Word for the day by Christian Educational Forum

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God’s Power in the Midst of Resistance

Bible Reading:  Exodus 7:1-7

Key Verse:  Vs5 : And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt  and bring the Israelites out of it.

DEVOTION

Resistance is defined as the “refusal to accept or comply with something, the attempt to prevent something by action or argument”.
 We all face many forms of resistance in our lives. Some of us resist in following the rules of driving or following the rules at our jobs or other establishments. We believe that we are thinking and doing what we feel is correct or sometimes what feels convenient to us.   Children often resist listening to their parents and believe that they know what is right and what they need.  Parents can also resist in listening to their children’s   perspective without acknowledging their   own mistakes and shortcomings.  All resulting in conflict, frustration and poor communication.
The Bible describes many stories of people’s resistance to God’s plan. One such story is the story of Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7:1-7. This passage speaks to the Lord’s response to Moses, as Moses was making excuses about his inability to speak to Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of Egypt.  To alleviate Moses’s fear of speaking, the Lord told him “ I will make you as a God to Pharaoh. The Lord also told Moses that his brother, Aaron  will be his prophet. A prophet’s job is to speak the Word of God. Aaron was to be the mouthpiece   to speak directly to Pharaoh, instead of Moses.  In this passage, the Lord also states that that “ I  will harden Pharaoh’s heart and “multiply my signs and wonders  in Egypt”. God showed that through the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and the subsequent plagues that followed, that He is still sovereign, greater and more powerful than anything. God perseveres through the resistance of the human will and ultimately reigns supreme.
 How many times do we resist God’s will in our lives? Do we hear him and heed his call? Do we think we are in control of our lives? Is our  own hearts hardened to feel the pain of others and to help those in need?  God’s power was revealed in this story and he used a simple man like Moses to reveal his purpose to the Egyptians, that He is God. He uses the Pharaoh’s resistance as a means to how His power.  Let us not resist the Power of God. Let him be revealed in our daily lives and everything we do and let His name be magnified always!

 
  PRAYER
 

Almighty Father, you are a Good Good Father. Your grace and mercy reaches me even when   I do not deserve it. Your love for me abounds. Help me to become a better person every day, accepting your will and not resisting the plan that you have for my life. Give me the peace and comfort that you alone can provide.   Amen.
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Thought of the day

 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future:”   Jeremiah 29:11

Gracy Thomas
Long Island Mar Thoma Church ,NY

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