Exodus 8: 20-32
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront
Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says:
Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and
your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the
Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with
them. ‘But on that day I will deal
differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies
will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will
make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur
tomorrow.’ ” And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s
palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was
ruined by the flies. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go,
sacrifice to your God here in the land.” But Moses said, “That would not be
right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the
Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will
they not stone us? We must take a
three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God,
as he commands us.” Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the
LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for
me.” Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and
tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only
let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the
people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.” Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed
to the LORD, and the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his
officials and his people; not a fly remained. But this time also Pharaoh
hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
Message:
Through these verses, I learned that God is capable of bringing suffering
to those who work against Him and protect those whom He favors. He sent a swarm of dog-flies that would mess up and pollute the lives of the Egyptians but spared
the Israelites from the plague. Further, I was made to realize the extent of the
Egyptians’ abhorrence to the Israelites’ means of worship. The Israelites would
observe offering; thus Moses asked Pharaoh to let the people go into the wilderness.
However, Pharaoh did not want the slaves to leave their posts, so a declaration
of holding the offering in a place where they could be exposed to the Egyptians
was made. As he knew that offering to Israelites meant sacrificing an animal,
something that’s considered sacred by Egyptians, Moses disagreed with Pharaoh’s
idea. The restriction set by Pharaoh apparently meant harm or death to the
Israelites and Moses did not want that to happen.
Application:
I will focus on the thought that “doing what is right will secure me God’s
favor and protection,” thus making myself avoid sinning. This will I share to
my fellows that they themselves experience the same.
Prayer:
Dear lord, the mightiest of all and the source of all life on earth, I
thank you for the assurance of protection and provision. Truly Lord, thru these
verses you made me realize that it’s my obedience and observance of worship that
will secure me Your favor. Yes Lord, I got the message, made a decision and I
pray that I’m doing what pleases You. If I’m not Lord, then let the Holy Spirit
tell me what should be done. Send Your angels to direct me to the right path. Do
the same Father to my family members, friends, fellow teachers and students. Give
me a stronger back Lord that I may survive hardships and conquer the challenges
that a responsibility brings. Enable wisdom in me that I may give them the
advice that will bring them a positive outlook and eventually a decision favorable
to You. This I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.
