February 3

Exodus 9

The plagues on Egypt intensify.

INSIGHT

Frogs and gnats? Boils and hail? Water into blood? What strange plagues! What reasoning went behind the selection of plagues? Were they chosen at random, or was there design behind it? Though we might not always be able to discern it, the God of omniscience does nothing without design. The Egyptians worshiped odd and debased gods. Each plague was designed to strike at the credibility of an Egyptian god and manifest the barrenness of belief in these objects. God does the same today. Our gods are fortune, power, beauty, talent, and intelligence. There’s nothing wrong with them as servants, but when we worship them, they are cruel. God shows the barrenness of worshiping them by allowing people without them to be deeply joyful while those who worship them are tortured. Again, today, God’s personal mark of blessing is the fruit of the Spirit and not necessarily of the vine. Joy is found in God, not things.

PRAYER

Offer the Lord praise for the joy He gives:
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain (Psalm 104:1-2).

Pray this confession to the Lord:
Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:4-5).

As you agree with God’s will, voice your affirmation of His Word:

Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater wisdom for living life
• The needs of your immediate family
• The concerns of your heart

Now offer this prayer of worship:
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground (Psalm 147:5-6).