Pharaoh, Pharaoh, oh baby let my people go. Hunh!
If you sang that instead of just reading the words, you’ve been in church for a minute. It’s a fun song to sing about an intense true story written in the book of Exodus when God showed His power and might to Pharaoh and all of Egypt. We’ve been unpacking the drama in our youth Sunday School class.
Moses was an unlikely, and at first unwilling, deliverer. He didn’t want to be the chosen one to lead the Israelites out of captivity. He told God over and over that he wasn’t a good choice. But God had a plan to use him anyway. When Moses went to Pharaoh, his knees were probably knocking beneath his robe. His brother Aaron was by his side.
In a pagan land of many gods, Pharaoh had never heard of Moses’ god named “I AM.” Truth be told, Pharaoh was the king of Egypt, but had set himself up as the god of Egypt. No one was going to tell him what to do.
That can happen to us. It’s almost the American way: I am free to do what I want. Even Christians can get attitude-y thinking we love God and all, but don’t really want Him to tell us what to do. That’s one foot in heaven and one foot in Egypt.
In Sunday School, we discussed how in this day and time we can follow in Pharaoh’s footsteps thinking ourselves to be the king or queen of our universe. (Imagine if Pharaoh had social media.) We contrasted that with Christ’s words in Matthew 16:24 to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Him.
God said He was going to deliver His people and He was going to do it. Instead of doing things God’s way, Pharaoh chose time and time again the hard way. An informal poll among the youth revealed that we, too, often go that route. (Since what’s said in Sunday School stays in Sunday School, I can’t give examples.)
We have been working through the plagues for the last few weeks - each one a reminder of all the wonders God worked in Egypt. Next Sunday will be the final plague in Exodus 12. We will learn the importance of the blood and that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. I’ve been crying as I study. (Maybe crying a little as I type.) I hope their hearts will burn as we dig in.
Picture being in Egypt. The slaughter of the lamb, the painting of the blood over the doorposts, hearts racing, the waiting, and then the loud wailing.
God was on the verge of delivering His people after 430 years of slavery! It was intense. It was dramatic. It was real. And He still delivers... on a daily basis.
Psalm 18:2 is one of my very favorites: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer…”
___
Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife and newspaper columnist. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
