The Finger of God

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19 - The Plague of Gnats

The plagues are affirmation of a faithful God... faithful in love, power and commitment.

In the plagues, we find a God who...

1. Deals with the hearts of people.
   • In the case of Moses — Exodus 4:13; Exodus 5:22-23
   • In the case of Pharaoh — Exodus 5:2
   • At some point in our life, we will always have a choice to follow him or reject him.
   • Our hearts can be hardened or softened.
   
   
2. Declares his greatness to the nations.
   • God challenges and puts to rest the powers of the Egyptian gods.

     God's Power:	The 10 plagues:	Egyptian gods represented:
     God rules over all other gods and their magic.	1. Of Water turned to blood (7:14-25) 2. Of Frogs (8:1-15) 3. Of Gnats (8:16-19)	1. Khnum, god of the sacred Nile 2. Hequet, goddess with frog's head 3. Geb, god of the dust
     God inhabits any place he desires.	4. Of Flies (8:20-32) 5. On Livestock (9:1-7) 6. Of Boils (9:8-12)	4. Khepfi, god of insects 5. Apis, god of bulls 6. Serapis, god of healing
     God controls anything He wants in creation.	7. Of Hail (9:13-35) 8. Of Locusts (10:1-20) 9. Of Darkness (10:21-29)	7. Set, god of storms 8. Osiris, god of crops 9. Ra, god of the Sun
     	10. On Firstborn (11:1-10)	10. Pharaoh himself

   • God's name is at stake, thus he demonstrates His power over everything.
   
   
3. Delivers humanity back to Himself.
   • Exodus: A theological sequel to Genesis.

   • Genesis: The fall of humanity away from God.
   • Exodus: Reclaiming of humanity to God.

   • Genesis: The covenant to Isaac, Abraham and Jacob — Exodus 6:6-8.
   • Exodus: The fulfilment of those promises through Moses.

1. God is concerned with our hearts.
   • Choose to have your hearts touched (softened) by God.
2. God is concerned with destroying the gods in our lives.
   • Money, anger, pleasure, etc.
   • God wants to ensure His supremacy over all these things, even if it's not to destroy them.
3. God doesn't react from moment to moment, but sustains from generation to generation.
   • God will continue to bring us back to Him because He has promised it.

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