***Note – We have completed the book of Job and the book of Genesis! This is our seventh week in the book of Exodus!
Focus: Exodus Chapter Seven
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Exodus Chapter Four – “Knowing the Lord”
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse:
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
Exodus 7:5
Exodus Chapter 7:
“Knowing the Lord”
(Read Exodus Chapter 7 First)
One thing became very clear to me while studying Exodus chapter 7.
God is revealing WHO HE IS.
The chapter opens with the LORD telling Moses,
“See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” (Exodus 7:1)
To me, this verse just meant that Moses would stand before Pharaoh as God’s representative, speaking God’s words with God’s authority, while Aaron would speak on Moses’ behalf.
Then the LORD tells Moses…
“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 7:3)
God already knew exactly what was about to happen and He goes on to explain why…
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Exodus 7:5)
Then, just a few verses later, Moses tells Pharaoh,
“Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD...” (Exodus 7:17)
That phrase kept standing out to me.
“By this thou shalt know that I am the LORD.”
For me, it was the heartbeat of this entire chapter. It made me realize how often we wonder why things are happening, why nothing seems to be getting better, or why we just can’t catch a break. Sometimes it may be because God is working through those circumstances to reveal Himself to someone else.
Everything that was about to happen had a purpose. Through His mighty power, Egypt would come face to face with the one true God.
How often do we focus on what God is doing instead of what He is trying to show us about who He is?
And this is something I don’t want us to miss…Sometimes we become so consumed with wanting God to change our circumstances that we miss what He wants to teach us through them.
I know in my own life that some of my greatest seasons of growth come when God reveals more of Himself.
Another thing I noticed was the obedience of Moses and Aaron.
The LORD gave them instructions.
They obeyed.
He told them to go before Pharaoh.
They went.
He told Aaron to cast down his rod.
He did.
He told them to meet Pharaoh by the river the next morning.
Again, they obeyed.
It also amazed me that Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three. I love that God told us their ages.
Have you ever felt that you were too young, too old, too inexperienced? I know I often feel unqualified for God to use me, but…
God chose two elderly brothers to stand before the most powerful ruler in the world! I’m so glad that He doesn’t call only the strongest or the most gifted, but He chooses willing hearts that will trust Him and obey so that He can graciously work through us.
What an incredible privilege!
It reminds me of what Paul wrote:
“For we are labourers together with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
Next, we come to the part of the story when Aaron threw down his rod, and it became a serpent.
Immediately Pharaoh called for his wise men, sorcerers, and magicians. They were able to perform the same action.
But then the Bible tells us…
“But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” (Exodus 7:12)
To me, this was a wonderful picture that God’s power is greater than every fake. There are many things in this world that will try to imitate the truth, promise us peace, or offer us hope apart from God.
But none of them can compare to Him.
The things of this world may appear impressive for a little while, but eventually they are swallowed up by the power of the one true God.
God then instructed Moses and Aaron to meet Pharaoh by the river.
Aaron stretched out his rod just as God commanded.
The waters turned to blood.
The fish died.
The river stank.
There was blood throughout all the land.
But Pharaoh still remained unchanged.
One verse especially caught my attention.
“Neither did he set his heart to this also.” (Exodus 7:23)
I looked up the phrase “set his heart.”
It carries the idea of applying one’s heart, giving careful attention, or taking something seriously.
Pharaoh witnessed God’s mighty works, but he refused to let what he saw affect him.
As I read that, I began thinking about my own life.
How many times has God shown me His faithfulness?
How many prayers has He answered?
How many times has He provided exactly what I needed?
Am I paying attention?
Am I allowing what God is doing to deepen my relationship with Him?
I know that sometimes we can become so focused on asking God for another miracle and we forget to take the time to reflect and thank Him for the ones He’s already done.
God was revealing Himself in this chapter in Exodus, and He is constantly revealing Himself to us if we take the time to listen.
Throughout Scripture, one of God’s greatest desires is for people to know Him.
Jesus prayed,
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”(John 17:3)
Paul later wrote,
“That I may know him…” (Philippians 3:10)
God doesn’t just want us to know ABOUT Him.
He wants us to know Him PERSONALLY.
Sometimes that happens most deeply in seasons we would never choose.
We may ask God to remove the trial, but He may choose to reveal more of Himself through it.
Looking back over my own life, I’ve learned more about God’s faithfulness and love during the difficult seasons than I ever did during the easy ones.
I wouldn’t have chosen those valleys.
But I also wouldn’t trade what I learned about God while walking through them.
Personal Reflection
Take a few moments to ask yourself:
- Is God trying to reveal something about Himself in my current season?
- Am I so focused on wanting my circumstances to change that I’m missing what God wants to teach me?
- Have I taken time to remember the ways God has already shown Himself faithful?
- Am I willing to obey God even when I don’t fully understand His plan?
- How has God revealed His character to me through difficult seasons in my life?
This Week’s Challenge
This week, instead of asking only, “Lord, when will this situation change?”
Try asking,
“Lord, what are You teaching me about who You are?”
Spend a few minutes each day thanking Him for ways He has already revealed His faithfulness in your life.
The more we know who God is, the more we will trust Him…no matter what circumstances we face.
So the next time you find yourself going through a difficult season, ask God to reveal what He’s trying to teach you. Ask Him to give you understanding and a heart that’s willing to learn. He loves us, and His desire is for us to grow to be more like Him.
The Georgia Nest 