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“God's Mighty Wonders”
Categories: Sunday Family Report articles, theology
“I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.” (Ex. 3:19-20)
“I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you.” (Ex. 7:3)
“I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” (Ex. 10:1-2)
“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.’” (Ex. 11:9)
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File this one under: "Things in the Bible that are just cool."
In the section of Exodus that talks about the plagues, I love the repeated emphasis on God’s “mighty works” and his “signs” and especially his “wonders.” That language tells me that God didn’t just want to get Israel out of their bondage; he wanted his name to be heard, known, and feared.
The plagues against Egypt may seem harsh or overbearing to modern readers. But there was always an option for Pharaoh to stop the plagues; all he had to do was care more about people than about his own glory as king. If he would do that and relent, God’s “wonders” would stop, and history would revere Pharaoh for his graciousness. But he didn’t, so God’s mighty works punished them.
His wrath is not a side note to his character; it’s part of his very nature, and it deserves our respect. And when the final judgment day comes, we can expect similar “mighty wonders” to be unleashed against all the powers of darkness and evil, as God’s final judgment makes all things right in the new heaven and new earth.
- Dan Lankford, minister
