” ‘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. The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.’ So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 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. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.” (v3-4,6-7,17-19,24,32)
The second, third and fourth plagues continue in escalation, and Pharaoh remains obstinate. The funny thing is, by the time we reach the third plague (gnats) even Pharaoh’s magicians admit defeat and tell Pharaoh “This is the finger of God” – they could not compare to the power of God, just as Satan cannot compare to the power of God. God is unmatched, period.
While here in BC, I’m seeing a great deal of scenery I would not witness in MB. There are mountains on all sides surrounding the town of Grand Forks. I am in awe of these geological features, yet last night one of the local ladies mentioned – “These are just big hills. You have yet to see the real mountains.” Wow. I was impressed with some hills, as to the extent of God’s creative power, yet there are even greater wonders that I have not yet seen. I am in awe of His might.
Pharoah on the other hand has the opposite experience – which each increasing wonder He refuses to soften his heart and admit that God exists, and that He is almighty. This has to be one of the worst cases of stubbornness in history – miracle after miracle happens yet he cannot believe. Thankfully, many of us who witness miracles (even the miracle of creation) can see the power of God in those things.
Father God, Matchless One, All Mighty Creator, we come before You today humbled by Your majesty. It’s no wonder so many songs are written about Your power over creation – “So am I”, “God of Wonders”, “All of Creation” just to name a few contemporary ones, not even counting the Psalms. Father You are truly a God beyond compare – there is none like You. Not even the gods or magicians or scientists of this world can match you with all of their abilities, they pale in comparison. We praise You as the one true God, who makes Your presence know through both the supernatural and what we consider to be natural (which in reality is still supernaturally created). Thank you for the wonders of who You are, especially as Lord and redeemer of this stubborn race.
~ Conqueror in Training