59 HOW SOON WE FORGET F O O T ================================
- H O L D
READING
59 HOW SOON WE FORGET
PRAY Remind me of your constant love and power, sovereign Lord.
READ Exodus 7:25-8:15.
THINK What is the main point of these plague episodes? What do they tell us about God and about people? —————————————————————- FOCUS The plague of frogs (1-15). Frogs in themselves would not have been unusual. But the numbers were surprising – and disgusting, as verse 3,4 remind us. Try to imagine the scene. It sounds funny – but the Egyptians didn’t think so. It even made an impression on the Pharaoh. The Nile ‘plague’ had no effect on him, but at last he swallowed his pride and asked the slave leaders for the frogs to be taken away (8). At least he was beginning to see that God was involved in these events. The results were not at all pleasant (14). But Moses made it clear that the whole thing was not a coincidence. How (9,10)? Human beings have short memories. The Pharaoh found it easy to forget his fear and ‘forget’ his promise (15). THE PLAGUE OF GNATS (16-19). Once again God was at work. Even the magicians had to admit it (19). They had been able to imitate the earlier plagues, but not this one (18). THE RESPONSE. Are you surprised by Pharaoh’s response (15,19)? Then look – as honestly as you can – at your own heart. At your own actions. God has allowed things to happen in your life which you may have seen as a reminder to change your ways. Perhaps to turn to him. Have you ‘forgotten’? And God has been good to you. Sometimes your heart has been warmed with gratitude. Has it made any difference to your life? We are all forgetful. —————————————————————-
PRAY Ask God for strength to remember – and respond to God’s kindness.