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Daily Devotions

Exodus

Exodus 
Day 
Day 57

"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18:30

Text: Exodus 7 : 14-16

AS GOD HAD FOREWARNED

The Lord forewarned Moses that Pharaoh would harden his heart and he did. Everything was happening as God had spoken. Moses must not fear the hardened position that Pharaoh would take. Why should he fear one whose moves were already known to God before they occurred? God would be their Shield! The challenge was to trust Him!

THE NEXT ENCOUNTER WITH PHARAOH

In any kind of a battle, knowledge of the enemy and his movements would be critical. It is always an unnerving experience to know that all your thoughts and plans are known. God knew exactly where Pharaoh would be the next morning.

“So the LORD said to Moses:
‘Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses
to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning,
when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by
the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned
to a serpent you shall take in your hand.”
EXODUS 7:14-15

1. What was Pharaoh doing at the river?

Studies in Egyptology reveals that Pharaoh would from time to time go to the River Nile to perform religious rituals. The Nile was sacred to the Egyptians. The flooding of the River would ensure that the harvest would be plentiful Should there be an ebb in the River, famine could well strike the land. Pharaoh was not only the head of state. Each Pharaoh would utilize the name of one of the gods at his coronation. Taking on that new name marked him as the son of that particular Deity. The performance of a religious ritual was supposed to guarantee that the Deity of the Nile would bless the land!

2. Meeting the Pharaoh at the River with the Rod-serpent

God particularly instructed Moses to bring the rod that had turned into a serpent. The snake was one of the most sacred animals in the land of Egypt. The crown that the Pharaoh wore had the image of two snakes. The snake was regarded as the wisest of all creatures and revered! If ever there was a power-struggle, this was one!

REBUKE OF THE PHARAOH

Who has ever dared to rebuke Pharaoh? Moses was sent to deliver a strong word of rebuke to the proud and mighty Pharaoh that morning!

“And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews
has sent me to you saying, ‘Let My people go, that they may
serve Me in the wilderness’; but indeed, until now
you would not hear!'”
EXODUS 7:16

This God of the Hebrews whom Pharaoh denied knowing had spoken sternly!