These devotionals will serve as a guide for your time with the Lord
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Opening Prayer
-- Song: "There Is A Redeemer"
Devotional #10: The Third Plague - Gnats
Scripture
Exodus 8:16-19 (ESV)
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
Devotional #10: The Third Plague - Gnats
The plagues can be grouped into three groups of three with the final tenth plague being God’s last mighty act. The final plague in each triad is characterized by its brevity and by God’s act of judgment without any consultation with Pharoah. The events most likely occurred in the presence of Pharoah, as the magicians themselves were present.
As noted, the third plague is brought upon the land of Egypt without any speech to Pharoah. In this short paragraph, the only mention of Pharaoh is the magician’s admission that they could not replicate YAHWEH’s mighty work and that he once again hardened his heart. Question
How does the magician’s failure to copy this plague demonstrate God’s power?
Devotional #11: The Fourth Plague - Flies
Scripture
Exodus 8:20-32 (ESV)
20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.[a] 23 Thus I will put a division[b] between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” 24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.
25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.” 28 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. Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 31 And the Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go. Devotional #11: The Fourth Plague - Flies
As the second cycle of plagues begin, God sends flies to the land of Egypt. However, this time God makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israelites. The flies only swarmed the land of Egypt but did not settle upon the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived. Pharoah seems to relent and decides to allow the Israelites to leave and worship. But once again, after the plague is lifted, Pharoah hardens his heart, just as he did after relief from the frogs.
The swarms of the both the gnats and flies refers to the dust of the earth found in Genesis. As the plagues intensify so does the reminder to the people that God holds creation in His hands. He not only creates, but he can de-create as well. Questions
Devotional #12: The Fifth Plague - Livestock
Scripture
Exodus 9:1-7 (ESV)
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, 3 behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. 4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.”’” 5 And the Lord set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” 6 And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Devotional #12: The Fifth Plague - Livestock
In the fifth plague God continues to make a distinction between the land of Egypt and the land of Israel. Only the Egyptian livestock die but all the livestock of the Israelites remain healthy! And yet Pharoah still hardens his heart.
In verse 2 the Lord says, Let my people go, that they may serve me. God is claiming his covenant relationship over the Israelites and reminding them of their duty to serve him. The Hebrew word, to serve, literally means to work. The Israelites worship to the Lord is quite literally their good work. Worshipping, working, or serving God is our good response to God’s faithful redemption of His people. Questions
Prayer Time
(Closing prayer by head of household) -- Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.
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