War of Wills

Day 12: Exodus 6–10; Psalms 25–30; Mark 4–6

Right now the USA and the UK are joined in air strikes against Libyan forces under Gaddafi's dictatorship.  Gaddafi has been bombing and killing his own people who demonstrate aggression against him.  The oppressed rise up together against the oppressor.

In Sunday's readings the Israelites have no power of their own to deliver themselves from the strength of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  But Yahweh, their God, has all the power and He has entered into a battle of wills with the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12) and their representative son on earth, Pharaoh.  In this war Pharaoh loses in every confrontation.  His resolve to maintain control over his slave force is undiminished to the very end when he loses his first born son to the angel of death sent to take all the firstborn of Egypt.

The overwhelming message for me is that God (Yahweh) is in complete control.  God commands Moses and Aaron and they obey.  God commands the waters that they turn to blood.  God commands the frogs, gnats, flies and locusts and they unleash destruction and suffering.  God commands the storm clouds and they produce rain, hail and fire.  God even commands skin disease and this microscopic plague from furnace dust wreaks havoc on the hard hearted Pharaoh and his kingdom. 

Yahweh is none other than creator of all the heavens and the earth! Psalm 24 and 29 sing of His might.

Who is this King of glory?
    The LORD, strong and mighty,
    the LORD, mighty in battle. (Psa. 24:8)

The voice of the LORD is above the waters.
    The God of glory thunders—
    the LORD, above vast waters (Psa. 29:3)

God's voice breaks huge cedar trees, makes land masses move like a young calf skips for joy (The island country Japan moved 8 feet after the 8.9 Richter scale earthquake on March 8, 2011)!  His voice give birth and strips fruitful lands bare.

The King of glory cannot be resisted.  Only His patient and long-suffering, merciful nature gives the illusion that God is powerless.  God endured His people's suffering in Egypt until He could no longer.  He blessed them to multiply greatly even under affliction (Ex. 1:12).  And He formed freed slaves, over a long period of 430 years, into a great nation in order to fulfill His promises to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.

God's purposes will be carried out to the fullest at His command, His sense of the fullness of time (kairos = God's time). And no other king or kingdom can stand against Him. 

So the psalmist wonders,
"Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain?    
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together
    against the LORD and His Anointed One. (Psa 2:1-2)

and sadly recognizes,
The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist."
Will evildoers never understand? (Psa. 14:1a, 4a).

Herod is the New Testament version of Pharaoh, another fool who chose to resist the dominion of God through His representative Son, Jesus, the true King of the Jews.  Like his father before him, Herod Antipas makes decisions out of fear to keep some kind of hold on his people.  We see how fragile is his political grip.  Herod fears his honor will suffer if he doesn't give Herodias' daughter the head of John the Baptist.  He doesn't want to, but because he rashly promised the seductive dancer anything he finds himself afraid of appearing weak before his birthday party guests.

Herod seems to have the upper hand as he kills the King's herald (John the Baptist) and participates in the rejection and ridicule of King Jesus.  But all this is part of God's doing.  It only seems like King Herod and Pontinus Pilate, the Roman Governor are in control.  In the end it is not Caesar's will that wins the day.  It is the will of God. 

For just as God provided a passover to save the Israelites from the angel of death during the last plague on Egypt by the shedding of an unblemished lamb's blood, He now offers the blood of His sinless Son as a Paschal Lamb once for all. 

Powers much greater than Pharaoh, Herod, Pilate or Caesar are now subdued and conquered in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For this Jesus is none other than God incarnate, the King of Glory!

He commands the winds and waves and they obey him on the boat crossing the sea of Galilee.  He commands the hungry multitude to be seated and serves them miraculous bread. He teaches the simple deep truths that only those inside the kingdom can see and understand through His coaching, while those outside are blinded in an utter darkness that can be felt (Ex. 10:21).

The creator who separates darkness from light, separates the His chosen from the Egyptians.  He hardens Pharaoh's heart and exalts the name of the Lord above all who would choose to war against Him.

If is were not for His patience and great love, we would all perish.  Therefore people of faith can come to Him in complete trust saying,

LORD, I turn my hope to You.  
    My God, I trust in You.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
    or my acts of rebellion;
    in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me
    because of Your goodness, LORD.  (Psa. 25:1-2a, 7)