For many, after they become a Christian, they are interested in searching out answers concerning the circumstances of their lives or to find the healing they need due to wounds received along their life journey. For me, my priority was to know MORE about who this God was that loved me so much. This verse was my life verse for a long time as I wanted to know my God so that I would be able to do mighty exploits. I continue on my journey with this same desire. I want to know more about and experience more of God each and every day. Because I have this desire, He continues to reveal more of Himself to me by the Spirit and His written Word.
We also learn more about God as He walks with us through the events of our lives. For example, He has delivered me out of some really traumatic circumstances and when He did, one of the things that happened is my understanding of who God is deepened. Tonight while reading in the book of Exodus, I realized the same thing was true for the Israelites. Think about it. God delivered Israel not when Egypt was at their weakest, but when they were strong and powerful!
The story of their deliverance goes like this. Even after Aaron’s staff became a snake and ate all of the snakes produced by the Pharaoh’s sorcerers, the Pharaoh’s “heart becomes hard…just as the Lord had said” (Exodus 7:13). It is clear that Pharaoh has not yet learned God’s identity. Now God sends a series of plagues to show the Pharaoh that He the Lord must be obeyed. As we read the story about the plagues it is evident that both Israel and Egypt would “learn to know” a little more about God through each plague.
The gnats were the first plague the magicians were not able to copy. The interesting thing is that all of Egypt was afflicted by this plague of flies. They filled the land, that is, everywhere except where the Israelites lived (8:20-24). What has God revealed to Egypt, the Israelites and to us in this event?
Here we see Yahweh, as our sovereign and all powerful God who is in control of everything that happens in our lives. Here we see that the disasters that had taken place were not just quirks of nature. Then there were the locusts that ate all that was left after the hail and the darkness that covered the land – again except where the Israelites lived. However, Pharaoh continues to dismiss Moses and his God. After all, He was Pharaoh.
There would be one more horrible plague that would free Israel. The angel of death would take every firstborn male in Egypt while God protected the Israelites giving them the instructions that would spare their children from death. Finally, Egypt would not just free the Israelites, but they would demand they leave. God has demonstrated His authority in this one night over Pharaoh and all of Egypt’s gods.
God is revealed in the devastations and challenges of life. Without them, how would we know God? These events are a necessary part of life’s journey in order for us to know our God and do mighty exploits.
Sarah Goebel
I have heard the forage is plentiful for sheep in the valleys and there is no food on the mountaintops. In my own life, when I have gone through “devestation” I have found God right at my side. I have felt His presence there to comfort and hold me. He is a great God!
Thank you for healing my soul these words.
Hi Naomi. So sorry for the delay in responding to you. My husband and I have been on a time consuming but blessed journey of relocating ourselves and the ministry headquarters from NC to CA. We are almost settled now. I was blessed to see your post and hope you will return to this blog. I plan to start blogging more regularly this week so you might consider registering for the blog updates. May God continue His healing work in your life and may the power of His grace and truth keep you free of all bondage and condemnation. He loves you and He promises that He has you in His hands and will never, ever forsake you!
In the mist of darkness light has been introduced. “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness upon the people” for the devil would prefere more blind mind than blind eyes. That is why the bible exposed his activity as one who goes about BLINDING THE MINDS OF PEOPLE so that they dont understand God and his word. In the mist of this confusion the light of God shines in this darkness it the darkness could not understand it. The entrance of the word of God gives light and understanding to the simple. God want to save u from the darkness of sin. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is everlasting life. He loves u so much, he wants to save u from the hands of the thief, killer and destroyer who is the devil. Now u have an opportunity to escape the corruption in this word and BECOME PARTAKER OF HIS DIVINE NATURE. The nature of sin can be destroyed and the nature of righteousness incorporated into ur life. Am michael teries have a nice day I LOVE U…
MUCH BLESSED
U are doing a great job, may the Lord strengthen u. I was really blessed going tru d message
Pls alway send me you magacine.
HIGHLY INSPIREING.
Robert, thank you for the comment. I praise God that He spoke to you through the post!
I love your article.. Our God is a big God
Thank you so much Abraham for pointing out the error in my post. I do hope you were still able to enjoy the spirit of the message and didn’t get hung up on the obvious slip of the “pen”. I do appreciate having it drawn to my attention so I could make the correction. Sometimes even our friends don’t tell us when we have something wrong, you know, like food stuck between our teeth that everyone can see when we smile. LOL. Thank you!