The Victorious God

Exodus 7:3-5
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you, but I will put my hand into Egypt and bring the military divisions of my people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the Israelites from among them.

With the plagues the Lord was judging both the people of Egypt and the gods of Egypt.

Satan attempts to impede the work of God, often through counterfeits.

When confronted with the Word of God and power of God we can either choose to listen & obey or not.

False repentance is not the same as true repentance and transformation.

Plagues 4-8

The story of Exodus is a war between the Lord and the gods of Egypt.

A hardened heart is one that hears the Word of God, sees the evidence of God, yet still refuses to accept his Word or submit to his will. It is resisting God and being disobedient to God.

The purpose of God was so that all people will know that he is the Lord.

Exodus 8:22
This way you will know that I, the Lord, am in the land.

Exodus 9:14-16
For this time I am about to send all my plagues against you, your officials, and your people. Then you will know there is no one like me on the whole earth. 15 By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been obliterated from the earth. 16 However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you my power and to make my name known on the whole earth.

Exodus 10:2
…and so that you may tell your son and grandson how severely I dealt with the Egyptians and performed miraculous signs among them, and you will know that I am the Lord

Plague #4: invasion of flies

Plague #5: death of livestock

Plague #6: boils on the skin

Plague #7: natural disaster of hail

Plague #8: invasion of locusts

Exodus 8:20-32
The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 21 But if you will not let my people go, then I will send swarms of flies against you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will swarm with flies, and so will the land where they live. 22 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where my people are living; no flies will be there. This way you will know that I, the Lord, am in the land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.”
24 And the Lord did this. Thick swarms of flies went into Pharaoh’s palace and his officials’ houses. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies. 25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the country.”
26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do that, because what we will sacrifice to the Lord our God is detestable to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what the Egyptians detest in front of them, won’t they stone us? 27 We must go a distance of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he instructs us.”
28 Pharaoh responded, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but don’t go very far. Make an appeal for me.”
29 “As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will appeal to the Lord, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 Then Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the Lord. 31 The Lord did as Moses had said: He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people; not one was left. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.

Truth #1: God is gracious towards his people and his enemies.

God continues to have patience with those who rebel and disobey.

Psalm 86:15
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Exodus 9:17-21
“You are still acting arrogantly against my people by not letting them go. 18 Tomorrow at this time I will rain down the worst hail that has ever occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 Therefore give orders to bring your livestock and all that you have in the field into shelters. Every person and animal that is in the field and not brought inside will die when the hail falls on them.” 20 Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the Lord made their servants and livestock flee to shelters, 21 but those who didn’t take to heart the Lord’s word left their servants and livestock in the field.

Numbers 14:18
The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!

Truth #2: God demand complete obedience.

Exodus 8:25-27
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the country.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do that… We must go a distance of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he instructs us.”

Annual prayer for Soma:
Father, help us to see you clearly, trust you fully, seek you diligently, obey you completely, and reject all idolatry as we worship you alone.

James 1:22 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

John 14:21
The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.

Will you obey the clear commands of Scripture?

Will you obey the specific commands of God on your life?

Exodus 9:20-21
Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the Lord made their servants and livestock flee to shelters, 21 but those who didn’t take to heart the Lord’s word left their servants and livestock in the field.