KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES || Lesson 32 

KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES – Lesson Thirty-two

TEXT:  Psalm 78 (Cont’d.) – V.46

[We continue to “consider the marvelous works” listed in this psalm, in keeping with I Samuel 12:24 – But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Be sure to fear the LORD – Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.]

V.46 – He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust.

This was the eighth plague.  See Exodus 10:1-20.

Exodus 10:1-2 – ¹Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them ²that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.”

Having told Moses on previous occasions that Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened, the LORD is here explaining His purpose for doing so.  Note Amos 3:7 – Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.  Examples:

Genesis 6:13-14 – ¹³So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. ¹⁴So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.

John 15:15 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

That you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them (Exodus 10:2) – Thus: Psalm 44:1 – We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

Psalm 71:18 – Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Exodus 10:3 – So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: `How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? – An instance of Pharaoh’s pride: Exodus 5:2 – Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”

The following passages show the folly of pride and the wisdom of humility:

Proverbs 3:34 – He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Luke 18:14 – “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let us ask the GOD OF MIRACLES to help us to heed James 4:10 – Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Exodus 10:11 – No! Have only the men go; and worship the LORD, since that’s what you have been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.

No!  Have only the men go – Pharaoh is again prescribing to Moses.  [Like Moses, we should obey God rather than men.]

Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence – Worsening situation.  Contrast v.6 – They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians–something neither your fathers nor your forefathers have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.'” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.  This was the usual case.

Exodus 10:17 – Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.”

Now forgive my sin once more – Even Pharaoh was aware of the authority of saints.

The GOD OF MIRACLES is reminding us of this authority.  Matthew 18:18 – “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

John 20:23 – If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

This plague was an attack on the god Serapis, defender of the land against locusts.

Approximately 691 years later, there was a similar act of judgment, but this time against Judah.  See the Book of Joel.

Compare Revelation 9:1-4 – ¹The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. ²When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. ³And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. ⁴They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

THE SEAL OF GOD:  See 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30.

Note 2 Timothy 2:19 – Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

“Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” – This is consistent with Psalm 85:8 – I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints– but let them not return to folly.

Let us thank the GOD OF MIRACLES that He will help us.