The Power of God: A Devotional on the Ten Plagues
The Power of God: A Devotional on the Ten Plagues
Anytime we witness the devastation following a tornado, hurricane, or flood our hearts immediately realize how little control we actually have over the natural world. Recently, my son’s third grade class visited the National Weather Service station near our city. One of his classmate’s mother works there. She led us on a tour and described all of the ways the weather service has learned how to try and predict the weather.
From weather balloons, to thousands of satellites, math equations, wind speeds, and more they do their best to help predict where the storm will be and warn people ahead of time. The most ironic thing she shared was the fact that a few years ago the National Weather Service (NWS) building was damaged from a very rare tornado.
Our state doesn’t get many tornadoes at all, but it so happened that this tornado came right through the area where the NWS was located. With all of their equipment, science, and expertise they still were caught off guard when a tornado suddenly appeared. It would be tempting to think that because we can’t measure it, predict it, or control it, neither can God.
Difficult Times
As we study the next part of Moses’ life we are going to be faced with the awesome and amazing power of God, especially over natural forces. Don’t forget, we have the privilege to know the end of Moses’ story. In fact, if you have been in church for a long time you have probably heard the ten plagues at least mentioned or taught. As we look at both the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea, let’s try to put ourselves in Israel’s place. They had no idea what was happening. It was probably a very frightening time.
When it comes to our lives, we can sometimes believe that God is good, but when terrible, unexpected things suddenly appear out of what seems “thin air” we wonder if God really does have control over everything. Is God still orchestrating all of these unexpected hardships? If He is, why is He allowing these things to happen?
The word “exodus” means the departure of a people group. The entire book of Exodus is about how the people of Israel left the bondage of slavery. The section of the ten plagues, the Passover and the crossing of the Red Sea are three very important events that take place over the course of several chapters.
God’s Power Revealed
I believe that sometimes God allows the hard seasons, the tests and trials, into our lives to teach us about Himself. The Israelities (and Moses) knew very little about the power of God before Egypt. They had heard the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but to experience God’s ultimate power the way they did was unheard of before these events.
Tweet ThisAnother aspect of how God works is the idea of God’s patience and His protection. You might be wondering how these two things have anything to do with the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea.
The events in Exodus do reveal God’s ultimate power. Remember that the Israelites had been living in Egypt for hundreds of years. All they knew about their God was what Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph had spoken about God. They had yet to experience the full power of God. You can read about the Ten Plagues in Exodus 7-10.
God is in Control
The word we use for “plague” actually means “signs” or “miracles” in the original Hebrew language. We know that God controls and holds all things together (Colossians 1:17) but just because God has set nature on an ordered path, doesn’t mean He can’t disrupt that path. As we see with these signs, or miracles, God does just that. He interrupts the natural flow of things.
God controls the weather, the celestial bodies, the animals, and even elements of creation such as dust and water. All of these things that are used as plagues are part of God’s magnificent creation.
The God who created the rules of nature and animals can bend and manipulate those very rules to accomplish His will. The God who separated the waters on the first day of creation turned the Nile River into a river of blood. Creatures, created by God, obeyed His commands. On the second day of creation God created the sky and He used His power to rain down hail, fire, and thunder in the land. The green grass and trees which God had brought forth on the third day were destroyed by locusts. The Bible says there was no green thing left in the land. On the fourth day of creation God said let the sun, moon, and stars shine in the sky. The ninth plague brought darkness to the land. All living creatures were formed on the sixth day. Even they can be controlled by our God. Frogs, gnats, and flies ruined and made a mess of the lives of the Egyptians. The livestock died from disease during the fifth plague. Even our very bodies do not belong to us. The God who created man can inflict any kind of disease on us as He wishes. For the sixth plague, boils covered the bodies of all who lived in Egypt. In a culture obsessed with cleanliness, this plague was especially devastating.
– from I Didn’t Sign Up for This
When we find ourselves in hard, unexpected places we can trust in the power of God. Although God is invisible, His works are not. Creation itself is a witness of God’s power in our own lives.
Scripture about God’s Power
As we think about our lives, we can respond to suffering with discouragement if we forget God’s power. Read what these verses tell us about God’s power and goodness!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his work.” Psalm 62:11–12
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28–31
Check out my book, I Didn’t Sign Up for This and discover how God works – even when our stories shift!