The Finger of God

Exodus 8:19  “Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.”

I don’t think we realize the radical God-centeredness of the gospel, nor do we realize the radical God-centeredness of God himself.  It is something that I grasp at times but quickly find myself magnetically drawn to put myself, and humans in general at the center.  For instance the passage of the exodus from Egypt and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart: Pharaohs’ little mortal heart seems to get all of the attention when we talk about this passage and we miss what the Almighty God of the universe is doing and why he is doing it.   

God is unwaveringly committed to making himself known to his creation.

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and speak for God saying, “Pharaoh, Pharaoh, Oh baby let my people go.”  Pharaoh replies, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2)  Wong answer Pharaoh.  God’s direct response to Pharaoh’s statement is found in Exodus 7:5, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”  Again and again as the plagues are released on Egypt we hear, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD.”

I am grateful that God is committed to himself because I realize that he is more precious than I could ever imagine.  My only hope is that he makes himself known so that I might see him and know him.  My only chance is that he removes the blinders from my eyes so that I can experience him and see him reigning in his glory, only then will I be satisfied, only then will I be fulfilled. 

We forget that all Egypt gets a chance to see and respond to God in light of Pharaoh’s destruction.  A whole nation gets an opportunity to bow down to God, there is no doubt in their minds that this is the one true God and that he is the King of All.  Listen to the response of the magicians after their failure to replicate one of the plagues in Exodus 8:19, “This is the finger of God.”  In the midst of Egypt’s judgment there is grace, there is the manifestation of the one true God… and there is nothing that is more beautiful.

Oh Lord, may I rejoice that you are radically committed to making yourself known.  May I learn to remain in the place of being God-centered and not man-centered.  May I see your glory as you bring it about in every situation of life and every circumstance.