What does "I will send a plague" reveal about God's power and authority? The Verse in Focus “For this time I will send all My plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.” – Exodus 9:14 Observations About God’s Power • Supreme over nature – disease, weather, and biology obey Him instantly (cf. Exodus 9:23; Matthew 8:26-27). • Unlimited reach – the plague strikes “you… your officials… your people,” proving His power isn’t confined to a temple or region (Psalm 24:1). • Selective precision – earlier plagues spared Israel (Exodus 8:22-23), showing He controls not only the outbreak but its borders. • Life-and-death authority – He holds breath itself (Job 12:10); a plague is merely one tool at His disposal. What We Learn About His Authority • He commands, not requests – “I will send” is declarative, underscoring unilateral authority (Isaiah 46:10-11). • He judges sin personally – the plague confronts Pharaoh’s hardness of heart; God never abdicates justice to fate (Numbers 14:12). • Covenant enforcer – plagues fulfill warnings given to Abraham’s descendants and their oppressors (Genesis 12:3; Exodus 6:6). • Global self-revelation – “so you may know there is no one like Me in all the earth.” His actions preach His uniqueness to every observer (Joshua 2:10-11). • Authority tempered by mercy – He announces the plague in advance, giving space for repentance (Exodus 9:19; 2 Peter 3:9). Why This Matters for Us Today • Security in His control – nothing random rules our world; even microbes answer to the Creator (Colossians 1:17). • Sobering call to holiness – the same God who sent plagues hates sin just as intensely now (Hebrews 12:28-29). • Hope in His protection – the One who can start a plague can also stop it (2 Samuel 24:25); believers rest under His sovereign care (Psalm 91:3-7). • Motivation for worship – when we grasp His unrivaled power and righteous authority, reverence naturally follows (Revelation 15:3-4). |
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