When The World Falls Apart

Psalm 105:23-36

23Then Israel arrived in Egypt;

Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.

24And the LORD multiplied the people of Israel

until they became too mighty for their enemies.

25Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites,

and they plotted against the LORD’s servants.

26But the LORD sent Moses his servant,

along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.

27They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians,

and miracles in the land of Ham.

28The LORD blanketed Egypt in darkness,

for they had defied his commands to let his people go.

29He turned the nation’s water into blood,

poisoning all the fish.

30Then frogs overran the land;

they were found even in the king’s private rooms.

31When he spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians,

and gnats swarmed across Egypt.

32Instead of rain, he sent murderous hail,

and flashes of lightning overwhelmed the land.

33He ruined their grapevines and fig trees

and shattered all the trees.

34He spoke, and hordes of locusts came—

locusts beyond number.

35They ate up everything green in the land,

destroying all the crops.

36Then he killed the oldest child in each Egyptian home,

the pride and joy of each family.

Put yourself in the sandals of an Israelite slave in Egypt. You spend your days making bricks for Pharaoh. Then Moses shows up, claiming that the Lord is going to set you free and give you a homeland. Moses is an Israelite, but he has been raised in Pharaoh’s household. His initial discussions with Pharaoh result in a double workload for you and lower quality materials to work with. Thanks a lot, Moses!

Then the world starts to fall apart—literally. The Nile turns to blood. Frogs overrun the land. Flies and gnats swarm around, and locusts eat the crops. Even the weather goes wacky with hail and lightning.

Just when you think the end of the world has arrived, you notice that these plagues have fallen only on the Egyptians. You, an Israelite, are unscathed. Strange! Maybe this really is the Lord’s doing. Could Moses be right?

Then comes word that you should put lamb’s blood on your door to save your firstborn son from the angel of death. A month ago you might have scoffed, but the locusts and lightning have made you a believer. You eat supper in your traveling clothes, ready to leave as soon as the signal is given. This last dreadful plague is what finally sets you free.

No doubt many Israelites forgot about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while they were in Egypt. But that was then, and God has powerfully invaded the now.

God the Omnipotent King who ordainest

Thunder thy clarion, the lightning thy sword;

Show forth thy pity on high, where thou reignest;

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.

HENRY F. CHORLEY

Bible Networking

Verse 28 speaks of the plague of darkness that descended upon Egypt. Darkness is used as judgment elsewhere as well. Read Joel 2:2 and Revelation 16:10-11.

Notable Quotable

“God is stronger than fire and destruction, and even in the valleys of deepest darkness, rod and staff are put into our hands and bridges are thrown across the abyss.”

HELMUT THIELECKE