised Land. Thus they were eagerly anticipating a positive outcome, surely Pharaoh would have to bow to the command and instruction of God.

However, Pharaoh not only refused to release the Israelites, he denied the authority of their God and he increased their labour, oppressing them all the more. Exodus 5 ends with the people in even greater distress than before Moses came along, and as a result they come against Moses and God. What the Israelites failed to consider is, firstly, the sovereignty of God and the wisdom of God’s timing. They needed only to remind themselves of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, who endured great hardship and waited many years for God’s promise to come to pass, but when it did, they could not fault the process, nor the timing. Secondly, they underestimated the hardness and sinfulness of a pagan, idolatrous Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not believe in the God of the Hebrews, why should he believe in the God of a nation of slaves? Thirdly, and most importantly, they needed to learn to trust in God, and Pharaoh needed to learn that the God of Israel, is a God not to be trifled with and is in fact the only true God. None of these lessons would have been learnt if success had come at the very first attempt. The Israelites needed to understand that this denial of their release and increase of their burdens did not constitute a failure on God’s part, rather they needed to continue to trust in God’s plan and promise.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we need to learn the very same lessons. We may pray to God in the midst of a certain situation and yet the answer that we desire doesn’t come, or an answer may come, but be the opposite of what we desired. This doesn’t constitute failure on God’s part, nor does it mean that God does not love us, we need to learn to trust in the answer He has given whether it be yes, wait or no. Secondly, we cannot expect to receive a favourable response for those who do not believe in God, or despise Him. As Christians we struggle with rejection, we are greatly confused and disheartened when people turn away from the Gospel we proclaim, or walk away from God. Yet we need to understand that we live in a sinful world, where the evil one has blinded the eyes, blocked the ears and hardened the hearts of all those who have not been saved by God. To them the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a foolishness, and thus they will reject it until God intervenes and open their eyes, unblocks their ears and softens their hearts. We need to learn the same lesson that the Israelites and Moses needed to learn, in Pharaoh’s denial of God and rejection of their request, in the denial and rejection of others to the Gospel, we are not the ones being rejected, it is God that is being rejected. Thus our grief should not be for ourselves, that we have been rejected, we should grieve for those who reject God and His Gospel. The Israelites grieved for themselves, when they should have grieved for Pharaoh, praying the God would soften his heart, for in reacting in such a manner Pharaoh was storing up greater and greater wrath that would come against him. When in our sharing of the Gospel, we are rejected, we should not grieve for ourselves but for those who have rejected Christ, for that day will stand in condemnation of them.

Merciful Father, we praise You that You are an unfailing God, the purposes that You decree come to pass, but do so in accordance to Your sovereign will. We pray that You would keep us from become so self-centred that we accuse You of failing or being slow to act. We pray also that You would help us to understand the world in which we live, the urgency of the task You have given us, and to grieve, not for ourselves, but for those who reject the message of salvation through Christ. Amen.