Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Exodus 12:12-13 (NIV)
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Exodus 12:12-13 (MSG)
“I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am God. The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you—no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
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“For I [the Lord] will pass through the land of Egypt on this night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal; against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments [exhibiting their worthlessness]. I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on [the doorposts of] the houses where you live; when I see the blood I shall pass over you, and no affliction shall happen to you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” -AMPLIFIED
God alerts the Israelites of this huge event that is about to take place in ample time that they may prepare themselves. He gives fair warning on what is about to take place and what they are to do to prepare themselves. He even goes so far as to tell them why it is happening, “I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.” If they are obedient in doing what He has instructed; God said, “No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
God was bringing judgement on the false gods of Egypt. We have looked at a handful of their gods, but one must understand that the Egyptians worshiped thousands, upon thousands of gods and goddess. Some were well known, like Ra, Isis, Anubis, and Osiris; others not so much so. One point we must note of importance is that Pharaoh himself was considered to be a god; worshiped by the Egyptians. In fact, he was thought to be the son of Ra, in the flesh.
We will see from this mighty act of Jehovah that these so called gods of Egypt were powerless against the Almighty. The inability of the gods of Egypt to protect their subjects let to tragic consequences for the Egyptians.
We will find later in the book of Exodus God giving further instructions to the Israelites; His ten commandments. Contained within these commandments were some very straightforward words and directives, “God spoke all these words: I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. No other gods, only me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I’m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.” -Exodus 20:1-6 (MSG)
Throughout Scripture God reminds His followers that He is the one and only true God.
“I, [only] I, am the Lord, And there is no Savior besides Me.” -Isaiah 43:11 (AMP)
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” -1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NIV)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” -Revelation 1:8 (NIV)
Once again, we are reminded that Jehovah is a jealous God and He will not share what rightfully belongs to Him; our love and attention. “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24 (NIV) Let us be sure that we are not allowing anything else to take God’s place in our lives.
My Prayer:
God, Almighty, help me to keep my priorities in the correct order in my life. You must be first; I know this. I understand that you are a jealous God; and that is because you love me immensely. You are my Creator, my Savior, my All-in-All, and I know that I would nothing without you. Take your place as number one in my life; be the center of my life.
Growing with God 