God Conversation

Exodus 9:1-9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, 3 the hand of the Lordwill bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. 4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’” The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” 6 And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died,but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.7 Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

God made a distinction

Once again with this plague only the Egyptians where affected by this curse.

Also only the Livestock “in the field” Were Killed. This seems to limit the livestock that died, which means that some livestock would have survived through this plague. Also verse 3 lists horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, but it does not list goats, which was an important animal.

God set a time

God set a time, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” The next day, most of the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites perished.

The plague that killed Egypt’s livestock would have had a special impact on the people, not just economically, but spiritually as well. The animals that died in the plague represented some of Egypt’s most important gods

The “plague”

The original Hebrew word translated here as “plague” describes a disease – a disease of epidemic proportions that results in mass deaths. The type of disease is not specified in the verses and any such guess would solely be conjecture.

Not all the livestock died of this plague but they lost their source of meat, milk, transportation. This plague caused a very significant impact in the livelihood of the Egyptians.

God spares His people

Malachi 3:17 They will be my people,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.

As a principle God protects His people even when calamity happens in the world. SOmetimes we cannot escape the consequences of plagues, disasters and calamities but many times God brings His protection over us.

The Lord makes a distinction between his people and the people of the world in order to reveal himself. Each player in the drama of the plagues has the opportunity to take notice of this difference and acknowledge the Lord. So wherever we see ourselves in this story, we have that opportunity.

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

He separates his people for special treatment, he graciously rescinds the fourth and fift plagues, and his power is successfully prophetic, complete and clear.

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Exodus 8:20-24 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.[a] 23 Thus I will put a division[b] between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” 24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

It is unclear what has happened with the biting gnats. It is conceivable that they are still problematic. But things continue to move forward, and the Lord says to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him.…”

The Lord continues speaking through Moses, “If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them.”

The connections with the first plague continue as the Lord says, “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.”

The Flies

Swarm (08317)(sharats) means to swarm; to breed abundantly; to multiply. It is a word that specifically refers to a great multiplication of numbers with moving, living, smaller creatures. It means to teem, to swarm in numbers and rate of birth and multiplication. It serves as a description of a large number of creatures densely populating a location.

These flies where a species known as “dog-fly” or in some countries "horse-fly" These were blood-sucking flies that were known to inflict painful bites.

They have been described as “hurling themselves like a javelin and fastening themselves upon the body, especially the edges of the eyelids, disfiguring them by the swellings produced by their sting.” The bottom line, however, is that these flies will come from the air, swarming over everything.

Beelzebub

Different people had deities whose office it was to defend them against flies.  Among these may be reckoned Beelzebub, the fly-god of Ekron. The name Beelzebub is associated with the Canaanite god Baal. This name referenced the god of the fly that was worshiped to obtain deliverance from the injuries of that insect.

God's people spared

No flies in Goshen?

The verses say, “Where my people live, no swarms of flies will appear there.” However, the word often translated to “live” may also be translated as “stand”. This could indicate the flies did not invade where the people stood. Given this translation, flies may have indeed entered Goshen but avoided only the Israelites making the plague of flies even more remarkable.

This is the first time there has been an explicit exemption for the Israelites. Previously, scholars have assumed they have not experienced the hardships of the previous plagues, but from now on they will certainly be unaffected.

Psalms 105:31 says "He spoke, and there came a swarm of flies And gnats in all their territory."

Not only are they covering the people but covering the ground! One of the results of the fourth plague is that the land was ‘ruined’ because of the flies.Swarms of flies would disrupt life, contaminate everything, and bring disease."

God’s protection means you are inaccessible to the enemy, no matter what the circumstances.

Psalm 91:4 tells us, “Under His wings, shall you trust and find refuge.” When trouble comes your way, stay in that place of refuge in God. It’s a place of safety from any enemy.

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Exodus 8:16-18  Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron to strike the dust with his rod, and it will become lice, throughout all the land of Egypt.” 17 So Moses and Aaron did as God commanded, and suddenly lice infested the entire nation, covering the Egyptians and their animals. 18 Then the magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed.

The third plague, lice, could mean either lice, fleas or gnats based on the Hebrew word (Keenim). The insects, the third of the plagues, are described in Exodus as annoying parasites which attacked both humans and livestock.

The Lice

These insects usually measure about two millimetres and are therefore visible to the naked eye. Under the lens of a microscope, they seem translucent and yellowish brown in colour.

This translucence means that their blood and internal structure can be observed. At the end of their legs, they have curved claws which enable them to grip the hair or clothing. Their antennae are short, and they have tiny eyes. They undergo no metamorphosis or bodily changes during the course of their lifespan.

They lay eggs (known as nits) which stick together and cluster in the hair or clothing. Each individual can lay some 10 eggs a day

The scientific explanation is that frogs typically eat insects; without them, the fly population could have exploded. However note that for the first time the magicians in Egypt could not match this miracle.

The Magicians

The Egyptian sorcerers admitted their inability to replicate the lice epidemic, recognized the lice outbreak as the act of the a superior power, "the finger of God."

However, Pharaoh refused to listen to the testimony of his own subjects, and hardened his heart. The scepticism of certain people seems limitless, even when they are presented with substantial evidence.

The magicians were able to come up with counterfeit blood and frogs. We don't know why this time they couldn't match the actions of the finger of God. In my personal opinion the animals where unknown to them. Older translations of this text use the word lice, more recent ones use gnats. The debate is open because a plague of insects that attacks both men and animals and potentially flies is not a common insect of the region.

Counterfeit Miracles

The counterfeit has a limit that God does not

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.

Are there places in my life where I have allowed the counterfeit to sit with the real?

Matthew 24:24, Jesus warns, “For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.”

The Bible does not give specific instructions on how to recognize counterfeit miracles. The Bible does, however, give specific instructions on how to recognize counterfeit messengers.

Miracles can be counterfeited. That is why God points us to His Word. Signs and wonders can lead us astray. God’s Word will always light the true path

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Exodus 8:1–15  Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. 3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.” ’ ” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’ ” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh.13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Moses showed Pharaoh that Egypt is in the hands of God

This is almost humorous from the beginning. The destiny of Egypt is in the hands of the Lord, the God of Israel. And the way He’s going to deal with them is frogs.

Throughout the plague stories, notice a pattern. First, the plague is threatened, then it is implemented, then it is imitated, and then it is removed. Each of the plagues is spoken of as removed, except for the tenth which involves the death.

Notice  in verse 1, the phrase is repeated. “Let My people go in order that they may serve Me, in order that they may worship me.”

Exodus 5, 1 through 3 when Moses and Aaron first go to Pharaoh, they say, you need to let us go to worship the Lord, or He will visit plagues against you.

Frogs were associated with the Egyptian gods, Hapi and Heqt. Heqt was actually considered the goddess of fertility, and she was often pictured as a squatting frog. She was supposed to be a good luck charm to increase the fertility of the people. And so

The judgment warning against Egypt

If Hapt is the goddess of fertility and pictured as a frog, and Pharaoh had begun the Exodus story with an attack on an attack on the children of Hebrews, it may well be God coming back and saying, “You attempt to strike at the fertility of My people, and I will take out the god of fertility in Egypt, because I am the one who gives children. I am the one who is sovereign.”

God takes something weak and small and wretched, and He uses it to foil the wise and strong of this world.

The Egyptian magicians spring into action, and they imitate the plague by their occult practices.

The plague was doubled by the magicians and the net result is the increase in the misery of Egypt. And you can see Pharaoh saying, “Okay, that’s enough.”

Pharaoh, in verses 8 through 12 acknowledges the Lord for the first time in the book of Exodus. And he even manages to ask Moses to pray on his behalf to the Lord.

Moses turns to Pharaoh and says, “The honor is yours. You tell me, when do want to do this?” Now the timing of the question that Moses gives to Pharaoh, too, shows the sovereignty of God. It indicates that the Lord alone has the power to send and to relieve the plague. Okay, Pharaoh, My God is so sovereign, you just name the time. When is it you want this done. And then Pharaoh responds in verse 10 with an unreasonable request. He says, “Okay, okay, you want me to name it. Tomorrow. I want them gone tomorrow.”

The plague is removed in verses 13 and 14, but the consequences remain. I want you to think about two of the consequences here. First of all, there was a lot of hard cleanup work of the Egyptians. Frogs everywhere. Secondly, there was a stench throughout Egypt.

1 Corinthians 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

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The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood

Exodus 7:20-25 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. 25 Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.

Moses and Aaron are ordered to go to Pharaoh, and require the dismissing of the people of Israel, but they are told before hand that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened, and would refuse to let them go.

The sequence of events

1. Moses strikes the Nile;

2. The water turns to blood;

3. The fish die;

4. The Nile stinks;

5. The Egyptians can’t drink water from the Nile.

God purposes to reveal His sovereignty to the Egyptians

v. 24 says, "And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile". The implication is that the Nile was full of water—not blood

Several scientific explanations have been offered to account for the Nile’s vivid red colour. Some suggested the miracle was due to an infestation of toxic red algae. We don't know if it was blood or a plague but this algae invasion or any other cause occurred when Moses struck the water with his staff; that is, at a precise time and place to affect God’s purpose.

The river of blood was symbolic of death for Egypt

After the water turned to blood, "the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water," according to the Bible, Exodus 7:21.

Jesus first miracle

The turning of water into blood was the first of the public miracles that Moses did in Egypt (Exodus 7:20), and the water into wine was the first of the public miracles that Jesus did in the world (John 2:11).

The turning of water to blood culminated in the firstborn in Egypt being delivered to death, while turning the water into wine culminated in the life of the Firstborn being delivered from death.

The signs that God gave to Egypt in the Old Testament were plagues, destruction, and death, and the signs that Jesus did in the world in the New Testament were healings, blessings, and life.

When Moses changed the water into blood, we are told that all the fish in the river died. When Jesus initiated the new covenant, the catch of the fish are made alive in the net of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:19).

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Exodus 7:10-12  So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

Before Moses and Aaron are to appear before Pharaoh, God commands them: “And the Lord spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: ‘When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying: Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent’” (Exodus 7:8-9).

The Miracle

God knows in advance that the Egyptian ruler will demand to be shown a “wonder” (mofet, in Hebrew) that will prove the validity of the message that is being delivered to him.

A “wonder” is a small miracle. Aaron throws down his staff at Pharaoh’s feet and the staff turns into a serpent. On seeing this wonder, Pharaoh responds with a wonder of his own: “Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents” (Exod. 7:11-12). Pharaoh’s magicians are apparently capable of conducting such a metamorphosis and transforming a rod into a serpent. So, Pharaoh scores a tie in the first quarter of this game.

The victory

Since the serpents metaphorically confront each other and since the power of Aaron’s wonder seems to have been equaled by that of the magicians’ counter-wonder, the matter seems to be settled according to the rules of the game established by Pharaoh. Now, however, the paradigm is shattered: “but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods” (Exod. 7:12).

While Aaron’s serpent “follows” the very rules of the game that Pharaoh thinks he has dictated (according to which, each serpent expresses or reflects the power of its owner’s words), the tables are actually turned on Pharaoh: The moment the wonders are essentially balanced out, their significance as embodiments of power is canceled and they become representations of their respective owners.

The scene then shifts from a display of wonders to the manifestation of a mythological power struggle between Pharaoh and God. God wins!

What was the significance of Aaron’s rod?

In ancient Israelite culture, a rod was a symbol of authority. Shepherds used rods to guide and correct their flocks (Psalm 23:4). When God called the shepherd Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He demonstrated His power by performing miracles using Moses’ rod (Exodus 4:1–5; Numbers 20:11.

There are many other miracles performed with this rod. Today we only mention the miracle of the serpent at Pharaoh's confrontation. Hebrews 9:4 tells us that Aaron’s rod remained in the Ark of the Covenant as a testimony of God’s choice of Aaron and Moses to lead His people.

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Acts 15:12 “Barnabas and Paul [declared] how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them”

Paul and Barnabas had a missionary journey up into central modern-day Asia Minor. They established several churches in the region of Galatia and watched many Gentiles come to a saving faith in Jesus (Acts 13—14)

Acts 4:36-37 Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Barnabas then spent the rest of his life traveling as a missionary, leading others to Jesus at great personal risk. According to Acts 4:36, Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew. Named an apostle in Acts 14:14, he and Paul undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts against the Judaizers.

Barnabas took the then-unknown disciple Saul (Paul) under his wing and introduced him to the other apostles in Jerusalem. These other apostles were afraid because of Saul/Paul’s past actions, but Barnabas vouched for him, and because of this, the new convert “stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord” (Acts 9:28).

Barnabas and Paul probably knew each other because they had been taught together in the school of Gamaliel. But while Barnabas was the one who did the primary introduction, it appears Paul, with his zeal for speaking, soon became more well-known for his evangelism efforts. After Barnabas found Paul in Tarsus (Acts 11:25-26), they pooled their energies and established a foundational church in Antioch.

Barnabas truly was a “man of encouragement.”

He gave his life to the church and sacrificed much for the faith. He, along with Paul and other Christian leaders of his time, was instrumental in spreading the gospel across the land and converting great numbers, both Jew and Gentile. Because of him, and others like him, today we know Jesus.

Are you an encourager?

Jesus was the encourager in chief!

John 16:33 "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

If you read the Bible you will be encouraged with what lies ahead.

Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Barnabas was named the encourager because he had something special about him.

It is important to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

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Acts 6:8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. (NLT)

Stephen was the first of the seven deacons; He was known for his faith and miracles, of his elocution and wisdom, of his courage and intrepidity, of his constancy, and of his suffering martyrdom.

He is said to be full of faith, as before, ( Acts 6:5 )

Before he is killed by the religious jews Stephen launches into the longest speech in the book of Acts.

The temple leaders also condemn Stephen for breaking the Law of Moses. But in reality, they and their ancestors constantly rejected its core teaching. The Law should have made them expect a descendent of Abraham who, like Moses, would finally save God’s people (Acts 7:5, 37, 39-44). Stephen reveals the cycle of rejection that Israel has had toward God and his messengers throughout their history (Acts 7:52).

Stephen was executed

Stephen proclaims this promised descendant is the same Jesus they killed on a cross.

Acts 7:52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.

Stephen is stoned for one simple reason. By naming Jesus as the Son of Man from Daniel, he claims that Jesus is equal with God. What is blasphemous and bad news to the temple leader’s ears is bafflingly good news to us.

Stephen refers to the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 4:1 And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Stephen’s speech shows that we don’t only break the law by refusing to obey commands, but by refusing to believe in the one it points to Jesus.

John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

Who was Stephen?

- He was full of faith.  (Acts 6:5)

- He was full of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 6:5)

- He was full of grace.  (Acts 6:8)

- He faced opposition.  (Acts 6:9)

- His teachings were full of wisdom.  (Acts 6:10)

- His teachings were led by the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 6:10)

Stephen moved from defending himself to accusing the prosecution.  He ended up being killed at the feet of Saul of Tarsus later known as Paul.

Stephen was received in Heaven by Jesus Himself

Acts 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

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Acts 2:43-47 (NEB) A sense of awe was everywhere, and many marvels and signs were brought about through the apostles. All whose faith had drawn them together held everything in common: they would sell their property and possessions and make a general distribution as the need of each required. With one mind they kept up their daily attendance at the temple, and, breaking bread in private houses, shared their meals with unaffected joy, as they praised God and enjoyed the favour of the whole people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those whom he was saving.

The words 'in common' are from the Greek "koinonia", which can be translated as communion, community, fellowship, partnership or even solidarity.

Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade (Portico).

Throughout the Bible, God has granted His messengers the ability to perform miracles in order to validate that their message is from Him. The point of ministry is never the miracle itself, but the message

Signs and wonders

- "Wonder" is from the Greek root word "teras". It is a miracle that reveals a hidden truth.

- "Signs" is from the Greek root word "semeion". The sign is that the person who performs the miracles is special and chosen by God.

The sémeion, or sign, is a sign, a miracle, a token, and so on. It generally is given to authenticate, corroborate, or confirm a person or a matter. Whereas a wonder is the thing itself, the sign stands for, testifies to, or points to something else.

The Fear of God

One translation says, "Then fear came upon every soul". The NEB translation says that "A sense of awe was everywhere".

The word “fear” has various significations, such as terror, alarm, withdrawal (as in fleeing from something), etc. Here, it  does not speak of terror, but of awe.

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Acts 12:20-23 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. 21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

- More than 2,000 years after Herod the Great succumbed at age 69, doctors have now settled on exactly what killed the king of ancient Judea: chronic kidney disease complicated by a very uncomfortable case of maggot-infested gangrene of the genitals.

- Herod Agrippa I is the grandson of Herod the Great and king over almost all his territory with the exception of Decapolis.

- God swiftly brings King Herod low, striking him with an angel, and publicly destroying him for not giving the proper honor to God.  God sees all that we do, even perceiving to the depths of our thoughts, intentions, emotions, and hearts

Herod was a bad man

We are first introduced to the man known as King Herod at the beginning of Acts 12, where he makes great persecution against the church and against her leaders.

Acts 12:1 King Herod “laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church”

Acts 12:2-3 he killed James the brother of John with the sword…[and] proceeded to arrest Peter also

- Herod is ultimately a slave to the fear of man; his track record has proven that he was selfishly sadistic.

- He persecutes the church to ultimately please the Jews and bring glory and praise to himself.

- King Herod retreats to Caesarea in Acts 12:19, but not after putting his guards to death after allowing Peter’s escape.

Acts 12:22 the people were shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a man!’

Pride

- How many of us on a daily basis succumb and give into pride and self-exaltation?

- If it were not for God’s grace and mercy in Christ, many of us would look just like Herod.

- We must repent of our pride and fear of man and turn to Christ that we may have life.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride in the context of this verses refers to an arrogant attitude that manifests itself as independence from God and contrasts strikingly with humility.

The proud person pursues his or her own way, but the humble one obeys God’s Word. Delighting in the Lord and humbly following His commands makes us sure-footed so that we will not slip or stagger

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

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