ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a miracle,' then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will become a snake." So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said." Exodus 7:8-13

Earlier in Chapter 7, Moses and Aaron had been sent back to Pharoah by God, this time with more than just a request to let the Israelites go to participate in a sacrifice to God. This time, they were to "tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country." In other words, leave for good. God further tells them that "though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he (Pharoah) will not listen to you." In other words, despite their best intentions to convince Pharoah…despite God’s best efforts, he would still stubbornly refuse to listen. God then promised to "lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord…" There had been enough talk...enough words spoken. God was ready to begin acting.

As we pick up in chapter 7, we see the first actions begin to happen. God commands Moses and Aaron to throw down the staff of God before Pharoah. Of course, Moses knew already that this staff carried with it special power. Recall that it turned into a snake at the burning bust when Moses met God. Now, the staff was once again used to show God’s almighty power.

For we read that "Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake." Undaunted by this, Pharoah then summons his "wise men and sorcerers and the Egyptian magicians" who "did the same things by their secret arts." Each one summoned by Pharoah threw down their own staff and they also became snakes. Surely at this point, Pharoah was puffed up and gloating that he had showed up these two men who said they had been sent by God. He had to be thinking that this God was no more powerful than his gods and the magic his men could work. But he was soon to witness how very wrong he was.

Because just as the staffs of the wise men, sorcerers and magicians turned into snakes, they were swallowed up by the snake from Aaron’s staff. God’s power had reigned supreme over Pharoah’s. Actions had spoken louder than words. Yet we read that Pharoah didn’t relent just as God had predicted. We read that his "heart became hard and he would not listen to them." The stage was set for God to up the ante and the pressure on Pharoah to comply with His wishes.

Question: Have you ever faced someone like Pharoah…someone that refused to believe in God despite the awesome works of His power being done around them? Maybe you have been like that at sometime in your life. For we seem to have a difficult time believing mere words and expect God to show us signs, just as people did throughout the bible. We seem to be more like Thomas…wanting to put our fingers into the holes in Jesus’ hand and side before we believe. All this despite God and His Son continuing to do miracles all around us every day.

So…where do you stand in your faith? Are you like Pharoah, refusing to believe despite God’s best efforts to display His power and majesty? Or are you living each day in wonder and awe of our Father who reigns and rules with omnipotent authority over all His creation? How does God see you right now in regard to your feelings toward Him? When He looks into your heart, what does He see? For you can talk a good game but remember He can see inside to your heart…something no one else can do. And when He does, remember your actions speak louder than words. May He find us all genuine in our faith and trust in Him.

In Christ,

Mark

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