Plague Purpose

I remember as a kid having to have all sorts of immunization shots for different diseases that I might be susceptible as a young child. There was one shot that was formidable for sure and left a mark on my arm – I think it was polio vaccine. The shots were obviously intended to prevent me getting the disease. It has worked on me; except I remember a mild case of mumps as a kid.

I’ve been in Exodus the past few days and The Lord has been communicating with Pharaoh through Moses and asking that he let the Israelites go into the wilderness for a spiritual retreat. It is not a small ask, because the people of Israel who lived in Goshen, an area outside of the capital of Egypt.  The Lord has sent a few plagues upon Egypt because Pharaoh is being stubborn and not allowing the people to go. The Lord reveals His purpose of the plagues as He is about to unleash the plague of hail. Check this out…..

¹³ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, ¹⁴ or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. ¹⁵ For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. ¹⁶ But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. ¹⁷ You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go.¹⁸ Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now. ¹⁹ Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’” (Exodus 9:12-19 NLT)

The Lord reveals His purpose of the plagues – that all will know there is no one like Him in all the earth. He could wipe Egypt off the planet, but He doesn’t.   I was reminded in this passage of the authority and power of God. He shows great discipline and restraint, but He also shows His power and punishment.

I would be wise to keep that in mind when I’m making choices that hurt the Lord instead of helping His kingdom here on earth. I am called to honor the Lord with my life and my choices. If I act in a self-centered and self-serving way, then I am hardening my heart just like Pharaoh of Egypt.  I want to live my life on purpose. I want my purpose to reflect what the Lord is calling me to do and to be for His honor and is glory – not my own. Pastor Rick Warrenhas written a great book back in 2002 called: The Purpose Driven Lifeand he clarifies our purpose very clearly.  I want my life to reflect Him living in me and working through me. I’m pressing on today on purpose.

Pressing On!

Dwayne