The Purpose
I just finished reading the story of the Plagues (Numbers 7-11). There is so much in there. I just never made sense to me why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Then I read it in Exodus 11:9.
Exo 11:9 The LORD had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”
I believe that there are two reasons that God brought plagues on the Egyptians other than His covenant promise (Exodus 6:4 & 8).
1. God wanted to show Himself to the Egyptians. God could have killed off all the Egyptians if He wanted, but that would not have shown them Who He really was. He gave them opportunity after opportunity to change their ways and who they worship. God was truly showing mercy among them when He could have wiped them out.
Exodus 9:15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.
Exodus 9:16 However, I have let you (the Egyptians) live for this purpose: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth.
EVERYONE was created for this purpose! We were created to show God’s Power and make Him known to all the Earth. This is the reason we were born.
2. God had a covenant promise to take the Israelites out of Egypt and in doing so, God wanted to show Himself to the Israelites to increase their faith. It takes faith to be and stay free. Staying in bondage doesn’t take any faith. God needed to increase their faith and show them Who they worshipped. In fact, they didn’t even believe Him when He told them He was going to do it! It was because they felt God had abandoned them.
Exo 6:9 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor.
God wants to show himself in your life, not for just you, but for all those around you. He wants to take you out of whatever you struggle with, not only because He wants to see you free, but also to show His name in all the Earth. Is not glory shown in deliverance rather than living in bondage?
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