What can we learn about obedience from God's command to Moses in Exodus 10:12? Setting the Scene “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt so that the locusts may swarm over the land and devour every plant in the land, everything that the hail has left.” (Exodus 10:12) God’s Clear Command • Simple, specific, actionable: “Stretch out your hand.” • Divine initiative: God speaks first; Moses only responds. • Immediate timing: the judgment would not wait. Lessons on Obedience • Trust over sight – Moses could not see the locusts yet; he acted solely on God’s word (cf. Hebrews 11:1). • Immediate response pleases God – Scripture records no delay. Obedience delayed is obedience denied (cf. Psalm 119:60). • Wholehearted execution – Moses stretches out “his hand,” not half-heartedly but fully, letting God complete the work. • Instrument in God’s hand – The staff and the outstretched arm became channels of divine power (cf. Exodus 14:16). • Alignment with God’s purposes – The act served a larger plan: judging Egypt and liberating Israel (cf. Exodus 9:16). • Obedience brings visible results – Locusts came “in great swarms” (10:14). God’s power follows God’s commands. Practical Takeaways for Today • Listen attentively: look for God’s specific directives in His Word. • Act promptly: step out before the outcome is visible. • Offer your ordinary tools—time, abilities, resources—as God’s instruments. • Remember the bigger picture: obedience advances God’s redemptive plan, not merely our comfort. • Expect God to confirm His word with fruit; obedience is never wasted. Other Scriptures That Echo This Call • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) • “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings…? Obedience is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22) • “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) • Joshua obeys unusual battle instructions (Joshua 6:2-5). • Peter casts the net at Jesus’ word and receives a miraculous catch (Luke 5:4-6). Summary Obedience, as modeled by Moses in Exodus 10:12, is immediate, trusting action that aligns us with God’s purposes and releases His power into visible reality. |
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