“So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.” Exodus 12:28-30 NLT
Pharaoh had withstood the devastation of multiple disasters over a period of six and a half months. The first plague began in late September and the last plague occurred around April. The 9 plagues would have substantially undermined Egypt’s economic productivity and fiscal base, strained social networks, increased poverty and displacement, and weakened political and religious legitimacy—together producing significant short-term disruption and potential long-term instability. All of this not because of Pharaoh’s political or economic aspirations. It was pure pride, believing he was a god that did not need to submit to THE God. His will would defy God’s will – so he thought.
How many leaders throughout history tried to defy God but lost? King Saul (Israel), Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylon), Roman emperors (Nero, Julian), Henry VIII (England), Louis XVI (France), Tsar Nicholas II (Russia), Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany), Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Iran), Saddam Hussein (Iraq), and Muammar Gaddafi (Libya). Every one of these men believed they could rise above all their opponents- including God! Amenhotep II, as the Pharaoh, responsible for the destruction of his own country and the deaths of every Egyptian first born, appears to be far and beyond the scope of other world leaders. His personal punishment vs. systemic consequences were enormous.
What has been on my mind for several years now, is what people do with power? What happens when a person or a group understands that they have a sway, a control over other humans? The phrase, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, by John Acton, penned in 1887,” stated the obvious truth. It not only corrupts, it becomes self consuming. I think about so many movements throughout history, that have seen a successful grab for power. But instead of spending that control, that magnanimous influence to help others, lifting them out societal struggles, they end up spending that capital on promoting and protecting themselves. All that effort towards aiding the disparity in the disenfranchised, or solving some of society’s worst problems, it became nothing more than stockpiling that power to pursue even more!
One of the powerful truths out of the gospels, is that Jesus knew that power had been given to him, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). John tells us what Jesus did with it! “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him” (John 13:3-5). All power, all authority… and Jesus picks up a towel to serve!
God will not share His glory, but He will share His power to serve His purposes! And God’s purpose is the reclaiming, restoring and redeeming human dignity and destiny. Pharaoh defied God because he wanted and believed he had rights to authority and power over God. Through 9 devastating warnings, God gave him a chance to relent, and he would not. What do we do with whatever power we may have over others? Do we yield it or try to wield it? Do we consume it for ourselves or turn and serve others?
Prayer
Dad,
Seeing the power patterns and dynamics in the Bible, it helps me see areas in my own life where I struggle with trying to wield what little power I have or yield it to you by serving others. Also, seeing how leaders use or abuse power, I have observed power cycles in our churches, but also in other areas in our culture. Places like politics, business, education, health care and safety. I see similar missteps that are like those in the Bible. I am so thankful that You are God and I and others are NOT!