Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Supremacy of the Word of God
Exodus 7:1-7
 
Susan John
San Francisco MTC, CA
5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”
 
When Joseph was a Prime minister in Egypt, all his family(70) came to Egypt because of the famine in Canaan.  After  four hundred years, they became exceedingly numerous.  Pharaoh feared that if war were to break out, the Israelites would fight against them and leave the country.  So he decided to mistreat them with hard work and genocide.  But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.  The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out to God and He heard their cries and remembered His covenant with the Patriarchs.  So God called Moses to deliver His people from their bondage.  God calls us to be a co-worker with Him.  Moses tried to resist this call, giving five lame excuses, the last being “I am not eloquent, send someone else”.   God does not look at our ability, but our availability.  But God patiently prepared Moses for this task, just as He does today for those whom He calls for service.  
The Lord made Moses  as God to Pharaoh and Aaron His prophet.  They were to tell Pharaoh God’s word: “Let the Israelites go”.  His words carry power and authority.  It transforms us, if we are willing to listen and obey.  Then we will have freedom.  Isaiah 55:11 says His words will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires.  God’s Word is unchanging.  Whether we believe it or reject, it does not change God’s purpose in the slightest.
Pharaoh would not listen to God’s words because His heart was hardened. He thought that the freedom of Israelites would be the enemy of his freedom.The previous passages tell us the nature of Pharaoh’s hardness of heart.  He oppressed the  Israelites out of fear and jealousy.  He exploited them for his building projects.(Ex.1:10-11).  His response to God’s word was rebellious. “Who is the Lord, that I should obey Him and let Israel go.  I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go”.  (Ex.5:2). When Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, in the first time, he even increased their burden.  He didn’t have any concern for the hardship of others.  Hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was for God to judge the sin of Pharaoh and show his power before the Egyptians and over their gods.  Then they would know that He is the Lord.    

Liberation is His agenda and it will happen in His time.  The omniscient God knew unless a mighty hand compels Pharaoh, he would not let the Israelites go.  So He would lay His hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment, He would bring the people out of Egypt, the land of slavery to the promised land, the land of freedom.Moses was eighty years old when he spoke to Pharaoh.  This is retirement age for many, but God didn’t consider his age as a barrier to carry out His mission.   Neither should we.The word of God has great power. He is still calling us to bear it to those whom He wants to deliver. Are we being obedient messengers like Moses and Aaron? God who calls us is faithful and He will help us to carry out His mission in the midst of obstacles.  He want His children to live in freedom from all kinds of slavery.

PRAYER

Lord, equip us to be instruments to carry Your word of deliverance. Amen.

 


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The word of God is sharper than a double edged sword.  Can we be the sheath that carry it just as it is, without any corruption ?

 

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