1 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,160 Well, this morning we are turning to Exodus chapter 8 and looking 2 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,400 at plagues 3 and 4 that fell upon Egypt. 3 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,880 These are the plagues of the gnats and the flies. 4 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,880 And so far we've seen the Nile turn to blood in the first plague 5 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,280 and frogs coming onto the land in the second. 6 00:00:30,170 --> 00:00:34,610 And both of these, we must remind ourselves, were gods of the 7 00:00:34,610 --> 00:00:35,370 Egyptians. 8 00:00:35,930 --> 00:00:39,290 They worshiped the Nile for its life source. 9 00:00:39,930 --> 00:00:43,690 They worshipped frogs because they were the gods of fertility. 10 00:00:44,650 --> 00:00:50,730 And so now God goes after what are the idols of Israel, because 11 00:00:50,730 --> 00:00:55,800 God was demonstrating, it was his power and his authority that 12 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,520 was over everything in the land. 13 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,400 And these plagues, we have to again remind ourselves, are not coming 14 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:08,040 in some random order, but are in fact falling on Egypt as a demonstration 15 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,720 of who the God of Israel is, that he is the one true God. 16 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,440 And when you look at the first nine plagues, you'll see that they 17 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,920 come in three cycles, with the third plague always coming unannounced. 18 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:27,460 That's why the plague of gnats is recorded so briefly for us in 19 00:01:27,460 --> 00:01:28,260 this chapter. 20 00:01:28,900 --> 00:01:32,260 And in this plague, no warning is given to Pharaoh. 21 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:36,180 The Lord simply instructs Moses to tell Aaron to once again 22 00:01:36,420 --> 00:01:37,940 stretch out his staff. 23 00:01:39,060 --> 00:01:43,700 And that's indeed what Aaron does, as verse 17 records for us. 24 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:44,340 They did this. 25 00:01:44,340 --> 00:01:48,020 And when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck 26 00:01:48,020 --> 00:01:52,550 the dust to the ground, gnats came upon men and, and animals, and 27 00:01:52,550 --> 00:01:56,630 all the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. 28 00:01:58,310 --> 00:02:01,830 Now, I have told you before that the common phrase that's used 29 00:02:01,830 --> 00:02:04,470 about me at home is he doesn't see dust. 30 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:06,310 And that's very true. 31 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:07,350 I don't see dust. 32 00:02:07,590 --> 00:02:10,310 Even when people put their names in it, I still don't see it. 33 00:02:10,310 --> 00:02:13,030 Or maybe more appropriately, it doesn't bother me. 34 00:02:13,750 --> 00:02:18,240 But I think if the dust suddenly became gnats, I would be 35 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:19,960 exceptionally concerned. 36 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,760 Think of the dust in your own home. 37 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,600 Now, that's no judgment on your cleanliness, but it doesn't 38 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:32,200 matter how often you dust, it seems within ours other dust will 39 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:32,520 return. 40 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,560 And that's just the nature of the world in which we live. 41 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,680 But imagine if every bit of dust became a gnat. 42 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:47,400 And the gnats Here in Exodus 8 fall on man and beast, telling us 43 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,460 that they are abiding insect, which means that they may be anything 44 00:02:51,460 --> 00:02:55,220 from lice, as the King James version has it, possibly as far as 45 00:02:55,220 --> 00:02:58,180 mosquitoes and that awful little bite that they give. 46 00:02:58,340 --> 00:03:01,980 And although the animals would have been impacted in some way by 47 00:03:01,980 --> 00:03:04,900 the first two plagues, no water to drink and Then the awkwardness 48 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:06,100 of frogs everywhere. 49 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:08,500 This is the first plague to fall on them. 50 00:03:09,620 --> 00:03:11,540 But there's also another first. 51 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:16,100 So far we've seen the magicians of Egypt replicate all 52 00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:18,020 that Moses and Aaron have been able to do. 53 00:03:18,340 --> 00:03:21,070 And we've maybe just joked that they've always made it worse 54 00:03:21,070 --> 00:03:22,470 because they've never been able to take it away. 55 00:03:22,470 --> 00:03:28,030 They've only been able to add more frogs or put more blood in water. 56 00:03:29,790 --> 00:03:34,790 But this time there's a depth revealed to us about what is really 57 00:03:34,790 --> 00:03:38,510 going on here in verse 18. 58 00:03:39,150 --> 00:03:42,510 But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret 59 00:03:42,510 --> 00:03:45,410 arts, they could not produce. 60 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,160 The gnats were on men and animals. 61 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,160 Now, this might have been a bit of a relief because as we've 62 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,360 just said, all these magicians affairs have been able to do is to 63 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,040 add to the situation and not take away or bring the plague to 64 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:01,480 an end. 65 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,280 And this tells us something that we need to know this morning. 66 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,800 Because as we've gone into a new year and as I was sharing with 67 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,900 midweek on Wednesday night, I have a great concern going into this 68 00:04:15,980 --> 00:04:16,700 new year. 69 00:04:17,580 --> 00:04:21,660 I have a great concern and a heaviness of heart, a burden on my 70 00:04:21,660 --> 00:04:24,700 heart of just how the devil might work. 71 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:30,500 It has been something that I felt over the past week or two that 72 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:32,740 as we look to the New Testament and read of people making 73 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:37,020 shipwreck of their faith, it has been a burden for me to pray 74 00:04:37,020 --> 00:04:41,620 for you every day that indeed Christ will keep you to the end. 75 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:48,140 And that's why I believe this passage gives us some hope with the 76 00:04:48,140 --> 00:04:49,780 concern that I've just shared. 77 00:04:50,580 --> 00:04:54,740 Because the thing that we need to know this day is that Satan's 78 00:04:54,740 --> 00:04:56,740 power is limited. 79 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:01,140 Pharaoh's magicians were servants of Satan. 80 00:05:01,460 --> 00:05:04,820 And the plague of gnats clearly shows that Satan's power 81 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:06,100 has its limits. 82 00:05:07,250 --> 00:05:10,210 The reality is the devil does have some par. 83 00:05:10,290 --> 00:05:14,370 And if we don't think that the devil is prowling around like a lion, 84 00:05:14,370 --> 00:05:18,730 waiting on whom he may devour and how he uses evil spirits in the 85 00:05:18,730 --> 00:05:23,290 world to do his work, then we need to think again, because the 86 00:05:23,290 --> 00:05:27,650 devil is at work, that image of a prowling lion. 87 00:05:28,850 --> 00:05:32,530 And the Bible says in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 88 00:05:32,530 --> 00:05:37,010 9, that his work is displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, 89 00:05:37,250 --> 00:05:38,280 signs and wonders. 90 00:05:39,630 --> 00:05:42,430 And is this not what we're seeing in Egypt? 91 00:05:43,470 --> 00:05:46,510 Because as we have seen, whether by some clever trick or by 92 00:05:46,510 --> 00:05:51,510 some demonic enhancement or enchantment, Pharaoh's magicians 93 00:05:51,510 --> 00:05:54,590 were able to duplicate the first two plagues. 94 00:05:55,150 --> 00:05:56,750 And however they did it. 95 00:05:56,830 --> 00:06:00,350 They performed their magic in opposition to God. 96 00:06:00,830 --> 00:06:05,080 And so they can be seen as servants to Satan. 97 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:11,240 And Satan is very powerful, but his powers are limited. 98 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,120 Consider all the things he is unable to do or he's unable to be. 99 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,120 He cannot create. 100 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:20,280 He can only destroy. 101 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:23,560 Satan cannot redeem. 102 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,280 He can only be damned. 103 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,160 Satan cannot love. 104 00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:31,250 He can only hate. 105 00:06:32,370 --> 00:06:33,810 He cannot be humble. 106 00:06:34,370 --> 00:06:35,650 He can only be proud. 107 00:06:36,210 --> 00:06:41,130 And most crushingly of all, he was unable to keep God's son in the 108 00:06:41,130 --> 00:06:45,450 grave because God broke the devil's power by raising Jesus from 109 00:06:45,450 --> 00:06:45,970 the dead. 110 00:06:46,050 --> 00:06:48,850 That's what the Bible says in 1st John 3 and verse 8. 111 00:06:48,930 --> 00:06:51,330 He who does what is sinful is of the devil. 112 00:06:51,330 --> 00:06:54,610 Because the devil has been sinning from the very beginning, 113 00:06:54,610 --> 00:06:57,650 and that has been is a continuous active. 114 00:06:57,810 --> 00:06:59,570 In other words, he's keeping doing it. 115 00:06:59,570 --> 00:07:03,210 And the reason the son of God appear was to destroy the devil's 116 00:07:03,210 --> 00:07:03,410 work. 117 00:07:03,410 --> 00:07:06,090 And the devil's work was destroyed in the resurrection of 118 00:07:06,090 --> 00:07:06,770 Jesus Christ. 119 00:07:08,530 --> 00:07:11,810 But that doesn't stop Satan. 120 00:07:12,370 --> 00:07:14,810 It doesn't stop the devil at work. 121 00:07:14,810 --> 00:07:17,410 But what we do know is that his power is limited. 122 00:07:17,970 --> 00:07:21,810 And so the way that Jesus destroyed the devil's work was through 123 00:07:22,620 --> 00:07:25,060 his crucifixion and his resurrection. 124 00:07:25,060 --> 00:07:30,260 Because in the end, Satan will be utterly vanquished and all his 125 00:07:30,260 --> 00:07:32,380 evil plans will come to nothing. 126 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:36,140 And he himself will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur 127 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:39,580 where he will be tormented day and night, forever and ever. 128 00:07:39,580 --> 00:07:44,860 As Revelation 20:10 tells us, we need to know and remember that 129 00:07:44,860 --> 00:07:46,700 Satan is limited in his power. 130 00:07:46,700 --> 00:07:50,740 Whenever we are tempted or when we face sin, some form of spiritual 131 00:07:50,740 --> 00:07:54,940 opposition, Satan is potent. 132 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:56,620 But he's not like God. 133 00:07:56,620 --> 00:07:57,980 He's not omnipotent. 134 00:07:58,940 --> 00:08:02,740 If we are followers of Jesus Christ, then the God we serve is 135 00:08:02,740 --> 00:08:07,420 infinitely more powerful than our greatest enemy, God is able. 136 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:10,620 And God is willing to save us from the power of Satan. 137 00:08:10,620 --> 00:08:14,460 And when we pray, deliver us from evil as given to us in the Lord's 138 00:08:14,460 --> 00:08:19,050 prayer in Matthew 6:13, then God will hear our prayer. 139 00:08:19,050 --> 00:08:23,170 And God will answer, and God will deliver us from evil. 140 00:08:23,970 --> 00:08:28,210 And when we put on the whole armor of God, God will enable us 141 00:08:28,210 --> 00:08:30,690 to stand against the schemes of the devil. 142 00:08:30,850 --> 00:08:36,130 As Ephesians 6:11 tells us that as James writes in chapter 4 143 00:08:36,130 --> 00:08:38,690 and verse 7, Submit yourselves then to God. 144 00:08:39,010 --> 00:08:43,650 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 145 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:51,060 You see, Satan is out to trick and to trap each and every one of 146 00:08:51,060 --> 00:08:51,340 us. 147 00:08:52,540 --> 00:08:56,140 And you know, over these years of his practice, he's got very good 148 00:08:56,140 --> 00:08:56,620 at it. 149 00:08:57,260 --> 00:09:01,140 Because just when we think we've got over One sin or one spiritual 150 00:09:01,140 --> 00:09:01,420 attack. 151 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:06,580 He's cunningly able to divert us and to bring us another way to 152 00:09:06,580 --> 00:09:09,180 the sin that our hearts desperately want. 153 00:09:09,180 --> 00:09:11,260 But yet we know we must not fall into. 154 00:09:12,860 --> 00:09:17,180 He will bring attack after attack, because that's what he does, 155 00:09:17,660 --> 00:09:20,060 and that's what he's been doing from the very beginning. 156 00:09:20,060 --> 00:09:22,620 But his power is limited. 157 00:09:23,340 --> 00:09:24,860 He will not win. 158 00:09:26,060 --> 00:09:32,980 For Christ the victor will stand and reign forever with all 159 00:09:32,980 --> 00:09:35,180 power and all dominion. 160 00:09:37,670 --> 00:09:42,230 You see, among his many limitations, Satan is unable to withstand 161 00:09:42,310 --> 00:09:47,430 even a single Christian who trusts in God's mighty power to save. 162 00:09:48,710 --> 00:09:52,710 And look what these servants of Satan end up confessing with this 163 00:09:52,710 --> 00:09:53,069 plague. 164 00:09:53,069 --> 00:09:57,430 In verse 19, the magician said to Pharaoh, this is the finger of 165 00:09:57,430 --> 00:09:57,830 God. 166 00:09:58,150 --> 00:10:00,990 But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as 167 00:10:00,990 --> 00:10:01,990 the Lord had said. 168 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,960 So these sorcerer priests who were in the service of Pharaoh and 169 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,480 ultimately in the service of Satan, warn him that this plague 170 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,720 is divine handiwork. 171 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:17,240 They also refer to a single finger, acknowledging that the hand's 172 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,680 owner is so powerful that he needs only one finger to accomplish 173 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:22,960 such miracles. 174 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,240 And this is a strong witness of the truth and reality of God. 175 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,400 These magicians, who are also the theological experts in Egypt, 176 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,720 identify the God of the Israelites as the powerful one with 177 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,840 power greater than they can access. 178 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,800 And so Pharaoh now has testimony about the Lord's power 179 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:44,880 from his own trusted advisors. 180 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,600 And so, before we move on to the next plague, we must take seriously 181 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:50,720 what we see here. 182 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,160 Pharaoh got no warning of the plague of gnats. 183 00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:57,440 And remember, each plague not only demonstrated the power of God, 184 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:02,280 but it also was punishment on the Egyptians for their refusal to 185 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,000 worship the one true God. 186 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,720 And this account tells us that if someone resists the Lord, then 187 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,120 judgment may come unannounced. 188 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:16,240 We need to not only know our own hearts, but to be aware of our 189 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:16,880 actions. 190 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:23,160 Judgment will not fall on those who who know Christ, but it 191 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,880 will be for those who sin against God, knowing that their sin 192 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,760 is not God's way as given to us in Scripture. 193 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:34,320 And so this is a stark warning for us that we need to pay attention 194 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:35,840 to whoever we are. 195 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,920 Because isn't this the case of simply stopping sinning? 196 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,720 Well, it's not because we need a realization that we stop. 197 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:45,760 And we need to stop. 198 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,760 And we need to confess and seek forgiveness. 199 00:11:49,220 --> 00:11:52,820 Because if we don't, then that swift punishment that came on Egypt 200 00:11:52,980 --> 00:11:54,100 will fall on us. 201 00:11:54,980 --> 00:11:58,940 As Romans 6:23 both warns and encourages us. 202 00:11:58,940 --> 00:12:01,700 For the wages of sin is death, eternal death. 203 00:12:02,100 --> 00:12:06,580 But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 204 00:12:07,940 --> 00:12:12,700 As much as there is a reality to know, a reality of our own sin 205 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:16,510 and how it separates us from God, without any hope that we can 206 00:12:16,510 --> 00:12:19,870 master or muster, there is also hope. 207 00:12:20,190 --> 00:12:24,430 And that hope is in the Lord Jesus, because we are to call on 208 00:12:24,430 --> 00:12:27,550 him for salvation so that we will know forgiveness. 209 00:12:27,550 --> 00:12:31,790 Because Jesus has taken on himself the punishment that we deserve 210 00:12:32,750 --> 00:12:37,070 because of our sin, we cannot and must not ignore this. 211 00:12:38,190 --> 00:12:43,790 Pharaoh did, and look at verse 19 again and see what happened. 212 00:12:44,270 --> 00:12:47,550 His heart was hardened against God. 213 00:12:50,110 --> 00:12:54,750 You see, in this very short plague that's accounted for of gnats 214 00:12:55,230 --> 00:12:58,790 that simply come up one day and go down the next, there is deep 215 00:12:58,790 --> 00:13:00,630 meaning that we must know and hope in. 216 00:13:00,630 --> 00:13:02,430 And that hope is only in Jesus Christ. 217 00:13:03,070 --> 00:13:08,510 That hope that Christ is greater than Satan, that means his 218 00:13:08,510 --> 00:13:09,310 power is limited. 219 00:13:09,310 --> 00:13:13,710 And whatever you are facing, as hard as the days are, it is limited. 220 00:13:14,870 --> 00:13:16,390 Let me assure you of that. 221 00:13:17,590 --> 00:13:18,470 It will pass. 222 00:13:19,350 --> 00:13:22,430 And you once again will know the joy of your salvation fully in 223 00:13:22,430 --> 00:13:25,990 Jesus Christ, even as the devil wants to pull you away. 224 00:13:26,070 --> 00:13:27,910 That's why I have such a burden. 225 00:13:28,630 --> 00:13:33,950 A burden to pray for you, that you will stay with Christ and not 226 00:13:33,950 --> 00:13:35,550 fall into the way of Satan. 227 00:13:35,550 --> 00:13:38,230 For he is active, but he is limited. 228 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:46,200 But just as this punishment came quickly upon the Egyptians, 229 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,720 so we must be aware that God's punishment will come quickly on us 230 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,040 if we do not turn and know him and trust him. 231 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:58,320 And the answer to both of these is to trust in Jesus, to know 232 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,920 him for who he is, so that our hearts will not become hard. 233 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,400 But in fact, our hearts will be drawn to Christ, to be warmed 234 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,560 by him, so that we will grow, that we will actually change every 235 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:12,920 day to become like Christ, more and more. 236 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,240 Because as we move into the plague of the flies, we see what 237 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,960 this hardness of heart looks like. 238 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,400 Because it is that hardness of heart that brings the next plague 239 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,880 of punishment on the Egyptians. 240 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:30,120 Moses is again to meet Pharaoh as he goes to the Nile and once again 241 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,840 demand that he release God's people so that they can go and worship 242 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:34,200 God. 243 00:14:35,270 --> 00:14:40,470 And so this fourth plague that falls on Egypt are flies. 244 00:14:40,470 --> 00:14:44,590 Now, I don't know about you, but as soon as there is a fly in 245 00:14:44,590 --> 00:14:47,270 the house, the fly swatter comes out. 246 00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:51,510 You search and you hunt for not the swatter, but the fly. 247 00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:54,670 And you use your eyes, but you also use your ears to hear where 248 00:14:54,670 --> 00:14:54,910 it is. 249 00:14:54,910 --> 00:14:57,350 And you know those pesky wee flies that you can't see them, but 250 00:14:57,350 --> 00:14:57,990 you can hear them. 251 00:14:58,550 --> 00:14:59,430 They're the worst. 252 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,360 And if you are skilled in fly swatting, you will buy yourself what 253 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:10,080 Looks like a tennis racket, but that is in fact an electric buzzer. 254 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,080 And it becomes a sport as you jump through your kitchen just waving 255 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:14,920 this racket around. 256 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:18,000 And you know the great sense of achievement when you hear the 257 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,640 little clicking, buzzing sound that you've got one. 258 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,000 Now, whenever we lived overseas, if it was a mosquito and 259 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,080 there was a bit of blood in it, let's just say the smell of that 260 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,080 was not the most precious of things. 261 00:15:28,790 --> 00:15:29,630 But you get the idea. 262 00:15:29,630 --> 00:15:30,790 We all want a fly. 263 00:15:30,790 --> 00:15:33,550 We want it gone, we don't want it around, we don't want it on our 264 00:15:33,550 --> 00:15:36,110 food, we don't want it on our tables, we don't want it buzzing 265 00:15:36,110 --> 00:15:36,630 around us. 266 00:15:37,110 --> 00:15:40,470 And so we will do whatever it takes to get rid of that one fly. 267 00:15:41,190 --> 00:15:42,630 Now imagine a swarm. 268 00:15:43,590 --> 00:15:46,670 Imagine a swarm of flies that you can't move, that you can't breathe, 269 00:15:46,670 --> 00:15:49,230 that you have to cover your mouth, cover your nose, try and cover 270 00:15:49,230 --> 00:15:51,510 your eyes so that they're not getting to you. 271 00:15:51,670 --> 00:15:53,270 Imagine that as a plague. 272 00:15:53,270 --> 00:15:54,870 Would you not feel that was punishment? 273 00:15:55,990 --> 00:15:56,710 Of course you would. 274 00:15:56,710 --> 00:15:59,310 And this is what's going to fall on these people because of the 275 00:15:59,310 --> 00:16:03,070 hardness of heart, that hardness of the heart affair. 276 00:16:03,070 --> 00:16:05,350 Once again, another judgment upon them. 277 00:16:06,790 --> 00:16:09,990 But notice a bit of a change in this passage. 278 00:16:10,630 --> 00:16:12,950 Who is the plague not going to fall on? 279 00:16:13,670 --> 00:16:16,830 Well, we read in verse 22, but on that day I will deal differently 280 00:16:16,830 --> 00:16:18,150 with the land of Goshen. 281 00:16:18,390 --> 00:16:19,510 Remember Goshen? 282 00:16:19,670 --> 00:16:23,560 That's where Joseph, the land Joseph give his family to settle 283 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,280 in, the best of the land of Egypt. 284 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,880 Well, the plague's not going to fall there where my people live, 285 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:29,600 says God. 286 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,600 No swarm of flies will be there. 287 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:36,160 So that you will know, Pharaoh, that I, the Lord am in this 288 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:36,480 land. 289 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,160 Have you ever tried to control a fly? 290 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,040 Like none of you have a pet as a fly, I don't think, because you 291 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:42,960 can't control it. 292 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:47,440 So how on earth could these swarms of flies be stopped by this 293 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,520 Geo fence around Goshen? 294 00:16:50,380 --> 00:16:53,820 Well, only the Lord could do it, thus demonstrating who he is 295 00:16:54,380 --> 00:16:55,140 before Pharaoh. 296 00:16:55,140 --> 00:16:57,420 And do you notice who else aren't mentioned in this passage? 297 00:16:57,820 --> 00:17:00,620 The sorcerer priests, the magicians. 298 00:17:01,180 --> 00:17:04,260 There's nothing here for them, as they've already admitted that 299 00:17:04,260 --> 00:17:06,860 this is the work of the finger of God. 300 00:17:08,620 --> 00:17:13,060 So this distinction here of Goshen will be mentioned in four 301 00:17:13,060 --> 00:17:15,580 more plagues as God identifies his people. 302 00:17:16,130 --> 00:17:18,930 And in this instance the Lord states that the distinctionist who 303 00:17:18,930 --> 00:17:22,730 Pharaoh might know or at least acknowledge that the Lord is in the 304 00:17:22,730 --> 00:17:27,650 midst of the land, that is, he is the king, dwelling in it and sovereign 305 00:17:27,650 --> 00:17:29,250 over all that happens there. 306 00:17:29,730 --> 00:17:33,210 And so the flies come in verse 24 and Pharaoh summons Moses and 307 00:17:33,210 --> 00:17:37,330 he summons Aaron and tells them rather surprisingly and succinctly, 308 00:17:37,410 --> 00:17:40,210 to lead the people in worship of God. 309 00:17:40,610 --> 00:17:43,030 Finally, it seems that Pharaoh Pharaoh has had enough. 310 00:17:43,510 --> 00:17:46,550 He has met his match in God and is giving in. 311 00:17:47,350 --> 00:17:50,430 But Pharaoh remains hard hearted towards God because he will 312 00:17:50,430 --> 00:17:53,350 only let them worship God in the land. 313 00:17:53,830 --> 00:17:58,389 And Moses objects in verses 26 to 27 stating that the sacrifices 314 00:17:58,630 --> 00:18:03,110 they would offer would be detestable to the Egyptians. 315 00:18:03,750 --> 00:18:07,390 Now we're not told why these would be detestable, but Moses goes 316 00:18:07,390 --> 00:18:11,510 on to say that this would then lead to retribution by the Egyptians. 317 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,800 And surprisingly, this is a passage of surprises. 318 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,320 In verse 28, Pharaoh agrees to their departure. 319 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,440 Pharaoh said, I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord 320 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:23,040 your God. 321 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:25,840 Not in the land, but actually in the desert. 322 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,960 But you must not go very far. 323 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,600 Now pray for me. 324 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,800 Well, here we have the world's superpower calling for his second 325 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:37,680 prayer meeting. 326 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,360 Because once again, as in the plague of frogs, Pharaoh is asking 327 00:18:42,360 --> 00:18:46,520 for prayer and he's asking it from God's ambassadors before him. 328 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,640 It would appear that Pharaoh's heart is getting the message of who 329 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:51,400 he's up against. 330 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:56,120 And Moses confirms in verse 29 that he will indeed pray for Pharaoh 331 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,160 and that the flies will disappear the next day. 332 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,800 But look at the warning that Moses gives Pharaoh in the second 333 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,440 half of verse 29. 334 00:19:05,330 --> 00:19:08,930 Only be sure that Pharaoh does not act deceitfully again by not 335 00:19:08,930 --> 00:19:12,530 letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord. 336 00:19:13,570 --> 00:19:15,570 See, Moses knows who he's dealing with. 337 00:19:16,450 --> 00:19:20,330 In fact, Moses has a greater understanding of who he's dealing 338 00:19:20,330 --> 00:19:23,490 with than Pharaoh does of who he has to deal with. 339 00:19:24,370 --> 00:19:27,770 Moses doesn't trust the King of Egypt because he's made promises 340 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:29,330 before and he's broken them. 341 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:33,180 Yet Pharaoh is still resistant to God. 342 00:19:33,580 --> 00:19:36,860 And this is demonstrated in verses 30 to 32. 343 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:41,420 Moses does indeed pray for Pharaoh and the Lord answers by removing 344 00:19:41,420 --> 00:19:43,180 all of the flies from Egypt. 345 00:19:43,980 --> 00:19:47,180 The text assures us that not a fly remained. 346 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:51,820 The Lord sent the flies and the Lord removed them. 347 00:19:54,060 --> 00:19:58,250 But we don't need to see the evil his magicians in this. 348 00:19:59,210 --> 00:20:00,010 They're not there. 349 00:20:00,010 --> 00:20:01,930 As we've said, they've no part to play. 350 00:20:02,650 --> 00:20:06,050 But there is a deception, and it's not from them because it's the 351 00:20:06,050 --> 00:20:09,090 deception of Pharaoh's heart is now on display for us. 352 00:20:09,090 --> 00:20:12,929 In verse 32 he says, but this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart 353 00:20:12,929 --> 00:20:14,770 and would not let the people go. 354 00:20:14,770 --> 00:20:15,690 What a liar. 355 00:20:16,330 --> 00:20:18,730 He promised he told them, we're going to do this. 356 00:20:19,530 --> 00:20:20,730 And then he says no. 357 00:20:22,260 --> 00:20:25,980 And so we come to the end of this plague, this fourth plague on 358 00:20:25,980 --> 00:20:26,980 the land of Egypt. 359 00:20:27,140 --> 00:20:30,460 And looking over these verses, we see that Pharaoh still wanted 360 00:20:30,460 --> 00:20:33,460 to control the situation because that's what he was used to. 361 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:37,140 And even though it appeared as if he was submitting to the Lord, 362 00:20:37,380 --> 00:20:38,580 he truly wasn't. 363 00:20:38,900 --> 00:20:43,860 He was only using words that got his situation that little bit 364 00:20:43,860 --> 00:20:44,740 better for him. 365 00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:47,860 He would not let them go. 366 00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:51,540 And if he were to let them go, well, it was only going to be within 367 00:20:51,540 --> 00:20:54,700 the land of Egypt and then only to be a little bit beyond the 368 00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:54,980 land. 369 00:20:55,140 --> 00:21:00,500 Here we still have Pharaoh trying to someway barter with God. 370 00:21:01,860 --> 00:21:05,540 And when he got what he wanted, he reneged on what he said 371 00:21:05,540 --> 00:21:09,300 and the promises he had made and simply got back to being Pharaoh, 372 00:21:09,540 --> 00:21:10,820 King of Egypt. 373 00:21:11,220 --> 00:21:13,940 And what Pharaoh demonstrates here is very foolish. 374 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,760 But aren't we capable of making the same mistake? 375 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,160 Many people try to offer God some sort of compromise. 376 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,640 That's what Pharaoh was doing, a compromise. 377 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:28,320 Okay, I'll let you worship, but it's in the land. 378 00:21:29,120 --> 00:21:30,560 Okay, these flies are really bugging me. 379 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,320 I'll let you worship, but not too far away. 380 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:37,000 Pharaoh wasn't willing to submit to God and give what God asked 381 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:37,360 for. 382 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,890 So when we need help, we start to negotiate with God. 383 00:21:43,290 --> 00:21:47,530 We promise that if only God will get whatever we want sorted, 384 00:21:47,530 --> 00:21:51,650 whatever trouble we happen to be, and whatever time frame we have, 385 00:21:51,650 --> 00:21:53,610 then we'll start to follow Him. 386 00:21:54,810 --> 00:21:58,250 But of course, when the good times come, we simply don't honor 387 00:21:58,410 --> 00:22:03,050 the commitments and those compromises that we desire to make. 388 00:22:04,410 --> 00:22:09,980 As soon as the troubles are over, God is forgotten about entirely. 389 00:22:11,180 --> 00:22:15,740 And what makes this so foolish for each of us is that God cannot 390 00:22:15,740 --> 00:22:18,860 be mocked, nor can he be deceived. 391 00:22:19,740 --> 00:22:21,820 He knows you because he made you. 392 00:22:22,220 --> 00:22:23,660 You can't lie to Him. 393 00:22:24,060 --> 00:22:26,860 You can't think one thing and think another before him because 394 00:22:26,860 --> 00:22:28,780 he knows you inside out. 395 00:22:29,740 --> 00:22:33,360 And God draws a careful distinction between his people and 396 00:22:33,670 --> 00:22:35,150 and those who are not his people. 397 00:22:35,150 --> 00:22:40,150 Again, we see that here in Egypt, but for us, the dividing line 398 00:22:40,150 --> 00:22:41,110 is Jesus Christ. 399 00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:45,270 It is the cross of Christ that is our redemption. 400 00:22:45,590 --> 00:22:47,350 Redemption that God has set. 401 00:22:47,350 --> 00:22:50,990 Between faith and unbelief, between the hard hearted and the 402 00:22:50,990 --> 00:22:55,350 born again, between the redeemed and the damned. 403 00:22:57,030 --> 00:23:00,870 Given the choice, it's far better to live with the people of 404 00:23:00,870 --> 00:23:01,590 God than. 405 00:23:01,820 --> 00:23:03,340 Than to stay in Egypt. 406 00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:06,300 Would that not what you would be thinking if you were an Egyptian 407 00:23:06,300 --> 00:23:08,540 fleeing to Goshen to get away from the flies? 408 00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:13,660 But so Often when it comes to the things of God, we flee to the 409 00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:17,979 world rather than to his comfort and his security. 410 00:23:19,420 --> 00:23:22,540 See Paul tells us in Titus 2 verses 11 and 12. 411 00:23:22,860 --> 00:23:25,660 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to 412 00:23:25,660 --> 00:23:26,220 all men. 413 00:23:26,620 --> 00:23:30,380 It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions 414 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:35,920 and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present 415 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:36,640 age. 416 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:42,480 Last week I told you what I wanted for you and it's exactly this. 417 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:47,440 To live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present 418 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:47,840 age. 419 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,040 I want that for myself and I want it for you. 420 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,840 Because I am convinced and I believe that Jesus is the only way, 421 00:23:56,490 --> 00:24:01,090 the only way to be sure that Satan is limited in his power over 422 00:24:01,090 --> 00:24:05,290 us so that there is a better day tomorrow and that Christ is the 423 00:24:05,290 --> 00:24:06,970 only one who can save us. 424 00:24:07,130 --> 00:24:11,850 And rather than staying amongst the flies, we run to his 425 00:24:11,850 --> 00:24:16,850 promised land of salvation and know him fully so that indeed we 426 00:24:16,850 --> 00:24:21,130 can live self controlled and upright and godly lives in this present 427 00:24:21,370 --> 00:24:22,100 day age. 428 00:24:24,740 --> 00:24:28,260 God's punishment on the people of Egypt was swift. 429 00:24:29,140 --> 00:24:31,780 The first one came without warning. 430 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:34,580 The second Pharaoh had opportunity. 431 00:24:35,060 --> 00:24:40,660 It tells us two tales that we may think I can leave it, but really 432 00:24:40,660 --> 00:24:41,380 you can't. 433 00:24:42,420 --> 00:24:46,900 We each need to come to Christ today and know him for the God that 434 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:51,160 He is, the God of our salvation, the only God who will 435 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:52,600 bring us home. 436 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:59,800 Because if we're not trusting in him, then just like Satan, we 437 00:25:00,360 --> 00:25:02,200 are damned. 438 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:12,040 Come to the Savior, know Him and rejoice in him to put away the 439 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:18,060 old life and live in his ways so that indeed we will be saved and 440 00:25:18,290 --> 00:25:21,250 and it will be salvation for the glory of God. 441 00:25:21,810 --> 00:25:22,610 Let's pray. 442 00:25:23,410 --> 00:25:27,650 Our Father, we thank you for your Word that really does challenge 443 00:25:27,650 --> 00:25:30,530 us to our very souls, to our very core. 444 00:25:31,250 --> 00:25:35,810 Because we're confronted with the reality that is our reality. 445 00:25:36,770 --> 00:25:40,450 We're confronted with the truth that to remain in our sin filled 446 00:25:40,450 --> 00:25:42,690 ways means we have no hope. 447 00:25:43,900 --> 00:25:46,900 And even in the days where we feel that Satan's attacks and his 448 00:25:46,900 --> 00:25:49,420 opposition are more powerful than we can bear. 449 00:25:49,820 --> 00:25:53,220 We thank you for the glorious hope that that power is limited and 450 00:25:53,220 --> 00:25:54,620 there is a brighter day coming. 451 00:25:56,140 --> 00:25:58,540 And Father for rest for our weary souls. 452 00:25:59,180 --> 00:26:00,300 It is only Jesus. 453 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:03,820 And so it is to him who is the answer to all of this today. 454 00:26:04,540 --> 00:26:07,780 To look unto him for his grace and his salvation, his mercy and 455 00:26:07,780 --> 00:26:08,220 his love. 456 00:26:08,780 --> 00:26:12,460 And so maybe not flippantly leave this building thinking we're 457 00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:15,160 okay, because we're not. 458 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:20,400 We need a Savior so we can put away all the things that we hold 459 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,920 dear and live only for Him. 460 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:28,320 So may we respond well to your word this day as we ask it, in Jesus 461 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:29,960 name, amen.