Read: Exodus 7-9
Focus Verse: “For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:15-16).
Today we get one of my favorite verses in all of scripture, or at least so far. Exodus 9:15-16. If you’ve ever wondered why God would bring down plagues on Egypt, and not just deliver his people, here you go! In regards to Egypt, God said: “For by now I could have stretched out my head and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (9:15-16) Did you catch that? “For this very purpose”, the entire purpose why God hasn’t just wiped them out to deliver Israel is so that all of Egypt might know and proclaim God. In the midst of Pharaoh being stubborn—thinking he doesn’t need God, or worse, that he is god—he only recognizes God when things are bad. When he does this we see that as soon as the tension eases he ignores God. Do I ever treat God like this? Only noticing him when my life is difficult and I really need him? Further, God is trying to convince and make believers of Pharaoh and ALL of Egypt for the sake of the whole earth! THAT is his purpose! Yes to save Israel, but if that’s ALL it was, he’d just wipe Egypt out.Instead, God is desperately trying to win Egypt over and make believers out of them! God’s purposes are always for the salvation and redemption of all creation.
Pray: LORD help me to not be so stubborn that I don’t notice you, and help me to have patience for others who are. God, I pray that it won’t take plagues and chaos in order to get me to notice you, and I pray that in the good times I won’t forget you. Amen!
Additional Scripture: “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” (Psalms 73:26)