Have you ever been in the midst of one of the storms of life and wondered why?   Why is this happening, why am I walking through this struggle? Often we never get answers to the why’s of life but the good news is we always know the who.  Who is in control? Who loves me through this storm? Who never will leave me?  It’s always Jesus.  It’s interesting that God actually gives Pharaoh a why in the midst of bringing down judgment through the plagues.  Let’s look at the passage together today.

 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.’” 20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.

It’s interesting that God tells Pharaoh His purpose.  He says that Pharaoh is actually a part of God’s plan.  His stubbornness actually goes on to serve God’s purpose and plan.  Some times after we walk through a time of struggle God’s plan and purpose become evident to us.  I can look back on several of those seasons in my own life and clearly see that God was at work.  Other times I can look at and not see anything.  The truth that I can hold too is that God was with me through all of those times.  In good times and bad.  He is with you and He loves you and He is at work.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave