In His Grip

Did Pharaoh think that God couldn’t possibly have any more “tricks up His sleeve?” His hardened heart refused to let God’s people go. God wasn’t finished sending plagues to break the power of the Egyptians belief in their gods. But God also was teaching the Israelites to understand His power as the one true God. He sends swarms of locusts whose abilities to shear, loudly swarm, and annihilate show similarities to the progression and devastation of sin. Locusts start out small and almost invisible but they slowly grow into thousands of swarming insects bent on one thing, to devour and destroy everything living thing in their path. The lessons of the plague of the locusts pull us up short as we consider the “little sins” we allow to take up residence in our own hearts.

As the plagues unfold, Pharaoh tries to find a way to manipulate Moses and the people of Israel, by offering them an opportunity to sacrifice to their God “here in the land.” But God’s directions were clear, the Israelites were to journey three days in the wilderness so that they would be completely separate from the Egyptians. The war between good and evil rages between Pharaoh and Moses, symbolizing the ongoing spiritual war over every believer’s soul. Satan tries to convince us to compromise. God demands complete obedience.

As the plagues unfold, Pharaoh tries to find a way to manipulate Moses and the people of Israel, by offering them an opportunity to sacrifice to their God “here in the land.” But God’s directions were clear, the Israelites were to journey three days in the wilderness so that they would be completely separate from the Egyptians. The war between good and evil rages between Pharaoh and Moses, symbolizing the ongoing spiritual war over every believer’s soul. Satan tries to convince us to compromise. God demands complete obedience.

The Egyptians had many gods. One of them was a lion-headed goddess: Sekhmet. This goddess supposedly protected them from epidemics. They also depended on another god, Imhotep, the god of medicine and the guardian of the healing sciences. This time the plague of boils reveals the powerlessness of these gods. We watch a great war between Pharaoh and the God of Israel, symbolizing the war between Satan and God. Each plague dismantles a god of the Egyptians, similar to the way Jesus dismantles the power of Satan in our lives. The gods were truly silent and now God hardens Pharaoh’s heart.

The Egyptians had many gods. One of them was a lion-headed goddess: Sekhmet. This goddess supposedly protected them from epidemics. They also depended on another god, Imhotep, the god of medicine and the guardian of the healing sciences. This time the plague of boils reveals the powerlessness of these gods. We watch a great war between Pharaoh and the God of Israel, symbolizing the war between Satan and God. Each plague dismantles a god of the Egyptians, similar to the way Jesus dismantles the power of Satan in our lives. The gods were truly silent and now God hardens Pharaoh’s heart.

Instead of recognizing that he could not win against the God of Israel, Pharaoh hardens his heart. The next plague attacks personal property. This one hit the pocketbooks of the Egyptians as livestock fell to inexplicable disease. Their cow god suddenly had no power. How much more will it take for Pharaoh to surrender to the God of Israel? What gods do we cling to and how will our God reveal their powerlessness to us personally?

Instead of recognizing that he could not win against the God of Israel, Pharaoh hardens his heart. The next plague attacks personal property. This one hit the pocketbooks of the Egyptians as livestock fell to inexplicable disease. Their cow god suddenly had no power. How much more will it take for Pharaoh to surrender to the God of Israel? What gods do we cling to and how will our God reveal their powerlessness to us personally?

When they leave for work they pray they will return home, safe and sound. Their spouses have to learn how to live with the constant possibility that a gunshot will destroy their family. Police officers are a special breed of men and women who go toward danger in order to protect their community. How do a husband and wife build a marriage when there is a constant tension of uncertainty and low grade fear? Joe and Candice Racite speak frankly about their own struggles as a law enforcement family, acknowledging the work of law enforcement affects almost every area of life, as well as relationships to family and friends. They speak with candor about the challenge to keep their marriage fresh, learning to recognize when fights escalate because of underlying job related fears and frustrations, and how they protect their marriage from temptation. Let Joe and Candice help guide you through the minefields of marriage as a law enforcement family.

When they leave for work they pray they will return home, safe and sound. Their spouses have to learn how to live with the constant possibility that a gunshot will destroy their family. Police officers are a special breed of men and women who go toward danger in order to protect their community. How do a husband and wife build a marriage when there is a constant tension of uncertainty and low grade fear? Joe and Candice Racite speak frankly about their own struggles as a law enforcement family, acknowledging the work of law enforcement affects almost every area of life, as well as relationships to family and friends. They speak with candor about the challenge to keep their marriage fresh, learning to recognize when fights escalate because of underlying job related fears and frustrations, and how they protect their marriage from temptation. Let Joe and Candice help guide you through the minefields of marriage as a law enforcement family.

First blood. Then frogs. Now gnats and flies. God does not warn Pharaoh this time. Have you ever experienced an attack of Florida “no see-ums?” You know they are on your skin because of the multiple stings each one delivers. No see-ums, as bad as they are, have nothing on the gnats that descended on the Egyptians. This time God unveils the powerlessness and uselessness of the Egyptian priests. Even their magicians concluded that these plagues had to be from the hand of God. One by one, God uses symbolic means to dismantle each god and the false priests of the Egyptian religion. The application for today is profound.