Advent Journey: December 14th

© Michael Livesay-Wright

Questions and Reflections

QUESTION: What was the reason for the plagues?

As it says in the poem, "Pharaoh's heart hardened." In fact, in one of the more confusing Scriptures, God tells Moses, "I will harden Pharaoh's heart" (Exodus 7:3, ESV). There's an interesting take on this verse from the good people at the Bible Project. But whether you believe God actually made Pharaoh impervious to persuasion or God was turning Pharaoh's own sinful heart back on him, the result is the plagues of Egypt. "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" (Exodus 7:4, ESV). It's an interesting time to think about plagues, isn't it? A plague is any kind of (usually widespread) disaster, though it often refers to disease. In this case, Moses is going to go before the Pharaoh with a message from God, "set my people free." And every time Pharaoh is going to say "no" (or he's going to say yes and then almost immediately take it back). What's truly sad about this, whether its illness or one of the stranger plagues described in Exodus, is that plagues impact everyone indiscriminately. This may seem cruel on the part of God, to afflict a whole people group with... (1) water turning to blood, (2) frogs everywhere, (3) gnats everywhere, (4) flies everywhere, (5) livestock dying all over the nation, (6) horrible boils on humans, (7) destructive hail, (8) locusts devouring crops, (9) Darkness across the land, and finally (10) Death of the firstborn. But every time Pharaoh is offered a way out -- A way to make a different choice. And every time he chooses to resist God's way out. So, in this way, the plagues are a sign to the Israelites and to the Egyptians of the power of God, but they are also symbolic of our own patterns. Time and again we choose selfish choices, we choose sin over God's way. And while we may not be ruler over a nation like Pharaoh is, our choices have a negative impact on many people around us (an impact we may not see). We may even stare the consequences of our actions straight in the face and say "no, I don't want to change" or "I can't change." And the results are inevitable. The wages of sin is death. So suffering, hurt, heartache will come. You and I may not experience our house being overtaken by frogs or horrible boils all over our bodies, but we still experience both the opportunity to repent and obey or the path that leads to the consequences of disobedience.


QUESTION: Why did the children of God mark their doors?

Speaking of symbolism, this last plague and the rich tradition of the Passover that comes out of it, it one of the most powerful and enduring symbols in Scripture. The last plague is truly heartbreaking. In a literal display of the consequences of sin (and perhaps even a direct consequence of the horrible command Pharaoh had previously put out to kill Israelite baby boys), God said that the oldest child of every human and every animal in the kingdom would have to die. But, in a great act of grace, God offers the Israelites who chose to listen, a way out, an opportunity to be saved from this judgement. They must choose a lamb, a lamb without spots or blemishes, and sacrifice that lamb. And then they are to take a little of the blood from that lamb and put it on the doorframe. This may seem rather cruel to you, but the slaughtering of animals and animal sacrifice was certainly very normal during this time period. And Scripture says, "When He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you" (Exodus 12:23, ESV). And so, with this symbolic death of a lamb, death will be kept at bay -- death will "pass over" the house. Thus the tradition of the Passover was born. But, more importantly, the future perfect sacrifice is foreshadowed -- one that will permanently free everyone form the penalty of sin!

QUESTION: Do you struggle to fight against stubborn sins?

The story of the Israelites is mostly a story of salvation and God's plan for His people. But it is also the story of a very stubborn leader who is determined to hold onto his own power. After the horror of the final plague, Pharaoh practically begs the Israelites to leave. So they march out with joy, carrying their positions and their children, marching towards the future God has for them. But Pharaoh and his fellow politicians look around and wonder "What have we done? Why have we let go this massive workforce we had at our beck and call?" And once again, he returns to this cruel, grasping after power. He makes one last attempt to resist God's plan. It's futile, of course, but he takes his armies and chases after God's people. We may think this is foolish after all Pharaoh has seen. But how many times do you and I cling tightly to the same things that make us feel comfortable or powerful or in control, even when we know they are not good for us, even when we know the terrible consequences. Soft hearts towards God is what we must pray for -- the opposite of what Pharaoh clung to. 

QUESTION: Or perhaps do you struggle as the Israelites did with remembering God's goodness and power when you face terrible fears?

There were the Israelites, they had just escaped from 450 years of slavery! They were camped out beside the Red Sea with their children and grandparents and probably their sheep and goats. Suddenly they receive word that Pharaoh is coming for them. Here they are with the sea before them and Pharaoh behind them. They are trapped! What was their first thought? "Why in the world did we think we could leave?" or "What has God done to us?" So many times when we face fear we suddenly forget what God can do. I understand. I do it too. All we can think about is our current suffering or the possibility of pain and we suddenly feel abandoned by God. The people cry out in anger to Moses, " Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?" (Exodus 14:11, ESV). They seem to have suddenly forgotten the marvelous and miraculous journey the Lord has brought them on, that he saved them from death and out of slavery. And instead they wish they had never come. God isn't for them. He does not have their best interest at heart. (Doesn't this sound like the snake's tempting words to Eve?) Do you find yourself in this place? Do you feel abandoned by God? Do you have trouble remembering His mighty works? Ask for that soft heart. Ask to remember. And ask to see Him move again. He does it for the Israelites. One of my favorite passages is Exodus 14:13-14, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see agin. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." Those words are certainly convicting to me. "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." And that is exactly what He does. He brings about a mighty wind that literally sweeps the waters of the sea aside. The waters were divided in two and the land in the middle, the land that used to be at the bottom of the sea is dry! The Israelites pass through safely and when the Egyptians try to pursue, the wheels of their chariots are caught in mud and the waters rush back and overtake them. And so God does indeed fight for His people, even in their weakness and their lack of faith. We too are weak and lack faith, but we can ask God to strengthen our faith and we can trust that His story is good and His lovingkindness never wavers, even if we don't understand our current circumstances.