DARTH VADER . . . THE JOKER . . . AND PHARAOH?

April 19, 2013

DARTH VADER . . . THE JOKER . . . AND PHARAOH?

Exodus 11

Wilson Pryor

Central Truth

The Lord will protect His people (heroes) and punish those who oppose Him (villains).

"'But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.'" (Exodus 11:7)

A Final Plague Threatened

1 The LORD said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.

4 So Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. 7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. 9 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

So as I mentioned, I'm a big-time movie lover. One of my favorite elements of any good movie is a well-done villain. If you're half the nerd that I am (and you may not be, that's still pretty nerdy), then you know that the enemy can make or break a movie. The best stories normally have really terrible villains that the hero has to overcome. And when the hero defeats one who is truly powerful and twisted, it just makes the hero that much greater in our eyes.

Exodus 11 brings our hero, Moses, face to face with Pharaoh, one of the most well-known villains from Scripture, to warn him of one final plague. But Moses does not fear, because he knows that "God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28, NIV). We see how God provides for the Israelites through the Egyptians (Exodus 11:2-3). Moses declares that God will protect their name against anyone who would speak out against them (verse 7). And we know that in Exodus 12 (SPOILER ALERT), God saves them from the last plague itself.

On the other hand, Pharaoh should have been very worried, because God punishes those who stand against Him. The plagues made the Egyptians cry out in anguish (verse 6). And God even predicted that Pharaoh would not listen to Moses so that God's wonders would be multiplied in Egypt, making an example of Egypt and reveal more of His glory to His people (verse 9).

Pharaoh learned the hard way that being a villain in God's story is nasty business. It's easy to look down on him with pity or even judgment for his stubborn pride. But if we get honest with ourselves, we would see a little Pharaoh in our own hearts. How often do we disregard the commands of God? How often do we ignore the warnings of the Holy Spirit?

In truth, we are all villains by nature (Romans 3:10) and deserve punishment (Romans 6:23). But Christ has redeemed us and allows us to be heroes in His story instead. So how will you live today? As a hero? Or as a villain?

1. God is writing a story, and you will play a role in His great narrative. Are you living as a hero or as a villain? How can you be more of a hero today?

2. Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." What does this mean for the responsibilities of a hero in Christ's service? What villainy do you see around you that must be stopped?

3. We are all villains at heart, and therefore, we are going to hurt one another from time to time. Who have you hurt recently by your villainous ways? Have you sought forgiveness and repented from this behavior?

4. Who are the heroes in your life that you are looking up to? What steps are you taking to ensure that you follow in their footsteps?