Day 30

Exodus 10:1–12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11

THE PLAGUES VISITED on the Egyptians continued in Exodus today. After all that Egypt had endured, Pharaoh’s advisors were getting the message loud and clear. “Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?” they asked Pharaoh (Exodus 10:7). But he would not be humiliated in front of his people. His pride was destroying the nation of Egypt, but he would not humble himself in the face of the overwhelmingly powerful God of the Hebrews. So locusts came in swarms that covered all of Egypt, and in the aftermath, “not a single leaf was left on the trees and plants throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 10:15).

Once again, Pharaoh feigned humility, and the plague was removed —and Pharaoh’s heart hardened.

Next, a plague of darkness fell upon the land. And once again, Pharaoh attempted to negotiate a deal that would keep ties between the enslaved Hebrews and the Egyptians. But God sought total emancipation for his people. An enraged Pharaoh told Moses, “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”

“Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again” (Exodus 10:28-29).

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus continued to lay out the fundamentals of how God’s Kingdom works and the postures we must maintain to observe it in action. “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them,” Jesus said. “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus’ life and teachings are diametrically opposed to the attitudes and actions of a person like Pharaoh. And yet, we can find the postures of pride and arrogance in our own lives quite easily. Jesus invites us to look at our purpose in terms of how we can help people who need help, pretty much in any context. May we invite the Holy Spirit today to show us the relief of reaching outward and the joy of serving.

PRAYER:

O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! . . . Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.