For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14, ESV
Our God created us, so we know that from conception into death and beyond He knows us and is capable of all things to and through us by His Holy Spirit.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV
With all that is evil and wrong in this world, we can trust our faithful and loving God who controls and guides everything according to His will.
We are getting close to the Passover time of year! How fitting that we are currently in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic at the time of posting this!
Why? Because the Passover started during … THE 10 PLAGUES ON EGYPT!
Does God allow or even send things like pandemics and plagues?
Is there a purpose to suffering?
Can God use evil for good? How do we define good and evil?
Now, to the big question of the day:
Can we learn from the 10 Plagues today?
Plagues and False Hopes Exodus 7-12
Ten/10 is the number of completion, so God’s judgment is thorough and complete.
God gave Egypt plagues for each of their most powerful gods and goddesses.
#1 – Plague of the Nile into Blood
Hapi – god of the Nile This lasted 7 days, the number of perfection.
#2 – Plague of Frogs
Heket – goddess of Fertility and Water She had the head of a frog. Magicians made more frogs appear, but only Moses and Aaron could get rid of them.
#3 – Plague of Gnats/Lice/Mosquitos
Geb – god of the Earth 1st plague the magicians couldn’t copy (8:18-19) Remember that we are made from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7)
#4 – Plague of Flies
Khepri – god of creation, movement of the Sun, and rebirth He had the head of a fly.
#5 – Plague of the Death of Livestock
Hathor – goddess of Love and Protection She had the head of a cow Economic disaster: food, transportation, and farming is affected.
Plagues 1-5 remove sources of sustenance and income.
#6 – Plague of Boils
Isis – goddess of Medicine and Peace Egyptians were neat-freaks and germophobes. This plague announced their uncleanness.
#7 – Plague of Hail and Fire & Brimstone
Nut – goddess of the Sky First plague to affect the household of Pharaoh himself. Affected the crops of flax and barley: used for making clothing and beer. The Egyptians would not be able to cover their nakedness nor “forget their woes” with alcohol. Wheat was not affected, showing God provides bread …
#8 – Plague of Locusts
Set – god of Storms and Disorder Locusts eat everything. This devastates even the food supply.
#9 – Plague of Darkness for Three Days
Ra – The Sun god, the highest god Their god of light was controlled by God. Darkness symbolizes spiritual blindness and death, judgment and hopelessness.
Plagues 6-9 remove sources of health and peace.
#10 – Plague of the Death of the Firstborn
Pharaoh – the living god If their worshiped king cannot stop a foreign deity from killing his son, is he really worthy of their worship? (No.) Most obviously, this points to Christ, the only Son of God and firstborn of the Resurrection, all others finding salvation from death through His shed blood.
Plague 10 removes our self-reliance.
God will allow and even send calamities, pestilences, and pandemics to show His power and sovereignty, and He might also do it to bring judgment on nations.
Think of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, or the locust swarms in Africa at this time. Or think of all of the wildfires in 2019.
Is this a buildup to Christ’s return? Maybe. Maybe not.
At the very least, God is in control, and our world has been pushing Him away like crazy. Just as the Egyptians claimed differing gods and had prophets declaring false things, we see this all over the world today, even within Christianity.
Just as the only salvation from death in the 10th plague was blood, the only way we know we are saved from eternal death is through the blood of God’s firstborn, Jesus Christ. We may not escape earthly suffering, but we are saved from eternal judgment. (And see the last lesson about those who have not heard the Gospel!)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV
You may suffer and face hard times, but know it is ordained by God. He is there comforting you so that you can then be a comfort to others for love and His glory.
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
Isaiah 25:1, ESV
Our God, who planned out history and redemption before the world was made, is faithful to fulfill all He has willed and promised.
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1, ESV
In other words, entrust your plans to God, and realize He is in control. Rest in His strength and wisdom.
My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9 ESV
Do you yearn for and earnestly seek the Lord?
One of the reasons we see unpleasant things happen in this world is that He allows or even orchestrates them for our righteousness.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!