Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Wednesday in Holy Week

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Exodus 10:21—11:10 (NKJV)

10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!” 29 And Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.”

11:1 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. 4 Then Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger. 9 But the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Devotion

The darkness of sin is so great that even though the mighty works of the Lord God prove Himself beyond any doubt, the insanity of sin in man continues to reject the manifest truth. Pharaoh knew his gods were of no worth in the presence of the true and living God, but sin refused to submit to the truth and thus led him into the damning abyss.

The ninth plague of three days of darkness for the Egyptians well depicts the dreaded darkness that sin brings upon each benighted soul. Peace and comfort, joy and bliss are all a fleeting thought, just as they were for the Jewish leadership upon Christ’s death on Golgotha. Only the light of the living Christ can remove such fear and instill a lasting peace and joy in the heart and life of the penitent.

The tenth plague of death to all the first-born Egyptians was announced to Pharaoh and met with pure rebellion. The truth was denied; God was rejected yet again. The time of His grace was fast drawing to a close for Pharaoh and all of Egypt.

Such is true for all leaders and nations on this earth, as well as for each individual. The time of God’s grace will ultimately come to an end for everyone. Arrogance will fall, military power will evaporate, wealth and riches will perish.

But those who trust in the Lord will be as Mount Zion. They shall not perish, but endure forever through faith in the Lord Jesus Who alone is the Victor, and Who alone provides the victory for His people, making them partakers with Him in triumphant glory.

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