Tag: Dominion

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Negotiating with God II.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “All right,” he told them, “go and worship the Lord your God. But who exactly will be going with you?” Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.” Pharaoh retorted, “The Lord will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan. Never! Only the men may go and worship the Lord, since that is what you requested.” And Pharaoh threw them out of the palace. Exodus‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Of course Pharaoh thought he was negotiating with Moses & Aaron! He was told that they were speaking on behalf of God, but Pharaoh, knowing all about working with deity’s, did not believe the one true God ruled and reigned over all gods. Pharaoh absolutely underestimated his position.

But, Pharaoh was a master negotiator, he didn’t get to be a demigod by being bamboozled on a deal. This was Pharaoh’s 8th round of the art of a deal. He wasn’t doing so well. He was losing the confidence of his cabinet and his people! And the losses were stacking up.

The first seven plagues (blood, frogs, lice/gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail) would have caused widespread social, religious, economic, and administrative disruption in Egypt. Key effects: Agriculture & food supply, by water contamination – blood and hail would damage irrigation, & drinking water. Livestock loss cut meat, milk, draft animals and secondary products (leather, manure), harming farm productivity and food supply. Public health and labor, boils and pest plagues (lice/gnats, flies) would increase illness and reduce workforce availability for farming, construction and state projects. General fear would lower labor discipline and productivity. Economy and trade; crop and livestock losses would reduce tax revenue and surplus grain that sustained the state and enabled trade. Disruption to transport (animals and river work) and contamination of Nile-dependent activities would impede internal commerce and export of grain, papyrus, and other goods. Short-term inflation and scarcity of staples; wealthier households might hoard or suffer asset losses. Then the 8th plague would wipe out crops, which was their primary food supply. These alone would have caused a national crisis.

Yet, Pharaoh remains cool and calm, almost yielding to God’s demands. That is until he asks this question. Who exactly is going with you? “ALL OF US,” Moses told him. This God of yours must be going with you if you take the kids. Then it dawns on Pharaoh, “oh, you’re not planning to return are you?” History records that The Israelite work force was likely only 3% of the total laborers, so it was more than just “slave labor” that was affecting Pharaoh’s stubbornness. It was more about his “hard heart,” not yielding to anyone – especially to THE Lord God of all things. These plagues were systematically humiliating Pharaoh while deconstructing the entire civil and cultural ways of Egypt. It’s an absolute marvel that Egypt still exists today!

Even through all the pressures of collapsing the entire society. The Pharaoh then threw the men out of the palace. Whether it was Amenhotep II or Ramses II – they could not defy God’s will and power. Both would have been known for their rebellion against divine authority, viewing them as a symbol of corruption and pride, but that is from the biblical perspective. History records Ramses II as one of the greatest Pharaoh’s becuse of his extensive building projects, military campaigns, and a reign that lasted approximately 66 years, marking the height of Egypt’s power and glory.

When I see world leaders rising up in arrogance and stubbornness to lead out of ego and self preservation, rather than govern their people well, I see a Pharaoh’s heart, hardened and immovable. They would rather see their entire culture and identity as a people be destroyed rather than yield. Because of their hubris of power and wealth, they believe they are immortal and untouchable. Pharaoh found out he was neither.

Prayer

​Dad,
I, and others have fought WITH You, struggling to do your will. But against You? Not a chance. Dumbest thing ever! Most of the time, you completely allow us to do our own thing, letting us go pretty far to try to escape your plan – enter Jonah and Moses. Then there are times when no is not an option. I do not want to find myself in that kind of situation. Your will, Your way for me – even when I don’t see or understand what You are up to. I also do not want to push against the limits of your grace and mercy. Thank you for your enduring patience towards me.

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Uniqueness of human life.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We don’t know when David wrote this magnanimous Psalm. but it is believed the psalm was inserted into the collection towards the end of his life. This is yet another beautiful observation of the psalm’s ability to give us – PERSPECTIVE.

Have you ever thought of the unbelievable uniqueness of living as a human being on this beautiful blue sphere, miraculously spinning and seemingly floating in space? David, peering into the vast night sky, observing millions of stars and the cool glow of the moon, thinks about his own existence. You know, when one believes in a very real, very BIG God, we feel extremely small. “What are mere mortals?,” David reflects.

I don’t know how often you think of the grand scheme of all that we know about God and all that we don’t know about eternity, but the word “vast,” barely describes this season, this existence. Sure, it is an extraordinary existential exercise- but it’s worth it. Even with all the crazy chaos of our life and our world, it is such a powerfully unique experience, likely non existent anywhere else in the known and unknown universes out there. We could be the ONLY dark planet where Satan was imprisoned and sin was experienced by humanity.

We were created, “crowned,” David writes, with glory and honor, reflecting the beauty and power of our creator – God. And, God gave us dominion and dominance over all living things. We are co-caretakers of this planet and we have opportunity to CHOOSE God, create like God, love, give and BE like him. We are NOT God, but we get to use our God-given authority, power and influence to tame this wild existence. No wonder David, after reflecting on all that he sees and understands about our planet, contemplating our God and our existence, explodes into this exuberant praise – “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”

Prayer

​Dad,
Every once in a while, I have these existential moments, like David, when I not only see the magic and majesty of what you have created, but also what opportunity and responsibility you have given to us as humans on this amazing planet! Even in the chaotic, generational cycles of sin and grief, I still realize the specific wonder of this season, I call “my life.” Yes, I exist among trillions that have come before me, but this is my time to see your grand plan and be part of something that may only exist here on this fallen planet. So, even in my own sin and the sins of my generation, I still see great opportunity to seize these moments and give you praise and thanks for my own existence. I will take these occasions, cherish them, and do my best to rise to my responsibilities with all the faith, grace and power you provide! Amen.