Dana Hagstrom – Page 380

Exodus 9:1-35 – This is Getting Old

Today’s reading covers three more of the plague stories. Rather than read each separately, at this point it seems we understand what’s happening. God wants some attention. He also wants his people to be free from bondage. Moses and Aaron are the messengers he is empowering for the job. Pharaoh is the one he is toying with to keep the story going.

When you think of what has transpired so far, we have the water turning to blood, frogs, gnats, and flies. Today we have the plague affecting livestock, boils, and hail. This is all pretty nasty stuff. Thankfully, he is sparing his people in Goshen. And, Pharaoh’s magicians are not able to keep up with God anymore.

Exodus 8:16-32 – What’s the Buzz?

Read Exodus 8:16-32

It’s the warm season in Mexico now, and it seems like the bugs want to get in from the heat as well. Do you all know that buzzing you hear when a fly or mosquito is close by your ear? Well, I’ve heard that lately as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep. I seem to be a bug magnet and will often swat and the “invisible” pests in the dark. I can’t imagine having a swarm of them as in today’s reading. In general, I am not a fan of bugs. God’s sense of humor is clear in that we live in Mexico now where the bugs all seem so much bigger and more in love with me than ever before.

But for the people in Egypt, these pests were nasty. First gnats and then flies. What struck me is that the magicians couldn’t replicate the gnats, and it never said whether they tried flies or not. I loved how they told Pharaoh that the gnats were the “finger of God.” But Pharoah didn’t listen. God’s hardening was still at work. Interesting that the magicians recognized God at least.

Exodus 8:1-15 – Ribbit

Read Exodus 8:1-15

Here we go again. This time is frogs. God continues to work through Moses to free his people from their bondage. And, once again, the magicians follow suit. These plagues are not pleasant experiences for anyone in Egypt. Can you imagine frogs everywhere, jumping around, making noise, leaving their own mark? It wasn’t an enjoyable thing to be sure.

Here we see God clean up after himself (and the magicians). Part of his miracle was killing off all the frogs that had infested their lives. The Egyptian magicians weren’t found doing the same activity of riddance. We also see Pharaoh frustrated. He even called for Moses and Aaron and told them to remove these frogs.

Exodus 7:14-25 – Make God Known

Read Exodus 7:14-25

This is not my favorite reading I must admit. I am not a fan of blood or needles. I can’t even imagine not having water to drink. I drink a lot of water. If I had seen this up close and personal I would have been amazed at the miracle, even if I was totally woozy from seeing that much blood.

I understand that God was hardening Pharoah’s heart, he said he would. But what about these magicians. Who gave them permission to do the same thing. Talk about stealing God’s thunder. But then I stopped and thought, God may have used them to solidify the hardening.

Exodus 7:1-13 – If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Read Exodus 7:1-13

Do the Egyptians know who God is? Pharaoh said he didn’t. If there was any question, God is going to wipe that away with his mighty acts. Moses is hearing again from God about how the Israelites are going to be rescued. Moses and Aaron are to be his mouthpieces. How would you feel if you had this responsibility for the lives of the whole Israelite nation? Well, they are in God’s hands.

This first act of God was meant to cause curiosity. Do you think in Moses’ mind it was going to be a one and done kind of meeting? God had said he would harden Pharoah’s heart. Why? So God could “multiply” his miraculous signs and wonders. That tells me even today God could be hardening hearts as he sees fit to further his kingdom and show his power. What do you think about that?