DAY 18, Read Deut.7:12-19
Key Verses: “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid” (Deut. 7:17-19).
In the revelation of God’s mighty hand in Egypt, we see a pattern of the display of God’s supreme power over all the gods, principalities, powers and authorities, visible and invisible, that oppress and enslave God’s people (Eph.3:10; 6:12; Col 1:16; 2:15). So, know that whatever oppresses or enslaves you today, God’s mighty hand can be deployed to conquer it and set you free (see Isa 49:25). God reveals His mighty hand to strengthen the faith of His people (Exo.14:31) and to make all people acknowledge and fear Him (Jos 4:24).
ACTIVATING GOD’S MIGHTY HAND
There are four ways through which we can activate the mighty hand of God in our situation. First, through a covenant relationship with God – God’s mighty hand works for His people, i.e., those who are in a covenant with him and serve him (Exo.6:2-8; Isa 66:14); secondly through prayer – God’s mighty hand was displayed in response to the cry of the people (Exo.2:23-25; 1 Chr. 4:9-10); thirdly, through worship (2 Kg 3:14-15; 2 Chr. 20:21-22); and lastly, through faith (Isa 53:1; Mk 6:5-6).
EFFECTS OF GOD’S HAND
When Pharaoh’s magicians saw the ‘finger of God’ they gave up the contest (Ex 8:19); Moses described Israel’s deliverance as being by the strength of God’s hand (Ex 13:13); David said that God’s hand can make a person great (1 Chr. 29:12); when God opens His hand He brings satisfaction (Ps 145:16); the hand of God came upon Elijah and he outran Ahab who was driving a chariot (equivalent of a jeep today! 1 Kg 18:40); both Ezra and Nehemiah obtained favour as a result of God’s mighty hand upon them (Ezra 7:6; Neh 2:8, 18); God’s hand upon John made him a marvel (Lk. 1:66); the church at Antioch was distinguished by God’s hand (Acts 11). No wonder the early church prayed: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30 NIV).
For many of us, people have seen our efforts; they have seen our struggles; they know how far our own ‘hand’ can go; but they are yet to see what God’s mighty hand upon our lives can accomplish.
PRAYER: Cry out like the Psalmist : “Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy, that they may know that this is Your hand – that You, Lord, have done it!” Ps 109:26-27
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