Moses and Aaron had a big job to do for the Lord. The Lord warned them that it wasn’t going to be easy.
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharoah, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharoah to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharoah’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharoah will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt by great acts of judgement. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel among them.’ Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharoah.” (Exodus 7:1-7 ESV)
Moses and Aaron had to stand up to their oppressor knowing ahead of time that his heart would be hardened and not listen. Wow, I can’t imagine! As someone who doesn’t like confrontation, I cannot imagine having to confront someone who you knew ahead of time could not be convinced. I can understand Moses’ hesitation. But the brothers pressed on and God revealed his power to Pharoah and the Egyptians through the plagues.
“He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words. He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. He spoke, and there came swarms of fllies, and gnats throughout their country. He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightening bolts through their land. He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. He struck the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.” (Psalm 105:26-36 ESV)
Through all of these plaques, God led his people out of their oppression. He took care of them in their new home. They weren’t just given what they needed, they were given it in abundance.
“Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night. They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from Heaven in abundance. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham, his servant. So He brought His people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing. And He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil, that they might keep His statutes and observes His laws. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 105:37-45 ESV)
As believers, we too have an inheritance and His blessings in abundance. May we also praise the Lord.
“In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV)
Lord,
When we read about Moses and Aaron and their interactions with Pharoah, let us see Your hand in all of it. How it was all laid out according to Your will. And let us look at how well You blessed the Israelites despite their complaints that it wasn’t good enough. Help our hearts to realize that You are not only good enough but bless us beyond what we deserve.
Kellie
Sixty-six books in a year 