Think of Others

"But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, "Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them,'"'... Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. " -Exodus 8.32-9.2, 7

Pharaoh continues to keep the people in slavery, and so the plagues continue. But now God is beginning to make distinctions. The plagues now begin to affect only the Egyptians. The flies only swarm on the people of Egypt. Only the cattle of the Egyptians die. Pharaoh's stubbornness is now causing his own people to suffer.

Men, we are notoriously stubborn, maybe stereotypically, but let's face it, all of us are stubborn to a point. The question is, what is that point? Does our stubbornness end up resulting in others being harmed? As we make decisions do we take others into account? Do we think about how our actions will impact those around us?

Sometimes it's good to be stubborn. There are times we need to stand our ground and die on the hill. But those are the times that we stand against evil and injustice and work to improve the lives around us. But when we stand our ground at the expense of others we've missed the point of leadership.

Pharaoh brought chaos and destruction upon his people because he hardened his heart. His own advisors approached him about letting the people go, but he refuses, and his people suffer.

Let us lead to better their lives, not pass our own agendas. As we lead let us think of others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Acknowledge God

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, "Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt."' They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.' But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said." -Exodus 8.16-19

Plague three is upon the land of Egypt, gnats everywhere. The past two plagues the magicians of Egypt have been able to replicate. They turned water to blood and produced frogs, but with this one they cannot match. Try as they might, their secret arts just could not replicate this plague. And when all they know fails them the look to the only option left, it must be God.

God had told Moses that the wonders He would perform in Egypt would show the Egyptians that He is the Lord, and it's beginning to happen. Pharaoh still doesn't believe, or at least doesn't care, but those who interact with Him are starting to get it. When things become unexplainable, they begin to acknowledge God.

Men, do you acknowledge God? Do you give Him credit and attribute His work to Him? Or do you write things off merely as coincidence? Do you take the time to look and see how He is working in your life, and where He is leading your life, or do you focus on your plans and desires? When something amazing happens do we give the glory to God?

We have two choices, acknowledge God or don't. When it all comes down to it, that's it. We can say, "This has to be God" and respond with praise and worship, or we can continue to look to our own means as the fail time and again.

Do you choose to acknowledge God, or will your heart be hardened?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Your Word

"Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, 'Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.'... But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said." -Exodus 8.8, 15

The snake didn't shake him, the blood was impressive but ineffective, but the frogs have gotten Pharaoh's attention. This time Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron, and he tells them that once God removes the frogs he will let the people go and sacrifice to God. Moses asks him to tell him when to have the frogs removed and he goes to God with the time. But when Pharaoh sees that the frogs are gone he changes his mind and keeps the people enslaved.

Men, have you made promises and commitments, but as soon as the situation changes, you change your mind? Do you go back on what you said as soon as its convenient for you? How many of us have made commitments to God only go back on them later. "God let me get this job/promotion and I'll be in church every Sunday." It lasts what, a month maybe? "God give me a raise and I'll give more to help the needy." Do you? "God do ... for me, and I'll ..." fill in the blanks. Does it really happen?

Do you do what you'll say you'll do, or are the commitments you make only good until things turn around? Do you keep your word?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Teamwork

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh and say to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs. The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.'"' Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, "Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt."' So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. The magicians did the same with their secret arts, making frogs come up on the land of Egypt." -Exodus 8.1-7

As the fight moves into round four we begin to see a solid rhythm forming. By now there is a routine that both men are comfortable with. They know their skills and their callings, and when the time comes each one performs the task that is needed of them. God speaks to Moses, Moses speaks to Aaron, Aaron stretches out his hand, God's wonders unfold. There is teamwork taking place to accomplish the will of God. And there is no shame in team work.

Men, we need eachother. Not one of us can do everything, not one of us was meant to. We each have gifts and strengths, and they are unique. We each have different skills and passions, and they are all necessary. We must learn to work together. Think of the phalanx. Each Spartan was a force to be reckoned with. Each one of them was skilled in combat. Each one of them was a powerful and deadly warrior. But every Spartan knew that their true strength was in the phalanx. When they stood together, side by side, they were unbeatable.

At Thermopylae they held off a vastly superior force for three days. The final day of combat it's thought that they broke rank and just cut down Persians until the last man fell. Part of me wonders what would have happened if they stayed in formation. Could the phalanx have held out? But the phalanx only worked because each warrior was so disciplined and skilled, able to hold his shield up and protect his brothers.

Men, we are all indispensable members of the phalanx. But if we are to stand firm together we must each be an individual force to be reckoned with. We will never be as strong individually as we are together, but if we have never developed our strength we have nothing to offer the phalanx. If we are to function as a team, we must each hone our skills and bring them to the front lines. And we must also be willing to let others bring theirs.

We are a team of skilled warriors. Are you able to lift your shield? Have you added it to the phalanx?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor