6 May 2017, Ex 7-8 出 7-8 章, The beginning of the Ten Plagues 十灾的开始

Posted on Apr 28, 2017 in Devotions, Exodus |

Scripture Reading        : Ex 7-8

Theme                            : The beginning of the Ten Plagues

 

If men will not obey His words of warning, God must speak by His works of judgment. When God speaks, there are only two responses: people either obey and submit or disobey and harden their hearts (Heb. 3:7–13). From the human point of view, Pharaoh resisted God’s will and thus hardened his own heart. From the divine point of view, God sent the judgments and therefore caused his heart to harden. The same sun that melts the ice also hardens the clay.

The court magicians were able to imitate Aaron’s miracle. Satan is a counterfeiter, and that is one way he opposes God’s work today (2 Tim. 3:8–9). Some miracles are lying wonders (2 Thess. 2:9–10). Be sure you can tell the difference (1 John 2:18–27; 4:1–6).

The plagues were God’s declaration of war against the false gods of Egypt (12:12). He proclaimed, “I am the Lord” (7:5). They were also a declaration that God had put a difference between the Jews and the Egyptians (8:23).

How sad that Israel saw God’s wonders in Egypt and yet did not trust Him (Ps. 106:6–7). They even wanted to return to Egypt after they had been delivered! Great experiences are no guarantee that one has grown spiritually. It all depends on what happens to your heart.[1]


Praying the Scripture

  1. How many times did Pharaoh hardened his own hearts and how many times did the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart? It will be interesting to do a count and notice the sequence. If we know God’s command and refuse to obey, we harden our own hearts. Do you harden your own heart? If we harden our hearts enough times it will become seared (1Ti 4:2) and unable to respond. Let’s pray that we do not harden our hearts and respond to God with obedience.
  2. The river of Nile was considered sacred because it provides livelihood for all animals as well as human. The attack on Nile river is the attack on Egyptian god “Hapi.” Similarly frog also represents “Heqt,” the god of fertility. It is interesting Moses asked Pharaoh when he wanted the frog to leave. Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” So it is done according to the stipulated time. It is beyond doubt that this is the work of the Lord. In the midst of all these, Pharaoh hardened his heart.
  3. Again, the plague of dust/gnats was against the Egyptian god “Hathor or set” – the god of desert. The plague of flies was against the healing god “Isis.” Even the magicians conceded to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” (Ex 8:19) Yet Pharaoh still refused to obey the Lord. How many times do we want to harden our hearts before we start to obey? Let’s pray that we obey God at once.

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ex 7:1.

 
 
 

经文：出7-8章

主题：十灾的开始

 

如果人不听从祂的警告，神就必须开始实施审判。当神说话时，人们只有两种反应：一是顺服，不然就是反抗并使自己的心刚硬（希3:7-13）。从人的角度来看，法老抵挡神的旨意，因此他是在使自己的心刚硬。从神的角度来看，神正在实施审判，因此使法老的心刚硬起来。同一个太阳使冰融化，也使粘土变硬。

法老的术士也能够模仿亚伦的神迹。撒旦是一个伪造者，这也是他今天抵挡神工作的一种方式（2 提3:8-9）。有些异能和神迹只不过是虚假的奇事（帖后 2:9-10）。你要确保自己能够分辨它们（约一2:18-27；4:1-6）。

这十灾是神向埃及的假神宣战（12:12）。他宣称：“我是耶和华”（7:5）。这十灾也是神向全地声明，祂已经把犹太人从埃及人分别出来（8:23）。

以色列人看见神在埃及所行的奇迹，但仍然不相信祂。这是多么的悲哀啊！（诗篇106:6-7）。神已将他们从奴役释放出了埃及，但他们甚至还想回到埃及去！伟大的经验并不能保证一个人在属灵上的成长。这一切都取决于你的心是否发生了任何改变。


用经文祷告

  1. 请问法老使自己的心刚硬几次，耶和华又使法老的心刚硬几次呢？如果能数一下并注意其中的顺序，你将会有一个重要的发现。如果我们知道神的命令，但仍然拒绝顺服，我们就是在使自己的心刚硬。你刚硬自己的心吗？当我们把心刚硬的时候，有一天它会如同被热铁烙惯了一样，无法回应了。（提前4:2）让我们祷告，我们不使自己的心刚硬，并要以顺服来回应神。
  2. 埃及人视尼罗河为神圣的，因为它为所有的动物及人类提供生计。攻击尼罗河就等于攻击埃及尼罗河神“哈比”（Hapi），同样的青蛙代表了生育女神赫克特（Heqt）。有趣的是，摩西问法王他想青蛙几时离开，法老回答的是：“明天”。因此，青蛙就在规定的时间离开了。毋庸置疑这必定是主的作为。然而，在这一切所发生之中，法老继续使自己的心刚硬。
  3. 虱灾/蝗灾是在攻击埃及沙漠之神哈托尔/赛特(Hathor/Set)。蝇灾针对的是治疗之神伊西斯（Isis）。就连行法术的也对法老说：“这是神的手段。”（出8:19）然而，法老仍不肯顺服主。我们需要使自己的心刚硬几次才会开始顺服神呢？让我们祈祷，我们能够立即顺服神。