Lenten devotions: Exodus 8
(please read the chapter before reading this devotion).
Chapter 8
tells us 2nd, 3rd, and 4th plagues. Frogs,
gnats, flies. There is an interesting progression – from water (the first
plague) to frogs (who come from water), then a bit higher – to gnats, then to
flies (level up). Spoiler alert – the LORD will destroy the whole religious system
of Egypt. Beginning with Nile – one of the basic gods of Egypt. Ending up with
the Sun – the “top” deity of the land. Step by step, the LORD will show His
superiority.
What I would
like to point out is the fact that the release of pressure on the authorities
and the land leads to hardening of the pharaoh’s heart. He is not thankful for
a deliverance, his doesn’t consider the audacity of the futile resistance to
God… Every time Moses and Aaron announce a withdrawal of a plague, he doubles
down…
After a
while, the LORD Himself will keep the pharaoh’s heart hardened. But, as of
right now, pharaoh’s is piling up his own layers of judgement. For we know that
God wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). St. Paul discusses the “pharaoh’s
case” in its final stage – then God, using Paul’s own words from Romans 1, gave
him/them up to ungodly passions and behavior (Romans 1:24,26).
God leads us to through the difficulties of life to bring us closer to Himself – He is the only source and foundation of our lives. He reconciled us to Himself in Jesus Christ. This time of Lent can be a great opportunity to evaluate our stand and practice of thankfulness to God, and reconciliation opportunities with others, both brothers and sisters, and those who still doesn’t know the LORD, helping them to avoid the doom of the biblical pharaoh.
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