READING FOR JUNE 25, 2024: EXODUS 10, PHILIPPIANS 1, PSALM 58 EXODUS 10 God told Moses to approach Pharaoh again even though He informed Moses Pharaoh would not allow them to go. Moses’s obedience at this point has reached a peak. There was no complaint about doing this. He trusted God knew what He was doing. God did graciously supply a rationale, though. Pharoah’s refusal would allow God to do even a greater number of supernatural feats. This would give Moses, and all of us, more reason to tell our children and grandchildren about God’s power. Let’s not disappoint God by not getting the message out to our kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Remember Fathers, this is primarily our job!
When Moses spoke with Pharoah, he identified the main reason Pharoah kept refusing them: pride. Maybe that is the main reason unbelievers don’t come to Jesus. They are not willing to let Jesus be Lord of their lives. Moses once again explains to Pharoah exactly what will happen if he doesn’t allow their departure: a locust invasion. By now, even Pharoah’s servants were trying to talk sense into him. This had a temporarily good effect as Pharoah said they could go; however, he once again ruined things by insisting that only the men be allowed out. Do we also put conditions on our faith by not be willing to obey God fully? Yes, full commitment to God will have a cost in terms being considered strange by many. No, holding back is not a smart option and will lead to the same result as Pharoah will eventually experience.
So, in come the locusts, and as Moses predicted, it was unprecedented. In the interest of full disclosure, know that it might happen again. “A new study by a research team from Arizona State University has found that climate change will dramatically increase the intensity of locust swarms, resulting in even more crops lost to insect pests and threatening food security.” The good news is that in verse 14 God promises next time won’t be as bad. Some positive news to celebrate today. Pharoah, briefly coming to his senses, asked for forgiveness for his sin and for a removal of the locusts. Moses conveyed the message to God who abruptly shifted the wind, completely ridding the country of locusts. Afterwards the Lord again hardened Pharoah’s heart who again failed to release the Hebrews. The final showdown approaches.
The Lord told Moses to reach his hand to the sky to cause darkness that “could be felt.” Imagine having that much power. Let’s pray we make the right selection this November for the person controlling the nuclear button. But keep in mind that, as with Moses, God is ultimately in control. Pharoah tried one more deal, but Moses didn’t even have to check with God. Instead, Moses offers a model of faith by not knowing what serving God entails yet obeying anyway. Each day, we have this choice to be an obedient Moses or a prideful Pharoah.
READING FOR JUNE 25, 2024: PHILIPPIANS 1, PSALM 58 PHILIPPIANS 1 Paul addresses this letter to the saints, including the overseers and deacons. The fact that “overseers” is a plural word and listed alongside another group of local church officials called “deacons,” suggests that the word is interchangeable with the word “elders.” Let’s use Titus 1: 5-9 as an example where both words seem to be referring to the same office: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.” The closest office to this in our church is the Leadership Council. Having used so much precious space with church leadership, here are some other key points:
- Paul repeatedly prays with joy for them because his past experience has been so positive. Paul must think it is a good idea to tell others he is praying for them. We do likewise with our YMC prayer team.
- Paul does not pray for their health. He prays their love with overflow with knowledge and discernment and they will discover excellent things and be sincere until the end. Let’s pray for this for our church.
- Paul’s imprisonment in Rome is good because his witness has spread, and believers are emboldened.
- Paul does not mind too much if folks preach Jesus from a profit motive, as long as they get it right!
- Paul knows it is better for him to be with the Lord than stay on earth, but he is willing to stay and help.
- Paul tells them to stay unified, stay focused on the Gospel, don’t worry about opposition or suffering.
PSALM 58 This is a famous, or infamous, imprecatory psalm, meaning it calls on God to bring down harsh judgment on an evil person or persons. Remember that Psalm 57 used metaphors in its poetry. This one uses the poetic devices of sarcasm and hyperbole (i.e., exaggeration). For example, David sarcastically opens by calling his adversaries “gods,” implying that they foolishly think of themselves that way. His question about their righteous judgment implies David thinks this is the very opposite of the approach they take. He then says they were wicked right from the womb, which according to Rom. 5 is true of all of us. But he finds these people particularly dangerous to others, like snakes (a picture of Satan) with deadly venom. These snakes won’t pay heed to moderating influences, hence the ineffective snake charmer.
David asks God to shatter their teeth but has no intention to take vengeance himself. His plea for God to defang these lions is a request to take away their aggressive capabilities. This is also the case when he asks for their arrows to lose their shafts. His comments about miscarriage are bit like Jesus’s: “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matt. 26:24). The last verse is the key statement. This is a Psalm that appeals totally to God’s justice. God will do what is consistent with His attribute of justice in response to injustice, which is why Jesus went to the cross.
