Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." Psalm 33:8
Text: Exodus 9 : 13-15, 17
THE ARROGANCE OF PHARAOH REBUKED!
Six terrible plagues had been unleashed on Pharaoh and his people! Still, there was no response from the arrogant ruler of Egypt! The LORD minced no words when he sent Moses to deliver a strong word of rebuke to the Pharaoh!
“As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that
you will not let them go.”
EXODUS 9:17
Pharaoh’s sin and foolishness was made plain for all to see! It was his exaltation of himself that made him so hard and arrogant. Even if Egypt lay perishing, he was not moved by the plight of the suffering of his subjects! Pharaoh was too full of himself to obey God! He had to be humbled further!
NONE LIKE GOD!
Did Pharaoh think that God had exhausted all His powers after six plagues? God’s purpose was not yet fulfilled. Worse was to come!
“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Rise early in the morning
and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD
God of the Hebrews: ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me,
for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart,
and on your servants and on your people, that you may know
that there is none like Me in all the earth.'”
EXODUS 9:13-14
Did Pharaoh think that just because he was ruler of a large and sprawling empire, there was none like him? He had despised the God of the Hebrews when Moses first met him! He went on to defy the LORD when he kept refusing to release the children of Israel from bondage!
Would Pharaoh listen only when God’s plagues impacted his heart? Would it take something drastic and deadly to happen before he acknowledged that there was none like God in all the earth? Who was Pharaoh before this great and awesome God?
GOD HOLDING BACK THE FULNESS OF HIS POWER
Did Pharaoh realize that all this while, God had been holding back the fullness of His power, even though the plagues had been terrifying?
“Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you
and your people with pestilence, then you would have
been cut off from the earth.”
EXODUS 9:15
Pharaoh’s magicians were nonplussed as they recognized the awesome power that God possessed! It was beyond their ken. And God had not expended ALL his power!