with Elder Elico Manenji
Exodus 7:1-7: Moses and Aaron commissioned as lords over Pharaoh
Moses was clothed with great power and authority and Aaron was made his prophet. Moses was made a god only to Pharaoh but the true God is the God of all the world who condescended and did miracles in the veil of his servants.
Though Aaron was the elder brother, eighty-three years old, yet God gave him an inferior and junior office to Moses who was eighty years old. The election of God is not according to seniority as many times observed in the Scriptures.
Text: "The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away"(Psalm 90:10).
Abel was younger than Cain, yet God accepted his sacrifice, Abraham was younger than Nahor and Ha ran, yet God called him out and elected him as the inheritor of the blessed promise, Jacob was younger than Esau yet God said the older will serve the younger. Joseph was younger than his ten brother yet he served them from hunger and starvation.
The Wiseman says, "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility"(Proverbs 15:33)
Exodus 7:8-13:Aaron's rod turned into a serpent and swallowed the imitations_*
The first miracle that Moses and Aaron performed before Pharaoh though it was not a plague was of the rod turning into a serpent. It may have made him to fear and repentance but instead he challenged God by asking his magicians to do the same.
This God's method of dealing with sinners, He comes upon them gradually to convince them of their sin, though miracles are not a test of faith.
To the hardened heart like Pharaoh, the seed of the serpent this serpent were no amazement him as he contested the challenge. God suffers the lying spirit to do strange things that the faith of some may be tried and manifested and Pharaoh failed the test.
Then another miracle happened in his eyes, Aaron's rod swallowed the rods of the enchanters for great is the truth for it will prevail.
Text: "For God is the King of all the earth: sing you praises with understanding. God reigns over the heathen: God sits on the throne of his holiness"(Psalm 47:7-8).*
The cause of God will undoubtedly triumph at last over all competition and contradiction and God will reign alone.
The prophet said, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not me left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever"(Daniel 2:44).
Exodus 7:14-25:The first plague of blood in Egypt
Though Pharaoh was seen as a god in Egypt, God sent him his more than a match in Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh was human and only a creature which the Egyptians idolize as god but God was removing that honor from him slowly.
Pharaoh had commanded the killing of all male childrennof the Hebrews, they had stained the river with the blood of the Hebrews' children and now God made that river all blood for them to drink.
Even when God designed it to convince Pharaoh, Pharaoh's heart was hardened as he imitated the plague and his heart was not softened by the miracle.
Every consumption of the graces of God is a consumption determined because they cannot go out of the hearing of their own consciences.
God warns before He wounds for He is long-suffering not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Text : "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"(2 Peter 3:9).*
God knows every person's heart, He performs His Word to convict mankind of sin, but the hardness of their hearts lead to destruction which God has not determined upon them. The Lord says, " I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance"(Matthew 9:13).
Appeal
As Pharaoh's proud heart did not seek Moses's Intervention to stop this plague, so those who re determined to be lost will not seek His Word to be saved from God's wrath. God had put forward a way for Pharaoh but he hesitated to walk in it. The partriach Job said, " But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them"(Job 36:13). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
No comments:
Write comments