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I have been watching several different internet Preachers these days and noticed that none of them are pointing out certain things (probably due to lack of time), when they tell the stories in the Bible.

I think these points are important to the stories though.

This one Preacher was talking about “being in control” and was using the story of Pharaoh.  His main point at the end, was that it was harder for God to get Egypt out of the Israelites, than it was for God to get them out of Egypt.  Which is so true, because the Israelites did wonder the desert for 40 years complaining about not having the food from Egypt.

But remember also that the Israelites were the ones groaning to God about being enslaved to the Egyptians.

Exodus 6:5 – “Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.”

When God did decide to release the Israelites from Egypt’s grip, God wanted to show the Israelites, Egyptians, and Pharaoh who God was, by all the plagues that offended the Egyptians, but never once touched the Israelites who were living just down the road.

God is a loving God, but He also wants us to see His power.

God had the power to hardened Pharaoh’s heart and did; in order for God’s power to shine.

It’s funny though that God, who could harden Pharaoh’s heart, did not soften the hearts of the Israelites.  You know He could have, yet He called them a stiff-necked people and wanted to wipe them out.

Moses talked God out of destroying all of them.  It’s important to look at this angle because we can change God’s mind as well thru prayer.  Moses used Gods Word to reason with God.  Moses reminded God that He made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; that their seed would populate the world.  (See Exodus 32: 12-14).

It states in Deuteronomy 9:13-14: (Moses is writing this) – “The Lord spoke further to me, saying, “I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people.  “Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you (Moses) a nation mightier and greater than they, (Abraham).”

I had never noticed this verse where it says God would make Moses a mightier nation than Abraham.  I can hear Tharbis, and Zipporah, Moses wives if they would have been listening to the conversation.

“But Moses, we could be famous!  Just think about the title “Moses, The Father of many Nations!”

But Moses reminded God of God’s promise even though it cost Moses being the Father of the Nations.  I guess that’s why God loved Moses so much.

What’s even stranger is that Moses had to remind God of His promise to Abraham.  Do we really believe God had forgotten it?  Was God so mad He couldn’t think straight?  I don’t think so.  I think God gives us opportunities to see what we are made of.

To see what we will choose.

Are you making good choices when God talks to you?  Are you choosing the higher ground even if God is handing you something that you really want?  I think we have a huge opportunity to impress God in so many areas of our lives, that we miss out on.

Matthew 6:33 states “seek the kingdom first…”

That means to please God first, and what’s best for His kingdom.  God’s promise holding true to Abraham was what was best, and Moses knew it.  But don’t give Moses to much credit.  Moses knew he would look like a fool to Pharaoh if God wiped all the Israelites.

 

Karen Y. Stevens is founder of Orange County Writers Guild