April 9, 2013
GOD'S POWER
Exodus 7:1-13
Nicole Stovall
Central Truth
God's power will always be greater than anything.
Key Verse | Exodus 7:12
For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. (Exodus 7:12)
Exodus 7:1-13
Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh
1 And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Dive Deeper | Exodus 7:1-13
Oftentimes, I allow myself to get overwhelmed by trying to make everyone in my life happy. As a teacher, I feel the need to be on my toes to make sure the students are learning, my co-teachers feel I am doing my share, the administration is satisfied with my teaching, and the parents are happy. These could all be considered good things, but trying to please everyone in our lives is not what God has called us to do, especially when it causes us to be lenient in our values and beliefs.
Before I know it, people-pleasing begins to gain great power in my life. The stronger this power grows, the more it begins to overtake me. I become a slave to others rather than trusting God. I still struggle with people-pleasing, but knowing that I have a trustworthy God and a God whose power is stronger than anything else allows me work through this sin.
He asks us to be obedient to Him and the work He has set for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). If Moses and Aaron tried to please everyone, they would never have confronted Pharaoh, and God would not have been able to use them to show His great power. If we allow the things of this world to get in the way of doing the work God has set for us, then we miss out on the blessings He has in store for us.
God's power is there. Always. How great would it be if He could use us to convey it?! Know that God is there, and His snake will always devour anything that comes against His work being done. Trust in God and have faith that His power is greater and stronger than anything else.
Discussion Questions
1. Is there something in your life that is preventing God from being able to show His power through you?
2. Are there particular things in your life that you are allowing to have power over you?
3. Have you ever been in a situation in which all you could do is to trust God?