Day 33 – Exodus 10-12

Talking Points

• God unleashes the 9th and 10th judgments on Egypt.
• God tells Moses “Pharaoh will not listen to you so My wonders will be multiplied” (11:9).
• The Passover account — a very profound picture of God’s work of salvation takes place. In it, we see the judgment of God tempered by His grace and salvation. We see much foreshadowing of our salvation through the final Passover Lamb, Jesus. It is amazing to see how God was always working out His plan of redemption, teaching people the need for a lamb and to look to the Lamb.
• Introduced in God’s dealings with Pharaoh is the subject of God “hardening” hearts. There are complex implications in how we interpret this narrative. If God hardens some people’s hearts, do we truly have free will? What does this mean in matters of salvation? Does God prevent some people from believing or even seeing the truth? If so, doesn’t that impugn the character of God? These are important questions to consider.
  
  First, understand that these are complicated concepts that must be prayerfully considered, using the full counsel of God’s Word. Second, be sure what is revealed does matter — greatly so.
  
  Here are some points to keep in mind:
  Before God hardens his heart, Pharaoh is sinful, rebellious, and defiant to the one true God. The Bible says Pharaoh had hardened his own heart. He had done so on several occasions. It is incredibly important to be sure that when God hardens Pharaoh’s already- rebellious heart, it is to accomplish His purpose of deliverance, showcasing His own mighty power to a greater degree. Throughout Scripture, God uses sinful people and even their sinful actions in order to further His own sinless cause. This does not mean God approves, incites, or endorses sin! In fact, He uses it as only He can in order to provide salvation to sinners.

Thoughts

At the start of chapter 10, there is an interesting statement that I’m sure I’ve never noticed before. While explaining His reasoning for the mighty signs that were to follow, God explains they were to be a sign to the Egyptians and that they would be a grand testimony for future generations. And then, this one line — speaking to Moses, God says, “…that you may know that I am the LORD” (10:2). Get that. “That you may know that I am the LORD.” Do not move too quickly over that. They would also be a sign to Moses as well. In the midst of all the huge things that God was doing — wildly huge things — God was also kindly reassuring His servant, Moses. You see, Moses had to be intimidated, had to be fearful, had to be overwhelmed, as he found himself in this role. Can you imagine the griefs that came with leading these people? Can you imagine the stress that came with being God’s spokesman? Can you imagine the doubts, the loneliness, the insecurities? And so, in the midst of the miraculous event of delivering His people, marching them out to the blessed Promised Land — in the midst of that, God reassures Moses. Wow.

Isn’t that just like our God? He is a mighty, majestic, marvelous God — the God over all creation. And yet, He is also a personal God, even knowing the hairs on our heads. He provides a mighty, majestic, marvelous salvation. Yet, for me, it is a personal salvation. He leaves the 99 and goes in search of the one. Moses was that one. You are that one.