S) "4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel."*
Exodus 9:4 (NASB)
*This is The LORD telling Moses what he is to tell Pharaoh
O) This plague establishes 3 things.
First, it is a continuation that God will not relent. His purpose will not fail, His word will not fail. He told Moses and Pharaoh that the plagues will continue until His people are freed.
Second, it further asserts His divinity. As I wrote yesterday, the world will try to replicate and, therefore, replace God. There are lots of ways to kill the cattle of a nation, even in that era, but how do you target cattle owned by specific people? God is omnipotent, purposeful, and specific.
Third, it is a tremendous example of The LORD's favor, provision, and protection. His people are living in a nation that is going through an unprecedented tribulation, and God is faithful throughout it to spare His people in gracious lovingkindness.
A) In response to each of those three elements, I need to remember and do the following 3 things.
First, I need to seek and trust the will of The LORD. Whatever storms rage around me, when I am sure of His will and purpose then I will know that the storm is temporary and I can rest assured that I will be better for it in the end - however "end" is measured according to God.
Second, I need to remember this story and let it build my faith that nothing is too big for God. He has the power to do anything. He alone can bless me, and he can bless me alone. His blessing may come from others (as we'll see soon as the Israelites leave), or it may come directly from Him. It may bless others with me (as it did with Jacob, living with Laban), or it may be me directly, specifically, and solely (like here).
Third, I need to be thankful for his grace. It is difficult to seek The LORD for His sake, without knowing that He blesses those who are truly seeking Him. I need to keep my focus on Him, and not on what He can do for me. When I am letting my focus shift to what He can do for me, then I might actually be focused on my problems and just thinking of God as a solution. I need to trust Him without trying to guess how He'll provide, exactly. Prayerful consideration and planning can be fine, as long as it's done while seeking His will, but as soon as I am trying to plan on behalf of God, planning for what He should do, then it's taken a very wrong turn.
P) Father, let me remember that I am every bit as much one of your children as these Israelites. Let me keep the perspective that, whatever I am going through now, it's nothing like the oppression and suffering they experienced here. I have no right to assume You deliverence for me will look like the same, dramatice, obvious, flashy deliverence they received. But, I will assert and believe that however You see me through my current struggles, Your deliverence for me is no less miraculous and praiseworthy. Let me trust that You will deliver without my planning. I concede that You don't need my help. I ask that You clear my heart of wrong motives when I plan and review my circumstances. Let everything I do be in reflection of Your will, sovereignty, power, and grace. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
First, it is a continuation that God will not relent. His purpose will not fail, His word will not fail. He told Moses and Pharaoh that the plagues will continue until His people are freed.
Second, it further asserts His divinity. As I wrote yesterday, the world will try to replicate and, therefore, replace God. There are lots of ways to kill the cattle of a nation, even in that era, but how do you target cattle owned by specific people? God is omnipotent, purposeful, and specific.
Third, it is a tremendous example of The LORD's favor, provision, and protection. His people are living in a nation that is going through an unprecedented tribulation, and God is faithful throughout it to spare His people in gracious lovingkindness.
A) In response to each of those three elements, I need to remember and do the following 3 things.
First, I need to seek and trust the will of The LORD. Whatever storms rage around me, when I am sure of His will and purpose then I will know that the storm is temporary and I can rest assured that I will be better for it in the end - however "end" is measured according to God.
Second, I need to remember this story and let it build my faith that nothing is too big for God. He has the power to do anything. He alone can bless me, and he can bless me alone. His blessing may come from others (as we'll see soon as the Israelites leave), or it may come directly from Him. It may bless others with me (as it did with Jacob, living with Laban), or it may be me directly, specifically, and solely (like here).
Third, I need to be thankful for his grace. It is difficult to seek The LORD for His sake, without knowing that He blesses those who are truly seeking Him. I need to keep my focus on Him, and not on what He can do for me. When I am letting my focus shift to what He can do for me, then I might actually be focused on my problems and just thinking of God as a solution. I need to trust Him without trying to guess how He'll provide, exactly. Prayerful consideration and planning can be fine, as long as it's done while seeking His will, but as soon as I am trying to plan on behalf of God, planning for what He should do, then it's taken a very wrong turn.
P) Father, let me remember that I am every bit as much one of your children as these Israelites. Let me keep the perspective that, whatever I am going through now, it's nothing like the oppression and suffering they experienced here. I have no right to assume You deliverence for me will look like the same, dramatice, obvious, flashy deliverence they received. But, I will assert and believe that however You see me through my current struggles, Your deliverence for me is no less miraculous and praiseworthy. Let me trust that You will deliver without my planning. I concede that You don't need my help. I ask that You clear my heart of wrong motives when I plan and review my circumstances. Let everything I do be in reflection of Your will, sovereignty, power, and grace. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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