Exodus Devotional Day 2 | Will You Trust in the Lord?
The Book of Exodus
The Greatness of God to His People in Need
Exodus Chapter 7, Day 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. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 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. 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.” (Exodus 7:2-5)
We’ve established a link between what God’s people were experiencing thousands of years ago with today--and that God’s Word is good for us and matters to us today.
With that said, we have a choice to make when facing the oncoming uncertainty of our times. An oncoming disease, an economy that’s getting flipped upside down, and changing home dynamics (kids having to stay home, learning to work and do church remotely)...these are all bringing change and uncertainty. We can choose to approach these times and circumstances with Pharaoh’s mind or with the mind of God’s people.
Pharaoh thinks he’s the sovereign of his life--that he’s in control and that he’s the one who’s going to have to figure everything out, protect himself and his family, keep his kingdom awesome, and that it all rests on him. As we encounter the next several chapters of Exodus, we’ll see that Pharaoh experiences frustration, fear, depression, and fury. At every turn, he’ll see God’s control and power...and he won’t love it. He’ll hate it.
What will God’s people see? They’ll see the very same thing Pharaoh and Egypt see. Plagues, uncertainty, strife, darkness, natural disasters...and though they won’t like it, they’ll see God’s glory and power and find hope. They’ll find courage. They’ll find peace, in the midst of the darkness and plagues. Because they know, trust in, and love the one who’s bringing it about. They’ll come to know that the God who is bringing it all about is for them and loves them. They’ll see God’s control and power and they’ll eventually love it.
We’re all going to have to face what the Corona Virus is doing (and will do) to our world. The disruption to our careers and the markets. The disruption to our kids’ educations. The panic and fear the public around us will express. The separation, due to social distancing, we’ll face as a church. And, yes, the sickness and pain that many of us may experience or be touched by in our families.
The question is: how will you face it all? Who will you trust in and obey in these times? How do you want to feel as you meet these new changes?
Will you be like Pharaoh (I do not know this Lord; I don’t fear him; I don’t trust him; I’ll do as I see fit and forge my own future)?
Will you trust in the Lord--obeying him, doing what he lets you do in wisdom, trusting that what he’s bringing about, even in darkness, will serve his glory and your good?
Take some time to look at your COVID-19 preparations--are you making decisions as though Jesus has already gone through the worst for you and you’re promised eternal life in him?
Pray today, asking the Lord to give you peace that the world might call foolish, trusting that King Jesus has already weathered the worst plagues and has won on your behalf.