Waking up to the tragic news of September 11th, 2001, was a moment that forever changed my perspective as a sophomore at the University of New Mexico. The confusion and collective heartbreak that swept through the campus as we gathered around a small television to witness history unfold are etched in my memory. This episode recounts that fateful day, walking through the timeline of the four flights and reflecting on the broader impact of the attacks on America's iconic landmarks, symbolizing strength, prosperity, and governance.
Next, we travel back in time to the ancient world, diving into the dramatic narrative of the Ten Plagues in the book of Exodus. We start with the first plague, where the Nile River turns to blood, a powerful demonstration of Yahweh’s authority over Egypt. This chapter vividly portrays the escalating plagues, the fear they invoked, and the divine messages intended for both the Egyptians and Israelites. We delve into the hardened heart of Pharaoh and the unwavering nature of God's commands, drawing parallels to the steadfastness required in our own lives.
Our journey concludes by examining the trials faced by the Israelites in Egypt and how their faith led to societal rejection, yet held a greater purpose. We explore the profound impact of standing firm in faith, even when it means becoming outcasts, and reflect on the power of signs and wonders through the ministry of Jesus Christ. From the plagues in Egypt to Christ’s miraculous acts, we contemplate how divine interventions reveal God’s sovereignty and invite you to consider the ultimate joy of glorifying Him. Join us as we navigate these powerful narratives and their relevance to contemporary Christian life.
Waking up to the tragic news of September 11th, 2001, was a moment that forever changed my perspective as a sophomore at the University of New Mexico. The confusion and collective heartbreak that swept through the campus as we gathered around a small television to witness history unfold are etched in my memory. This episode recounts that fateful day, walking through the timeline of the four flights and reflecting on the broader impact of the attacks on America's iconic landmarks, symbolizing strength, prosperity, and governance.
Next, we travel back in time to the ancient world, diving into the dramatic narrative of the Ten Plagues in the book of Exodus. We start with the first plague, where the Nile River turns to blood, a powerful demonstration of Yahweh’s authority over Egypt. This chapter vividly portrays the escalating plagues, the fear they invoked, and the divine messages intended for both the Egyptians and Israelites. We delve into the hardened heart of Pharaoh and the unwavering nature of God's commands, drawing parallels to the steadfastness required in our own lives.
Our journey concludes by examining the trials faced by the Israelites in Egypt and how their faith led to societal rejection, yet held a greater purpose. We explore the profound impact of standing firm in faith, even when it means becoming outcasts, and reflect on the power of signs and wonders through the ministry of Jesus Christ. From the plagues in Egypt to Christ’s miraculous acts, we contemplate how divine interventions reveal God’s sovereignty and invite you to consider the ultimate joy of glorifying Him. Join us as we navigate these powerful narratives and their relevance to contemporary Christian life.
On September 11th 2001, 2,977 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history. The moment, of course, shocked the nation. At 7.59 am, american Airlines Flight 11 took off from Boston, headed to Los Angeles. At 8.15 am, united Airlines Flight 175 also took off from Boston, headed for Los Angeles. At 8.20 am, american Airlines Flight 77 took off from Dulles Airport outside of Washington DC, headed for Los Angeles. At 8.42 am, united Flight 93 took off from Newark, headed for San Francisco.
Speaker 1:When this all began, at 7.59 am, I was waking up to go to class. I was a sophomore at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque at the time class. I was a sophomore at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque at the time. I got ready to go, I hopped in my car and I turned on my radio. We didn't have Spotify or Apple Music back then, so we listened to the radio and I had a short commute to the campus. But before I got there, the music I was listening to was interrupted by an emergency announcement was interrupted by an emergency announcement.
Speaker 1:At 8.46 am, flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. I listened with shock and sadness. What was happening? Was it a rogue pilot? Or maybe a malfunction in the air that left the plane uncontrollable? I remember getting to the campus and I just sat in my car listening. And then, at 9.03 am, another news update flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. It was then that we knew this was no accident. I gathered my stuff, I rushed into the library, where there were already people huddled around a small television on a library cart to watch these events unfold on live television. It was silent. Everyone was in shock. And then, at 9.37 am, another update Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon building. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon building. We watched live at 9.59 am when the South Tower fell to the ground. And then, only a few minutes later, news that Flight 93 plowed into an empty field in Shanksville, pennsylvania, although its ultimate target is unknown. It was likely headed either for the White House or the Capitol building, and by 1028 am the North Tower had collapsed as well.
Speaker 1:Now I remember that time trying to call my family, but the telephone networks were so busy it was difficult to make a phone call. It would be hours before I was able to get a hold of anyone. Classes were canceled all day and I returned to my apartment and I stayed glued to the television. What was going on? How could this happen in America?
Speaker 1:And later we learned the details of that terrifying, startling and humbling day, that event in the history of our country Islamic terrorists on their way on a mission to complete the deadliest attack on American soil since the shock of the attack of Pearl Harbor, 60 years before the attacks in New York, occurred in the country's busiest city, on the busiest workday. The attack on the Pentagon was a strike against the headquarters of the greatest military the world has ever known. The thwarted attack against the Capitol building or the White House would have been the most devastating blow of all for the nation, a strike at our nation's seat of power. Now, many of you will remember that day as vividly as I do. Others of you were young and maybe you vaguely remember it, and still others of you were yet to be born, but undoubtedly you have heard the stories. It's an event where everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing. It wasn't an attack on a single person or the act of a mentally ill gunman who was mad about his lot in society. It was an attack on our nation and it was intended to strike its most iconic landmarks, symbols of American strength and prosperity, and government and finance, the things we value as a nation, the sort of things and places that tourists like to go and see, the sort of thing that represents who we are as a country. And the intent is to send a message that even the greatest, the strongest, the most powerful nation the world has ever known is not immune.
Speaker 1:And as we, as we venture back into Exodus, chapter 7, tonight, we get to one of the most memorable sections of the Bible, this long stretch of details about Yahweh's judgment on Egypt and their gods through 10 significant plagues. And it all begins here at the Nile River. And it all begins here at the Nile River, the heart of Egyptian social, economic, agriculture and religious life, the Twin Towers of Egypt, the capital of Egypt, the Pentagon of Egypt, right here at the river. It was the central landmark of the nation. And the Lord wanted to send a message to them right out of the gate you picked the wrong fight and you will not win. He struck where it would hurt them the most, at the word go. And with each successive sign and wonder, it only got worse for the Egyptians. And while the terrorists of 9-11 had evil intentions and only sought to instill fear and chaos. God came with a righteous judgment, complete with commands and warnings. His people were being abused, his authority was being challenged, so his response was a series of targeted strikes at the heart of that nation.
Speaker 1:And as we study these plagues, I hope you will come along with me and enter into this story and imagine yourself as an Egyptian and imagine yourself as an Israelite as these things are going on. How would you feel? What would you be thinking? How would you respond? I think it's easy for us. We very familiar with these stories, most of us and it's easy to just sort of read them passively, as something that's happened in the past but we can't identify with. But put yourself in the middle of the story with, but put yourself in the middle of the story. And as terrifying as 9-11 was for many of us, imagine the unfolding events in ancient Egypt, when the one true and living God of the universe exacted justice against an evil tyrant and his obedient subjects and all of their gods obedient subjects and all of their gods. A terrifying thought indeed.
Speaker 1:And so let's read, beginning in verse 14 of Exodus, chapter 7. Then the Lord said to Moses. Pharaoh's heart is hardened. He refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent, and you shall say to him the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you saying let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness, but so far you have not obeyed. Thus says the Lord. By you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, with the staff that is in my hand, I will strike the water that is in the Nile and it shall turn into blood. The fish in the Nile shall die and the Nile will stink and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile. And the Lord said to Moses say to Aaron, take your staff, stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the rivers, their canals, their ponds and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone. Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of the servants, he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile and all the water in the Nile turned into blood and the fish in the Nile died and the N? Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink the water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened and he would not listen to them. As the Lord had said, pharaoh turned and went into his house and he did not take even this to heart, and all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.
Speaker 1:Well, I think we can all agree that so far in the book of Exodus there has been a lot of drama. It's an epic story with many surprises and twists and turns. But now the heat gets turned up even more and hopefully you'll recall that last time we saw Moses and Aaron as they came before, pharaoh and Aaron remember threw down his staff and it turned into a serpent and the magicians and the sorcerers of Egypt came and they replicated this sign of Aaron and then Aaron's staff came and swallowed up the staffs of the sorcerers, showing that the God of Moses, the God of Aaron, is far more powerful and will swallow up Pharaoh in like manner. Well, the swallowing of Pharaoh is beginning, and so here we go. The first of 10 plagues, a river of blood. If you'll recall, back in Exodus, chapter three, in verse 20, the Lord said I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it. And then, in chapter seven, in verse three, he said I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
Speaker 1:Now you'll notice that the Bible doesn't use the word plagues at all, but this is how we have all likely understood them. Nevertheless, it's a good word to use because it captures an important truth. Plague comes from a Latin word, plaga, and it means a blow or a wound, and that's what these plagues were. They were blows to Pharaoh, to the Egyptians and to all of their gods, and so the Bible calls them signs and wonders, but we can say reasonably that they were plagues. These ideas are not in opposition to one another.
Speaker 1:Now, before we get into the specifics of the narrative of this first plague, it's important to understand the significance of the plagues in general. Each plague is very specific in what it communicates and what it accomplishes. With each plague, there is an upward trajectory of importance and significance. The further along we go, the more devastating the plagues become. And what is their purpose? Well, we can say several things about that, and we will look at it along the way, but the general principle that fits all of the plagues is that they are a just response from God to Pharaoh's hardened heart and his unwillingness to release the Israelites from captivity, and they are a display, a powerful display, of God's sovereignty over all creation.
Speaker 1:Furthermore, we will see throughout that each of these plagues is a targeted attack against the gods and goddesses of Egypt. Yahweh was showing his superiority. Archaeologists have identified over 80 different major deities in ancient Egypt, and all of them are related either to the Nile river, the land of Egypt or the sky. And one of the patterns, then, that we will see is that the plagues start in all three areas the first two plagues target the Nile river, the next four plagues address the gods of the land and the final four plagues target the God of the sky, with it all culminating in the death of the firstborn. So, ultimately, the Lord tells us, in verse 17, the exact reason for all of this. Why is he doing this? He says by this you shall know that I am the Lord. That is the theme of the plagues. Did you have questions before? You didn't believe Moses and Aaron, you didn't want to hear my commands. Now you will know and there will be no question Now.
Speaker 1:Another issue worth considering in many people's is many people's arguments that these signs and wonders are just fantastical descriptions of natural phenomena. For example, some will argue that the, the blue Nile, which is a tributary of the Nile river. The blue Nile flows into the Nile and from time to time it will stir up the waters and it will agitate the red colored sand in the riverbed, and so the red color can be described to look as blood. But it's just a natural occurrence. Now, of course, that would introduce some level of contamination to the water, so it would kill the fish and the scent and decay of the dead fish would upset the ecological balance and it would cause the frogs to rise out of the water and escape to the land. And then, of course, now you have dead fish everywhere, so of course the insects are going to come around and then you have all these dead fish and frogs and flies and gnats. So there's going to be disease among the people, so there will be boils on their skin and later storms will come and heavy rain with hail and the locusts will eventually arrive and dust storms will pick up and and bring darkness on the land. There's, there's a natural explanation for everything. So all of this is just a, a mythologized retelling of the story, but nothing supernatural really took place.
Speaker 1:Well, the first thing we must acknowledge is that none of that is what the text says. There's no suggestion that the water was red because of stirred up sand. But the Bible tells us in verse 20 that Aaron did as the Lord commanded and struck the Nile with his staff, resulting in an instant change to the Nile. In fact, later in Exodus, chapter 8, in verse 19,. Even the magicians will concede and they tell Pharaoh this is the finger of God. They certainly did not think all these plagues were natural phenomena. Of course, then you have to deal with the death of the firstborn phenomena. Of course. Then you have to deal with the death of the firstborn, a plague that progressive scholars have notoriously had a difficult time explaining away.
Speaker 1:Another thing to notice is that if these were not supernatural occurrences, what would be the point of Pharaoh calling on his magicians to replicate the plagues? They could say, pharaoh, that's not blood, that's just the red sand from the riverbed. And soon, of course, the fish are going to die and the frogs will emerge. They could have all explained it away, but that's not what happened. And the magicians and eventually Pharaoh and all of the other Egyptians, would agree this is the work of a powerful, almighty God. So let's believe the text of the Bible instead of trying to explain it away.
Speaker 1:And so, as we look at the narrative before us, one of the significant things we see is that God's commands are non-negotiable. You see, in verse 14, why this is all taking place. Let's not forget this has been repeated several times already throughout the story. Pharaoh's heart is hardened and he refuses to let the people go. That's the problem. Pharaoh's hard heart has prevented him from releasing the Israelites from their bondage.
Speaker 1:You'll remember, back in chapter three, the angel of the Lord. As he came to Moses, he told him come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. This was his intention from the very beginning, and only a few verses later, god told the elders of Israel to go to Pharaoh and say the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us and now, please, let us go a three days journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord, our God. And then, when Moses and Aaron were allowed to speak with Pharaoh, they said on behalf of Yahweh, in Exodus, chapter five and verse one let my people go. We can safely assume that when Aaron threw down his staff and it turned into a serpent, probably something of the same conversation took place once again.
Speaker 1:The point is that we have this consistent theme. This is God's purpose, this is his design. The Israelites must be released and God will not stop until it is accomplished. When the Lord commands, he's not making a suggestion. He's not open to negotiations. Psalm 33, 11 says the counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
Speaker 1:God doesn't issue commands without reason. He's not a tyrant like Pharaoh, and nothing is done for his entertainment. He's not just trying to watch people jump through hoops. He has a purpose and his ultimate purpose for his commands is his own glory. We see that right there in verse 16. God commanded Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh to say to him the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you saying let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness, but so far you have not obeyed. God's ultimate purpose was never to have the Israelites be servants to Pharaoh and the Egyptian people. They were to be a people who would worship God himself, god alone, serving his purposes in his way, so that he would receive all the glory. And we know that.
Speaker 1:The Bible teaches us that this isn't just God's purpose for the Israelites. This is God's purpose for all creation, for all mankind. What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever. This is the purpose of God, his own glory, and this purpose is not the command of an egomaniac glory. And this purpose is not the command of an egomaniac. This is God presenting himself to all creation as the greatest and highest good that provides the most ultimate and only lasting joy.
Speaker 1:Exaltation is pulled away from where it should be rightly placed in God. When man is self-exalting, if I exalt myself, I'm taking away from God what only belongs to him. But when God is self-exalting, he is ultimately concerned with the one and only true God. And so so delighting in the only thing that offers the fullness of truth and beauty and holiness. And so when God demands glory, he's doing it out of love for us. God exalts what gives his creation the highest source of true and lasting joy and peace and hope and satisfaction, and he invites all of creation to come and to follow him in delighting what is ultimate. Were God to delight in anything more than himself, he would violate the second commandment and make himself an idolater. But God cannot break his law. It reflects his character, and so God's self-exaltation is not a means by which to obtain that which does not rightly belong to him, nor is it a means to enslave creation to something that is is valueless. No, god's self-exaltation is is the most loving means by which he can point to the greatest good in all the universe, namely himself.
Speaker 1:And friends, you may be here tonight and you've never thought of glorifying God. You've lived life for yourself, you've pursued your dreams and your goals and your aspirations, and you've never even wondered if what you are doing and how you are doing it brings glory to God. You don't care. Pharaoh was not interested in giving God the glory because he wanted it all for himself, and so Pharaoh refused to give in to God's demand. Twice he rejected it, hardening his heart against God's will. And as God said to Moses in verse 14, pharaoh's heart is hardened. He refuses to let his people go. His heart was filled with injustice and self-importance, and he operated out of his own self-will. It was the hardened heart of Pharaoh that brought the plagues down on Egypt, and it serves as the perfect example of anyone who sets themselves up against God. Perfect example of anyone who sets themselves up against God.
Speaker 1:He may be patient for a while, but eventually the penalty for sin must be paid. But, friend, I want to tell you that your end does not have to be like Pharaoh's. Your life does not have to be filled with plagues that ultimately end in death. There's another command given by God in the Bible that he expects all mankind to obey, not as an overbearing, authoritarian master, but as a loving, gracious father. He tells us believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved. Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, friend? He sent the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to do what you and I cannot to fulfill his law in its entirety to die on a cross To take upon himself the penalty of our sin that is due to us, the plague of our sin Poured out on the Lord Jesus and then buried in the ground and three days later Raised again from the dead.
Speaker 1:My friend, you can trust in this God. You can trust in this God. You can trust in this Savior because he's not out to get you. His great desire, his great longing is not to smite you with plagues, but to invite you to come and trust and love the Savior. God's commands are non-negotiable, yes, but he says come onto me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And so now he comes to you offering peace and everlasting life. But, friend, do not delay, because soon he will require your life, and the only thing that awaits those outside of Christ is everlasting torment under the judgment of the one who has created us and sustains us and has provided us with a savior. Not to appease by works, not to measure our good deeds against our bad and hope we measure up, but by faith alone in Christ alone. Believe on Christ, repent of your sins, you will be saved. And Pharaoh represents a hallmark of unbelief. You want to continue in unbelief. Look at Pharaoh. Unbelief, you want to continue in unbelief? Look at Pharaoh. His heart was hardened not only because of his self-importance, but also because it belonged to other gods. In verse 15, god commands Moses to go to Pharaoh in the morning as he's going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. Well, there may be several reasons why Pharaoh went out to the Nile early in the morning, but one of the most plausible explanations is that he's there to honor the gods of the Nile.
Speaker 1:The most notable god of the Nile for the Egyptians was named Hapi. He's usually depicted in the form of man. He has large hanging breasts, from which water stream, wearing the sign of water and holding lotus flowers. And many Egyptian hymns and poems were written about him, and during the Nile festivals, worshipers sang these songs to him. The words of one of these songs is Offerings are made, oxen are slain to thee, great festivals are kept for thee, fowls are sacrificed to thee, beasts of the field are caught for thee, pure flames are offered to thee.
Speaker 1:And it was on the banks of the very river that the Egyptians thought was created by and sustained by this false God that Moses confronted Pharaoh, telling him this is what the Lord says Not Hopi, not Osiris, not any other false deity. This is what the Lord has said, and you will know that he is God. Now, what is abundantly clear is that Pharaoh had no excuse. Moses and Aaron told him exactly what was going to happen, in verses 17 through 19,. Thus says the Lord. By this, you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, with the staff that is in my hand, I will strike the water that is in the Nile and it shall turn to blood. The fish in the Nile shall die, the Nile will stink, the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile. And the Lord said to Moses say to Aaron, take your staff, stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the rivers, their canals and their ponds and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone. And so Pharaoh couldn't turn to the Egyptians and say it was a surprise. He couldn't say nobody warned him. No, this was on Pharaoh.
Speaker 1:And yet, even in the midst of the plagues and we see specifically here, in this one, we see another great truth and that is that God is abundant in mercy. Now you may read this narrative at first and say mercy, I don't see a lot of mercy here. God is striking at the center of their civilization, the Nile river. He's turning their water source to blood. He's killing the fish. How is this merciful? Well, remember what I said earlier these plagues get progressively more intense and he's giving Pharaoh not one, not two, not three, but 10 opportunities.
Speaker 1:And notice this is not happening behind closed doors, this is out in the open. The plagues are affecting all of the people of Egypt, so all can see the power of God. But he could have, he could have just as easily struck everyone dead from the very beginning. He could have skipped all the plagues and just went to taking them out entirely. But the Lord patiently endured as Pharaoh's heart was hardened more and more. And this initial plague, although unpleasant, although very inconvenient, to say the least, it was not ultimately destructive. Nobody could look at this and say the Egyptians had no chance. But Pharaoh would not relent.
Speaker 1:And so we see in verses 19 through 21,.
Speaker 1:The Lord said to Moses say to Aaron take your staff, stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the rivers, canals, ponds, pools of water. They may become blood and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and the vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the vessels of wood and the vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of the servants. He lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile. And the water in the Nile turned into blood and the fish of the Nile died. The Nile stank, so the Egyptians could not drink the water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. Notice, it wasn't just the Nile. All the water turned to blood their canals, their ponds, their pools of water, the water in the vessels of wood and stone. All of it blood. But we see God's mercy in verse 25.
Speaker 1:This plague did not last forever. This postscript verse addresses a logical question for us. How then could the Egyptians survive Because their drinking water came from the Nile? Well, the first plague is really shown to be a severe annoyance. More than a life-threatening disaster, it's a shot fired across Egypt's bow. The water was blood, the fish all died and stank. They had no water to drink. They were forced to dig wells in the banks of the Nile where they could find water. They were scrambling to find something that wasn't on the surface because that was all contaminated. But remember, put yourself in their position. What is that like? Just imagine yourself.
Speaker 1:Imagine waking up in the morning. You're kind of half awake. You stumble into your bathroom, you turn on the faucet to brush your teeth and blood comes out and maybe you rub your eyes a little. I'm not fully awake. What's going on here? You try it again Same thing. And then you go to the shower Same thing. You go to the kitchen sink Same thing. And then you're a little panicked. And so you go knock on your neighbor's door. Hey neighbor, just curious Anything strange happening over here. You don't want to come right out and ask. You might think you're strange. If it's not, you have to be a little tentative. But he says yeah, I went to make my coffee this morning and the water that came out of my refrigerator door was red like blood. I thought I just needed to change out the filter. So I went to the sink. Same thing. What's going on? I think you'd start to panic a little bit, you'd be frustrated and then, after a little bit, that retention pond out behind your house starts to stink because all the fish are floating on the surface of the water and washed up on the shore and you get this smell to fill the air and it's putrid and there's nothing you can do about it. It's disgusting.
Speaker 1:Now take that little picture in your own neighborhood, in your house, in your neighbor's house, and multiply that across the entire nation All at once, the entire nation all at once. And you know, when we experienced disasters in the United States, like a hurricane or a tornado or something like that, people show up from other parts of the country where they were not affected and they help. They bring supplies and food and clean water and gasoline and they get to work. 9-11 was a great example of that. But what happens when the whole entire country experiences the same exact thing? There are no sources of clean water. That's what's happening there. Fish were their staple, that's what they ate. They didn't have fish Water. Of course you need to live. They don't have water. Imagine what it would have been like as they see all of this happening all around them.
Speaker 1:Do you remember, back in chapter five, moses and Aaron went in to tell Pharaoh what the Lord commanded, and when he denied them, they came out to tell the elders that? Not only did he tell them, I'm not going to let the people go, he said in fact I think you're asking me this because the people are growing lazy, they're not working hard enough, so I'm going to take away their straw, but they have to make the same number of bricks as they have been making. They're getting too comfortable. And so Moses and Aaron had to come out and they told the elders of Israel and, starting in verse 21, the text says the elders met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them as they came out from Pharaoh. And the elders said to them the Lord, look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh or you have made us a stench to Pharaoh.
Speaker 1:And as we see the story progress, we see that indeed the Israelites are a putrid stench to Pharaoh. Now they are afraid that Pharaoh will grow angry and end them as a people, but God is showing them that this is all part of the plan, there will be a real stench in the nostrils of Pharaoh, the putrid stench of dead fish and disease, and, and all kinds of death, and, and, and boils, and, and all of these creatures. Indeed, the stench of the people of Israel will continue to increase for Pharaoh. But while the Israelites were fearful and they couldn't understand why God sent Moses and Aaron to make demands of Pharaoh, the Lord showed them this stench, this smell that will fill the land of Egypt is all part of my plan. Do not fear. Your stench, in fact, will grow increasingly in intensity, and that will be the very means that I use to put Pharaoh on his knees.
Speaker 1:But this is how we often operate, isn't it? We often want to think that we know better than God. We look at our circumstances, we see how things are playing out and we say, lord, you're making me stink in the sight of others. Instead of trusting his providence and trusting that he does all things well, trusting his wisdom and trusting his promises that he is with us and he will give us all things according to his promises and his purposes, for his glory and our good, instead we tend to doubt. For his glory and our good. Instead, we tend to doubt. We fail to think about the fact that God's plan, god's great purpose may very well be that we are a putrid stench to others. At least for a time.
Speaker 1:And listen as you live in this world as a Christian. When you stand on the principles of God's word, when you stand for the truth, when you refuse to bend your knee to the godless immorality and evil of this world, you will be a stench. When you refuse to betray our God, the nostrils of those who do not know Christ will be filled with the most undesirable stench that will only grow in intensity. Everyone else around you may be willing to go along with a lie, so why don't you? And so they will malign you. You don't want to play along in our game to pretend to pretend things like men can be women and women can be men. Well, you're a hateful bigot. You're transphobic. The stench increases. You won't cheat on a test at school or tolerate others who do. You're a snitch. You think you know everything better than everyone else. Mind your own business. The stench increases. You won't sit with me and gossip about our boss and share my disdain for him, affirming me and laughing with me as I assassinate his character. You're a tool of the regime and you don't care about your own people. And the stench increases.
Speaker 1:The stench grows with intensity, more and more, and the more it increases, the more we have a tendency to want to make it all go away. We want to put an end to it, we just want to wash it away, and that the temptation is to jump into the proverbial shower and just give in and say, lord, this is too much, you've put me in a bad position here. Why are you? You doing this? And the Lord says yes, you will stink to them, but the real rot, the real stench, the real decay, the real decomposition is not you. Their nostrils have grown so accustomed to the smell of death and decay that the smell of true life, the sweet smell of godliness, will grow increasingly intolerable to them and they will say and do whatever they can to get rid of it.
Speaker 1:Sometimes, brothers and sisters, god's great purpose in our life is that we fill the air with what the world says stinks. And instead of saying, like the Israelites, that we don't want it to be that way, the Lord calls on us to watch him work. This wasn't a trick. This wasn't something God was doing to get a laugh. This was all a part of his plan to deliver his people out of the hands of Pharaoh and to move one step closer to the land of promise.
Speaker 1:And the mercy of God is that often, even in the stench of it all, even when the world plugs their nose as they walk by, sometimes that stench will enter the nostrils of the person who before only smelt death and decay, and all of a sudden it will smell sweet, it will be desirable, it's something they cannot get enough of, and the Lord mercifully shows them that it's not the smell of death at all and indeed it's the clean, heavenly air of life. Brothers and sisters, may the Lord be merciful to those around us, our neighbors and our friends and our coworkers and our family members who do not know Christ. May he be pleased not to change the smell of the air around us but to make that smell a sweet gospel aroma. To those who are only accustomed to the stench of the morgue, may it be that they might smell life coming off of us, because we are living uncompromisingly for the Lord. Well, finally, we see in Pharaoh what we've known all along. We'll continue to see throughout the narrative, and that is that a hardened heart and a seared conscience will continue to resist the Lord Verse 22,.
Speaker 1:But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. He would not listen to them. And the Lord? As the Lord had said, pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not take even this to heart. And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink. They were digging water wells for they could not drink the water of the Nile.
Speaker 1:I was listening to a Jewish scholar recently about this and he pointed out something here. It's quite comical. Aaron did what the Lord commanded and here come the magicians of Egypt and they say oh yeah, we can also poison our own water supply. What a foolish thing. Now it's interesting because we don't know. We aren't told where they got this water, that they turned to blood, but given the magnitude of the plague, we can't told where they got this water. That they turned to blood, but given the magnitude of the plague we can assume it's a small amount of water, certainly nothing compared to the entirety of the Nile River.
Speaker 1:There are all kinds of ideas in the commentaries about what exactly is going on with the magicians, but I want to take the text as it says and believe that the magicians did the same thing, albeit at a much smaller scale. But this is not by the power of God. It's satanic imitation. And that's the thing with Satan. He has no ability to do anything miraculous on his own. He can only imitate. He's an accuser and an imitator. He always attempts to co-opt what God has done in his power and say look what I can do. See, it's the same thing? Well, it's clearly not the same thing.
Speaker 1:But the magicians don't have the power to solve the problem. Notice, if they actually had any power at all, think about it. If the magicians had real power, they wouldn't replicate what just occurred with the last clean glass of water in the entire country. What would they have done? They would have said good trick, moses, but we're going to go ahead and reverse that. Now we're going to turn back to clean water. They throw down their Uno reverse card and make something special happen. It would actually benefit themselves and the people. But they didn't do that. They just imitated, they just copied. They had no real power. For the same reason, faith healers don't go to hospitals. They didn't turn the Nile back to clean water because they couldn't the Nile back to clean water, because they couldn't.
Speaker 1:Nevertheless, that was enough for Pharaoh. He saw enough in a clean glass of water turning to blood by his magicians. He saw enough to comfort his mind with the small thought that somehow, in some way, the trickery of Moses and Aaron and the power of their God was nothing more than what his own people could do, even on short notice. He saw the staff turn to a snake and eat the staff of his magicians. Now he saw the Nile and the water of the land turned to blood, but a small puddle that the magicians were able to turn to the same was right before him. So he had what he wanted to justify his obstinance and to be able to lay his head on his pillow at night.
Speaker 1:And in Pharaoh's mind, he had an excuse to to yield nothing to the Israelites and to the demands of their God. Remember, back at the beginning of Exodus, the very same river, this very same river that is now blood. It had been the grave of innocent babies. Now, by the impenitence of Pharaoh, the Egyptians were digging for water, or so they thought. They were really digging their own graves. They might have gained some water, but surely they were unable to gain deliverance. Pharaoh's conscience was seared and he showed no signs of relenting. Pharaoh's heart was hardened and with each new sign and wonder, instead of softening it only grows harder and harder and harder. And if you are my non-Christian friend here tonight, my prayer for you is that you hear the truth of God's word and what he has done and what he can do, and that your heart doesn't grow hard, but instead you will see these great works of God as he has intended for you to see them.
Speaker 1:God often uses signs and wonders throughout the scriptures to prove that he is the Lord. This was the truth of the ministry of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons Jesus he performed so many miracles was to prove his Lordship. When John the Baptist asked for proof that Jesus was the Christ, jesus said in Matthew 11, go back and report to John what you hear and see. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear and the dead are raised. The signs and wonders that Jesus performed, particularly his resurrection from the dead, prove that he is the Lord. But God proves his Lordship through mighty acts of judgment as well as through miracles of grace. He often convinces people that he is Lord by causing them to suffer the consequences of their sin. So it was for Pharaoh and the Egyptians. It took an outpouring of divine wrath to convince them that the God of Israel was Lord over all the gods of Egypt.
Speaker 1:And so do not delay, my friend. Look to Christ, enjoy life in Christ, delight in Christ, live for Christ, and the Lord will remove that hard heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh for his glory and, most ultimately, in his glory you will receive everlasting good. Amen. Let's pray together.
Speaker 1:Father, we are so very grateful that your word fills us with the truth of who you are and how you operate and what you do and how you do it to bring us to the end of ourselves and to remind us again and again and again that you are God of all of our worship and we are not, that you are worthy of all the glory and the honor and the praise that this world can offer.
Speaker 1:And may it be that every heart, every soul in this building tonight would render true worship onto you, that we would look away from ourselves and look to the one true and living God.
Speaker 1:Lord, help us to walk faithfully, even when the lives that we live are a stench to the world around us. Help us, lord, to know that this is all part of your plan, that while our lives, our very lives and the way we live them, might be a putrid smell in the nostrils of those who do not know Christ, we know because of the Lord, jesus Christ. It is a sweet, smelling aroma that we get to enjoy for all eternity. I pray, oh Lord, for my non-believing friends here tonight. I pray that you would help them to smell the sweetness of Jesus, bring them to the end of themselves, lord. Give them new life that they might know the truth of your word and who you are and who you are for them in the Lord Jesus. Do this, o God, that you might receive even more glory, and we pray that you would do so in Jesus' name, amen.