#DailyDevotion The Rulers of This World Serve At God’s Pleasure
Lent Day 35 Monday
Read Ex 9:1–28
Exo 9:16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth…19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”‘”…19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”‘” (20) Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, (21) but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field…27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.
Like the last couple of plagues the following plagues also fall only upon the land of Egypt. Goshen, where the Israelites lived, were not affected by the Lord’s plagues. God makes a distinction between those who believe in him and those who do not. As said yesterday, this theme will be picked up again in the book of Revelation.
But now, with the plague of hail, the Lord offers a chance for the Egyptians to show they have faith in the word of the Lord. The Lord warns them he is bringing a great hail upon the land. Well those who have been watching and believe what the Lord can and will do take the precautions the Lord gives. They bring into shelter anything they don’t want ruined by the hail. Those who don’t believe the Lord’s word leave their goods out in the open and they are destroyed by the hail.
Now in the two plagues before this, Pharaoh didn’t repent and his heart was just hardened. This event was so disastrous it broke even his stony heart and he repented. He asked Moses for help and the Lord relented. But like so many of us, once we are out of trouble we’re right back in the thick of things, Pharaoh hardened his heart. Now the Lord is using the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart to have the name of Lord proclaimed in all the earth. It was the reason the Lord had raised him to this position. Though he may king of all Egypt and think he is a god, those in positions of authority upon the earth are there by God’s doing. Therefore, we Christians should not fear the rulers of the world. Like Pharaoh, God has placed them there for his purposes, namely the spreading of the Gospel, the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. While they serve to have order and peace in the world, the Lord raises some for his divine purpose of glorifying his name. Whether they do good or evil, they are his servants.
Heavenly Father, we pray for all those in positions of authority that they may be led by your good wisdom that we, your people, may live our lives in quietness and peace, to the glory of your holy name and the glory of Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.