Scripture Daily

Context No. 1213 of 4322 · Exodus

Context · Reflection

Exodus 8:16-24: in context

16The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’” 17They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice on man, and on animal; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal. 19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is God’s finger;” but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as the LORD had spoken. 20The LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he comes out to the water; and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground they are on. 22I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, to the end you may know that I am the LORD on the earth. 23I will put a division between my people and your people. This sign shall happen by tomorrow.”’” 24The LORD did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses. In all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies.

The plagues on Egypt continue. God has Aaron strike the dust, and it becomes swarms of gnats on man and beast throughout the land. This time Pharaoh's magicians, who had matched the earlier signs, cannot reproduce it, and they say to Pharaoh, this is the finger of God. But Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he will not listen. Then God announces the next plague, swarms of flies, but with a distinction: no flies will come on the land of Goshen where his people live, so that Pharaoh may know the LORD is in the land, making a division between his people and Pharaoh's.

Two things stand out. First, the magicians hit a wall. They had kept up with Moses through the first signs, imitating them with their arts, but at the gnats they fail, and even they, the professional counterfeiters, confess this is the finger of God. There is a limit to what the counterfeit can do; the imitation of God's power runs out, and the point comes where even the deceivers have to admit they are up against the real thing. Second, God makes a division. When the flies come, Goshen is spared; God draws a line between his people and Pharaoh's, so that the distinction between those who are his and those who are not becomes visible. This is not favoritism for its own sake but a sign, that Pharaoh and everyone may know the LORD is at work and that his people belong to him. God is able to distinguish and protect his own even in the middle of a general judgment, setting them apart, sheltering them under the same sky where others are struck. The finger of God does what no magician can, and it knows how to divide, sparing his people while the judgment falls.

Do I recognize the point where the counterfeit runs out and only the finger of God will do, and do I trust the God who knows how to make a division, sheltering his own even in the midst of judgment?

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