This week we will be exploring Exodus 7:8-8:19 together, Confronting the Gods of Egypt.
We are all pretty familiar with the ten plagues. Their decimation of Egypt is one of the most well-known parts of the book of Exodus.
Blood. Frogs. Gnats. Flies. Pestilence. Boils. Hail. Locusts. Darkness. Death of the firstborn.
It reads like the apocalypse...and makes great special effects in the movies!
But what is the purpose of the plagues? Why did God send them on Egypt? And what are we to learn from them today?
The main purpose of the plagues is for the Israelites, the Egyptians, Pharaoh, and the whole world to know that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the LORD, Yahweh, the Great I AM.
He is the sovereign One over the universe.
He is the One who controls nature, who rules over humanity, who both judges and redeems.
To accomplish this purpose, God must also confront all the false gods that vie for people's devotion, allegiance, and worship.
Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. (Exodus 12:12b)
So each of the plagues points to two undeniable truths:
1. God is absolutely sovereign.
2. The false gods of Egypt are absolutely worthless.
We need to be reminded of these same truths today. We may not worship such false gods as Ra, Isis, Heket, Wadjet, Geb, Nut, Apis, the Nile River, or Pharaoh. But we do have our own objects of allegiance, devotion, and worship. Money, possessions, power, fame, technology, sports, pleasure, sex, alcohol, food, YouTube influencers, social media, etc., etc.
Whatever dominates our thoughts, whatever dominates our time, whatever dominates our heart is often our own false god. And we need to allow God to confront it in our own lives...for His glory and our good.
As we study the ten plagues over the next three weeks, may God open our eyes to His absolute sovereignty and His amazing grace and may He expose whatever hinders us from being fully devoted to Him.