March 13, 2023

God's power triumphs

Exodus 7

Carla Moss
Monday's Devo

March 13, 2023

Monday's Devo

March 13, 2023

Monday's Devo

March 13, 2023

Monday's Devo

March 13, 2023

Big Idea

God reveals the way and His will through His Word.

Key Verse | Exodus 7:17

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 into blood."

Exodus 7

Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh

1 And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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 into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’” 19 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their 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.’”

20 Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 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. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.

25 Seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.

"The magician's power? What's up with that?"

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Exodus 7

So imagine you are Aaron. You're standing next to your brother Moses as his newly appointed prophet. Your job is to stand between Moses and Pharaoh and communicate God's will to the king. The king is stubborn and not a big fan of your God. Based on your personality, is your attitude:
a) I can do this—I've got Moses, and I'm actually pretty good at leading;
b) Who are you kidding? This is impossible; I'm out; or
c) I have no idea if I can do this, but I'm going to step out in faith.

You are all C's, right?

If you're like me, A and B happen too many times. How many times do we doubt? How often does pride take over? We know in our heads that God's got this (Isaiah 55:9; Psalms 24:1; Ephesians 1:11), but then that thing called sin creeps in and our hearts don't follow.

In today's passage, God uses plagues as signs to show that God is in control. How often do we want a sign, but we don't get one? Dr. Constable, a commentator, states, "God referred to the miracles Moses would do as 'signs' (i.e., miracles with special significance) and 'wonders' (miracles producing wonder or awe in those who witnessed them, Exodus 7:3)." (Constable's Notes on Exodus 7:1-7, p. 72.) Signs are to stir up awe and wonder of our Almighty God. Despite Pharaoh's refusal, authority, and power, God prevailed. And the best part—God revealed to His people that He can be trusted. He can do anything. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be there? After all those plagues, you are standing amazed; and then He parts the Red Sea!

While we are certain we have the answer to most of our prayer requests, lean into the awe. After all, like all of us sinners, Moses wasn't perfect either. D.L. Moody, another commentator, "wittily said: 'Moses spent forty years in Pharaoh's court thinking he was somebody; forty years in the desert learning he was nobody; and forty years showing what God can do with somebody who found out he was nobody.'" (Constable's Notes on Exodus 7:1-7, pp. 72-73, quoting Bernard Ramm, His Way Out, p. 54.)

This month's memory verse

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

– John 14:27

Discussion Questions

1. Do you struggle when a plan goes awry? Does pride kick in, and you put your skills to work? Or do you cave and doubt God? What steps can you put in place to make sure you stop and inquire of God first? (Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:5; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:6-7)

2. What do you do when you think God is directing you one way and your community is citing Scripture that points you another way? How do you resolve that dilemma? How would you widen the circle to seek further advice? (Proverbs 12:15, 14:12, 15:22; Romans 8:28)

3. Is it okay to pray and ask God for a sign?  Why or why not?  See gotquestions.org/signs-and-wonders.html. (Psalms 136:3-4; Hebrews 2:3-4; Psalm 78:32; John 6:26, 20:29)

4. What Scripture can you give to a group member or friend who is doubting God's plan for their life? (John 14:26; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 10:23)

5. Do you believe God can use you? Would He really take a somebody who found out he was a nobody? Why or why not?

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

HS

Hugh Stephenson

GM Carla. No, I’m not a C. That is unless I have failed a bajillion times. Only then can I “lean into the awe”. ------------------------------------------------------------ A magician was hired for the birthday party of a young girl. He got her to “help” him do the tricks. At the end of the sequence, she turned to family and friends and said- “Look what I did!” Pharoah has a similar view. Egypt had immense natural advantages in crop, climate, and geography. Capable enemies were few. Thus, they become the mightiest nation of their time. It’s said that almost all failure is the result of a lack of imagination; one is not able to imagine how bad or good their fortune can get. There is a navel-gazing self-focus in this that comes out in Pharoah’s attitude. Pharoah can’t imagine why he should the people go. Their “god” allowed then to be enslaved!!
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Yet, God promises that Pharoah will know that He is the covenant keeping YAHWEH whose sovereignty and supremacy make Pharaoh look like a playground bully. Inconceivable. https://youtu.be/dTRKCXC0JFg It was “inconceivable” that, given all the natural and material advantages I had growing up that- -I would ever have malignant cancer. -I would ever have it again. -After one dumpster-fire relationship after another that I would ever find that wife I desperately wanted. Then my first of two fully surrendered prayers were supernaturally answered. -We would ever have significant challenges in our marriage. -Amy and I would have problems having children. Then three miscarriages. Then three children. -I would have trouble getting momentum in my business. It took 10 years. -We would EVER have prodigal children. -after 4 decades of alcoholism that I would be miraculously healed upon my second fully surrendered prayer.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

-God would reveal Himself to me in spectacular ways to prove He was real, fully engaged and had a plan for my life. -I would ever be able to have 100% confidence in the resurrection and he truth of the Bible. -God would give me the life I always wanted by showing me that without Him, all the “stuff” was just filthy rags, (Isaiah 64:6, Matthew 6:19, Galatians 1:10). ----------------------------------------------------------- My disbelief was overcome with God’s 1,000% unmerited favor. Pharoah’s disbelief was overcome by horrific and tragic consequences. Did I have Pharaoh’s hardness of heart? Or just stubborn & stupid pride? Maybe a mix. Ephesians 1:3-14 “D. L. Moody wittily said that Moses spent -forty years in Pharaoh's court thinking he was somebody; -forty years in the desert learning he was nobody; and -forty years showing what God can do with somebody who found out he was nobody." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY
MS

Michael Sisson

Re: Ex 7:1 Ex 7:1 (NASB) Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, >>>I make you as God to Pharaoh,<<< and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. Re: Ex 7: Ex 7:3 (NASB1995) “But I will harden Pharaoh's heart >>>that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.<<< Re: Ex 7:12 Ex 7:12 (NASB) For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But >>>Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.<<< "The kabbalists noted that the numerical value of both Hebrew words nachash (serpent, נחש) and mashiach (Messiah, משיח) is 358. They interpreted this to mean that the ‘holy serpent’ (the Messiah) will ultimately destroy the ‘evil serpent’ (Satan)." — FFOZ http://ffoz.org/discover/prayer/the-copper-laver.html Re: Ex 7:20 Ex 7:20 (NASB) So Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and >>>all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.<<< A fulfillment of Ex 4:8-9. Re: Ex 7:22 You’d think the last thing Egyptians needed was less water and more blood. Turning the blood back into water would have been a more impressive feat.
MS

Michael Scaman

Pharaoh would wear a head dress with a snake( sometimes 2). This continues the genre of the seed of the serpent fighting against the seed of the woman. Pharaoh is supposed to have a perfect heart but he has a hardened heart. God hardens. Pharaoh hardens, God hardens. Pharaoh hardens, God hardens. Pharaoh hardens, back and forth in a confluence of wills where God's will is the more decisive. We were told in English Lit class when we studied Macbeth that 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. That is often what it appears but it might be more true to say a fallen heart will sink under its own weight without healthy restraints and that is the way of the world without healthy checks and balances and healthy restraints. Human nature is fallen and without healthy restraints will sink into corruption.
MS

Michael Scaman

The God's of the Egyptians will all be judged. The first two plagues will be an irony. The people said God made them stink in Pharaoh's eyes and God shows them if He wants to make something stink He can really do it with dead fish and dead frogs. The first 9 will come in cycles of 3. 2 announced then 1 unannounced. 2 announced then 1 unannounced. 2 announced then 1 unannounced. Th 9th will be a time of sitting in darkness for Egyptians to reflect then an ultimate blow with the 10th plague.
JC

JOHN CIMMERMAN

The post titled: “God’s Supremacy Over the False gods of Egypt displayed thru the 10 Plagues” By Dr. Gary Barker By Contributed Article | Feb 26, 2022
JC

JOHN CIMMERMAN

It needed to add 2 my post that the article about is found in the The Paso Robles Press. Thank you for Join The Journey it’s my companion each day! Praise God for whom all blessings flow!
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks, Carla! It's sobering to read about the Egyptian magicians copy-catting the supernatural signs God did through Moses and Aaron. People just can't turn staffs into serpents or turn water into blood--but apparently Satan can. Apparently, he has some sort of shape-shifting power over the physical realm. (And maybe this is connected to the Nephilim, where spirit beings were able to take on human form to mate with human women? Soooo many questions on my list to ask in heaven!) I note that the Satanic/demonic energy that empowered the Egyptian magicians to copy what Yahweh did through Moses and Aaron is derivative, not original. Satan can't come up with anything original, he can only try to duplicate what God has done. If we are living in the end times, we may well live to see Satanic signs and wonders that would fool "even the elect" (Matthew 24:24). So we need to be exercising our discernment muscles all the time and keep checking with the Lord!
AL

Amy Lowther

1. When a plan goes awry, I get upset. I would say personal skills and God’s values kick in. Steps to ensure putting God first would include participating in church services and activities a lot as well as reading the Bible. These steps would help build the value of God so that God would be put first when plans go awry. 2. I would ask that we could pray for the best answer. If we pray and use Gods guidance, I would not widen the circle. 3. Yes, but God would prefer we each work at life using His guidance and His gifts. 4. Scriptures I would use to encourage a group member or friend to believe in God would be: Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:13, and 2 Timothy 1:7. 5. Yes, because God loves each of us and believes in each of us.