Exodus 7: Plagues and magic sticks (Day 55)

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Read

Exodus 7 Luke 10 Job 24 1 Corinthians 11

Daily reflection: Exodus 7

Words won't convince Pharaoh, but actions might. Through Moses and Aaron, God inflicts a string of disasters on Egypt. The time for persuasion is past; Pharaoh will obey, or face the consequences. From being oppressed and downtrodden, the lowest of the low, the Hebrews have been given a future and a hope.

As a sign of his prophetic authority, Aaron is given a ‘stick’ or staff as a tool. It becomes a snake, but fails to impress Pharaoh; he strikes the river with it and it turns to blood. Later it's used to bring plagues of frogs and gnats. Moses has a staff as well; he'll use it in the parting of the Red Sea, in the wilderness to find water, and in the battle at Rephidim.

Tools, however, are just that. There's no sense in Scripture that these staffs are powerful in themselves, like a wizard's wand. Rather, they are symbols of the power of God and he works miracles through them.

We use tools in the service of God today. Mission events are highly organised and slickly delivered. In some churches worship groups are highly professionalised and rely on the latest technology. In recent times, many of us have learned new techniques for online church.

No one would say that we shouldn't do all this, or that there's anything wrong with being efficient. But it's good to remind ourselves that without the power of God, a stick is just a stick; without prayer, faith and trust, even the best of our tools won't accomplish anything for him.

Pray

God, help me to be faithful and prayerful in all I do for you. Let me never put my trust in human wisdom, but always in your mighty power at work in me.