SCRIPTURE: Exodus 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’” [Exodus 9:4]
This chapter suggests the following: God causes the plagues, God decides who is plagued and who is spared, and God hardens peoples hearts – not a nice picture of God…
But what needs to be added is this: God created the world without plagues and injustice and suffering, God gave us free will to choose how to live in this world, people have made this world the mess it is, and unleashed plague and war and misery, and – most importantly – God has not given up on us.
God is not the source of the plagues, but He does direct them for Him purpose.
He guides (not causes) our sinful choices and their consequences to accomplish His rescue operation.

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. [Matthew 2:16]
“Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” [Matthew 2:13]
God steps into this sin-messed world many times and many ways, but especially through Jesus.
When Jesus comes, Satan and sinful humans conspire to kill Him, and unleash all kinds of misery.
But God “makes a distinction” for the infant Saviour, so that He does not die (yet).
God does not cause the misery in these chapters, but He does direct them, for His purpose.
And when Jesus finally does die, God is directing that too… for His purpose.
This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death [Acts 2:23-24]

Many things happen in the world today that make people blame God.
But God is not the cause of all the misery in the world, we are.
Yet God has not abandoned us to our folly and misery; He has stepped in and is working to rescue us, if we will admit our folly and seek His help.
Pharoah’s heart is already hard, and God confirms that pre-existing hardness so that He can show His power and greatness, to make them repent and respect Him [as some did, Exodus 9:20].
Everything God does is His way of getting our attention, and getting us to look to Him.
Especially Jesus, God’s greatest act of mercy, to help us find our way back to Him.
Satan cannot stop Him, sin cannot defeat Him, death cannot stop Him – God’s plan will succeed.
But will our hearts remain closed (hardened), or will we open up to Him and seek His mercy and grace?

PRAYER:
Lord, everything that happens – the good and the bad – is a part of Your purpose to rescue and restore me. Open my struggling heart to receive You, to receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord!