Tag: plagues

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The man who defied God.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“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!

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A 🐸 god?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Really? For most of my life as a follower of Jesus, I thought the plagues on Egypt were just strange and creepy. Just annoying enough to make people’s skin crawl and get nauseous just thinking about. Some people hate frogs and are terrified by them. I was forever years old when I heard that each plague was attached to the gods of Pharaoh – and all of Egypt WORSHIPPED them! They worshipped a frog god? Yep, it’s true.

The plagues were judgment on Egypt’s religious system, not random disasters. And, “Pharaoh is part of that picture too, because Egyptian kingship was religious, not just political. Pharaoh was regarded as a divine ruler and mediator of cosmic order, so the plagues also function as a humiliation of Pharaoh’s claimed sacred authority.” Some of the gods are speculative, but a few are historically documented!

Heqet – the frog god is one that is well known. She was an ancient Egyptian goddess, usually shown as a frog or as a woman with a frog’s head. Her main spheres of influence were fertility, birth, regeneration, and rebirth. She was deeply connected to childbirth and became especially associated with the final stages of labor. She was given the title “She who hastens the birth.” Frog amulets linked to Heqet were used by women in connection with childbirth. Sounds like a sci-fi right? Yet she was serious in the Egyptian culture, because she “controlled” the future generations of true Egyptians. Her favor meant increase, and conversely, her anger meant death. So for God to send a plague of frogs, meant that it was a clear sign to Pharaoh and the people that it was a source of judgment instead of blessing. And, more importantly, that God was over the gods of Egypt.

The Bible does not mention the god, Heqet, which I understand. Giving these hybrid or half-breed spirit beings any acknowledgment would be giving them recognition. History gives us these beings identity and role. We now know it was clearly to distort God’s truth and lead humans away from Him. These beings can’t create, only deceive. God mocks them by creating plagues showing the ridiculousness of trusting false gods.

I used to think these gods were just fakes, figments of our imagination and false projections of an actual being. Now, I’ve come to understand, they were and still are active spirit beings who’s sole purpose is to join with Satan in deceiving and creating havoc in human lives, keeping them from seeing and experiencing the one true God who has a plan and purpose for redemption and reconciliation to Himself.

These gods are very real and powerful, but many people dismiss them because they don’t understand how and why they exist. I don’t know if the “frog” god is still active like she was back in Ancient Egyptian days, but I can tell you similar gods exist around the world today, even in the “disbelieving” USA.

Pharaoh recognized the difference between his gods and the one true God, yet he still refused to submit. The Bible says that this act of arrogant defiance hardened Pharaoh’s heart and it cost him the life of his own son as well as every Egyptian firstborn in the nation. Only the Jewish people, with the blood-sign on their doorposts would be protected or “passed over” the Angel of Death. This was the meaning of Passover. We still have a “Passover” in place today, it’s Jesus blood covering over our sins, meaning the final death will pass us over when we die.

Prayer

​Dad,
I am so very thankful for your love, protection and provision. Even when I was duped into believing the subtle lies coming at me as a young teen, you broke through and made yourself known to me. I am forgiven and redeemed because of the price Jesus paid for me on the cross.

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What is the sin of census?

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.” But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my Lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?” But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab traveled throughout all Israel to count the people. Then he returned to Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles‬ ‭21:1-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Whoa. I’m not sure which is MORE shocking? The fact that Satan shows up in Chronicles. Or that his big move is to get David to count the people. Or that everyone, including David seems to know this census is wrong. What is going on?

All I know is that David stubbornly goes through with it and God rains down massive judgment on Jerusalem – it’s pretty creepy.

God commanded Moses to take a census and the heading said, “census tax.” “The Lord said to Moses, “When you take the census of the people of Israel” Ex 30:11-12. God told Moses that everyone, rich or poor would give a half a shekel to the tabernacle and half to God. God even told Moses it was a ransom payment, AND their would be no plague associated with this numbering or tax, “ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.” Ex 30:12. Now I’m more curious than ever!

It’s not completely clear about why David wanted a census or why God was so mad at him for taking it. There is an interesting tie-into the eventual plot of land where the first temple would be built. And the fact that David doesn’t take the land or receive it as a gift from Araunah, the Canaanite, “And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” https://ref.ly/1Ch21.22-25;esv. There is another interesting theory though…

Most of the Bible commentators are far more interested in the fact that the. word “Satan” shows up here in Chronicles. This is the same story that shows up in Samuel 24:1, except God incited David to do the census! It eventually leads to a deeper, long-standing question about leadership responsibility and accountability. One commentator asks the obvious question – “Why would Yahweh incite David to do something for which he would later punish him? Both accounts begin by saying Yahweh was angry with Israel, not David. Yahweh chose to use David as his instrument of judgment against the nation, similar to the way he would use Nebuchadnezzar centuries later. As the Babylonian king was still accountable for his actions, so was David.

Judgment (and its means) both belong to the Lord, but human agents are still accountable.” (https://ref.ly/o/stbblpssycllctn/62845?length=464).

This is a doozy! This pairs well with the whole, “and God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” We clearly understand that God didn’t MAKE Pharaoh resist, but rather Pharaoh’s stubbornness to yield would mean that his heart was hardening with every rebellious “No.”

Well, as for the Sin of Census, I can see how God is NOT happy with anyone who uses taxation as a means of payment for sin – even if that payment was going towards building a house for himself. God is the ONLY one who receives a sacrifice or any kind of “payment” for sin. No human is capable or worthy to ask for it, nor receive it. Even that points to the future, “One payment for all” through Jesus.

So the idea of taking a census for taxation in order to receive worship – forget about it. Think about the Census that the Roman emperor, Augustus took in Luke 2:1! Interesting huh?

PRAYER:

Dad,
Just a personal note. I don’t plan on taking any census’ for worship taxation, ok?