Exodus 8
Dear RTB’ers,
Exodus 8, three plagues today – frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharaoh is beginning to see the power of the Lord, possibly swayed by his own magicians. (Ex. 8:19) As a result, he begins to compromise. During the plague of frogs, he seems to relent: Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” (v. 8) However, he reneges and the plague of gnats fills the land. Then Moses and Aaron ask for a three-day journey into the wilderness, and Pharaoh meets them halfway: So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. (v. 28) This is his first compromise offer. We will see more.
The Lord has allowed his people to suffer through the first three plagues along with the Egyptians. But now on the fourth plague (and most of the rest) He sets apart the Israelites so that they do not suffer through the swarms of flies: But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land. I will put a division between My people and your people. (vv. 22-23a) In setting apart His people, the Lord is sending a message to Pharaoh. However, it may also be that He is blessing Moses by preparing His people for Moses’ leadership. That’s an important item, because we’ll see down the road that the Israelites challenging Moses’ leadership will be a continuing pattern. More plagues coming…!
Blessings!
I’m catching up on my readings so this post is days behind, but I am enjoying seeing the process by which God trains Moses, engages Pharaoh, and teaches his people to trust him. (And yes, as Fred pointed out, we all know there will be a lot of challenges to his leadership down the road.)
Moses’ reluctance to obey always amused me, but it should challenge me to see more clearly ways in which I try to weasel out of responsibilities God has obviously put in my life—not only when I feel inadequate or timid, but when I’m just plain lazy.
The other pattern here is the one of compromises offered by Pharaoh—okay, but don’t go so far, … but don’t take your livestock, … but don’t take your whole family, etc.
I pray that I can be “all in” whatever God calls me to do!