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This is God’s finger

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The third plague of mosquitoes (Exodus 8:12-15) from the Exodus out of Egypt happen without any warning.

The Mosquitoes arises from the dust of the earth. The earth, like water, was personified in a deity by the Egyptians. This deity was called Seb. Seb was a father of the gods, with a bird on his head – a sign of life.

All people and livestock are affected by the plague. Again, the magicians try to come up with their imitations, but this time their attempt is useless. They say, “That’s God’s finger.”

Mosquitoes are animals that suck blood from humans. We read in Leviticus 17:11 that in the blood is life.

The plague is a symbol of an apostate world in which life is being sucked out of us. Instead of right use, there is abuse. Work does not satisfy but becomes a burden. We are busy with diseases that are often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Instead of helping each other, we’re undermining each other.

In this situation, turning to God, the giver of true life, would be the matter of the day. The answer to the world’s need would be, not to accuse God, but to turn to Him.

When our life disappears in our hands, we should ask us what really matters in life.

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The message behind the frogs

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The ten plagues are a model for the apocalypse of Revelation.

For the ancient Egyptians, the frog became a symbol of life and fertility because it brought fertility and thus life to the otherwise barren land with the alleged Nile flood. The Egyptian goddess of childbirth, Heqet, was depicted as a frog or with a frog’s head.

With the second plague, the message to Pharaoh was, “I, God, give life to every house and take it away, whenever I will.” Pharaoh thought he could determine who should be born and who should die.

The truth is, life is not doable. We can do many things, but it is God who gives a yes to every life and he can end every life when he wants.

Being born and dying affects every house. What is a good divine order can cause much hardship and misery through misuse. What should be a blessing becomes a plague.

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Our life depends on God

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In Egypt, all vegetation depends on the water of the Nile. God says to Pharaoh through the first plague in Exodus 7:17-18, “You are dependent. I can take your livelihood away from you at any time.”

The turning of Nile water into blood is about realizing that our life depends on God. Every moment in our life is a gift from God.

What is interesting is that Pharaoh’s people were able to take life away from them and add to the misery but were unable to heal the damage (Exodus 7:22).

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God sets the limits

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In the biblical context, the serpent is always a symbol of evil. However, evil only has as much power as God allows.

Even though man can imitate evil, it is limited by God. God puts an end when he wants.

From the stick of Moses we know that the serpent could only work until Moses took it again. In Exodus 7:15 we see that the same thing happened to Aaron’s stick and the serpent became the stick again.

The message to Pharaoh in Exodus 7:12 and to all who want to understand it is clear: God has the power to set limits. God intervenes when things get too much out of order.

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The structure of the 10 plagues

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There is an interesting structure in the text. Three times Moses should go to Pharaoh early in the morning. By the first (Exodus 7:15), fourth (Exodus 8:16) and seventh plague (Exodus 9:13) God always makes a new beginning. In all three cases, Moses must appear before Pharaoh early in the morning. Each morning points a beginning of God’s calling to the Pharaoh and Egypt. Continue reading The structure of the 10 plagues →

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Three levels in the 10 plagues of Egypt

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There are three levels in the 10 plagues of Egypt. On the one hand, through history we see what man is like and what God is like.

Then history is also a model that shows us how God knocks on peoples’ doors and on individuals. We see how God gives opportunities for repentance and how he speaks more and more clearly.

But it also becomes visible how man distances himself more and more from God. Man does not perish because he knows nothing about God, but because he does not want to admit him. There were also Egyptians who joined Israel. Exodus 12:38 says, “A great crowd of other people also went with them.”

It is interesting that in the last book of the Bible, in Revelation, similar plagues are mentioned. There it also says that people do not want to turn back to God.

It is an eye opener that God does not change the world but leads people who trust in him out of trouble. We see that in Noah, in Lot of Sodom, in Moses and in Revelation.

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Worship God – even in misery

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“Then the people believed, and when they heard that the LORD had taken care of the Israelites and seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped him” (Exodus 4:31).

They recognized their misery. But they had not yet heard that God had mercy on them. They were still in the midst of misery. There was still nothing to be seen of salvation. The only new thing was God’s Word – His promise. And that was enough for them. They take it in faith. That was their insurance of salvation. That bowed them down and made them worship their God!

It’s the same for us today. As humans, we are mired in misery. But then comes the Good News: Jesus wants to free us from slavery! We can entrust ourselves to Jesus. The situation itself has not changed at this moment. But Moses and Aaron assured the Israelites: God will save them. This insurance is sufficient. They bow in worship.

Those who can praise God before completion gain the strength and courage to trust in God even in the face of difficulties. Whoever invites Jesus into his life also receives the certainty that he will accomplish everything. In Philippians 1:6 Paul writes, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

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The three messianic signs from God to Moses

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(Exodus 4:1-9)

The staff that becomes a serpent and then a staff again is an image that evil can only go as far as God allows. Jesus will defeat the serpent, the devil, through love for God. Genesis 3:15 says, “He (Jesus) shall bruise your head, and you (serpent) shall bruise his heel.” When Jesus healed the mute demoniac possessed man, it became clear that he had power over the devil and his demons.

The healing of leprosy is another sign of the Messiah. When Jesus healed the leper, the question of whether he was the Messiah was raised publicly for the first time. From that point on, the scribes came to Jesus and watched him.

The transformation of water into blood is also the sequence of symbolism found by Jesus. At his first miracle at the wedding at Cana, he turned water into wine. At Passover he pointed the cup of redemption to his vicarious death on the cross, where his blood was shed for the forgiveness of all human transgressions. This sacrificial death becomes effective for everyone who gratefully accepts Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and no longer builds on their own righteousness. Life (water) is obtained by protecting the blood of God’s vicarious Lamb, is the message of Passover. Jesus says it this way in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

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Moses reacts reservedly to God’s calling

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Moses knows it’s not an easy task. Therefore, he rejects God’s commission. Once he had been a royal prince. Now he’s just a poor shepherd. That may have been embarrassing for him. Because it says in (Genesis 46:34): “Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” He also spent the very best years of his life, from forty to eighty, in no man’s land. His best manhood was wasted with roving. Now he is old. Who will still expect much from an 80-year-old man? What a failure from a proud height!

God doesn’t make mistakes. Continue reading Moses reacts reservedly to God’s calling →

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God reveals himself in a thorn bush

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God introduces to Moses himself as the I AM. Not as the Creator. God is defined by being, not by action. This is exciting. We in the West are touched by action. In the East one defines oneself in being. It is important whose son or daughter I am and not what awards I have received. Maybe we should fix our identity more in being. If we have given ourselves to Jesus, then we are children of God and that is enough. We love God because he is and not because he does something for us.

The second thing to notice is that God does not reveal himself in a way that can be disposed of by calling his name. He doesn’t fit into our thinking box. He defines himself as a God who is related to us humans. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He spoke to all these forefathers. He promised everyone that through Israel he would bless all peoples. God keeps his promises. God keeps his word.

It is also noticeable that God reveals himself in a thorn bush. In fact, one would expect something else. Kind of like the shepherds in Bethlehem. Heaven opens and the glory of God becomes visible. Throughout the Bible it becomes clear again and again: God reveals his love in suffering. We see that by Job. Then when everything fails, then God is there. Not as a consuming fire, but as a light in the darkness. Just as he also appeared at Pentecost over the first church in tongues of fire and thus pointed out: In the midst of all your troubles I reveal myself by being with each and every one of you and enlightening you. Jesus endures our suffering and supports us in our suffering.

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’

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