“Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men” (Psalm 66:5).
For over 400 years, Israel had been sojourners in the land of Egypt. Beaten down by hard task masters and surrounded by her seductive worship, almost everyone forgot about God. But the time had come for Israel’s deliverance. And God called Moses to lead His children into the promised land. But when Moses asked Pharoah to let Israel go so they could worship in the wilderness, Pharoah answered haughtily, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord…” (Exodus 5:2).
When Pharoah asked, “Who is the Lord?” it really wasn’t an honest question. And Pharoah didn’t expect an answer. But the Lord answered him anyway. Not merely for his sake, but for the sake of all His people. Through a series of ten plagues, God revealed who He was and why Pharoah should obey His voice. It was because He was the Lord, the one and only true God.
Each of the ten plagues found in the book of Exodus was a direct attack against an Egyptian god or goddess. When the Lord turned the Nile into blood, He showed His power over Hapi, the god of the Nile. When He sent a plague of frogs, He attacked Heket, the goddess of fertility (her head was that of a frog). God warred with all these manmade powers, including Geb, the god of the earth (plague of lice); with Khepri, the god of creation (plague of lice); with Hathor, the goddess of protection (death of all livestock); with Isis, the goddess of medicine (plague of boils); with Nut, the goddess of the sky (plague of hail); with Seth, the god of storms (plague of locusts); with Ra, the god of the sun (plague of darkness); and finally with Pharoah himself, who was also revered as a god (death of the firstborn).
Through each of these ten plagues, God showed repeatedly that He was Lord over all. He alone was God! Man’s power and counterfeit religion were helpless in His sight. They could do nothing to stop the plagues.
After the 10th plague, Pharoah bowed before God’s awesome power and let Israel go. But he never acknowledged that God was Lord. He could see the destruction all around him from the effect of every plague. His own son had been slain during the final one. But he still refused to admit defeat. He continued to hold onto unbelief and chased after Israel as they journeyed to the Promised Land. But God was still with His people. And for their sake, He revealed who He was. He struck one final blow against the Egyptians.
“The mysterious cloud changed to a pillar of fire before their astonished eyes. The thunders pealed and the lightning flashed…The Egyptians were seized with confusion and dismay. Amid the wrath of the elements, in which they heard the voice of an angry God, they endeavored to retrace their steps and flee to the shore they had quitted. But Moses stretched out his rod, and the piled-up waters, hissing, roaring, and eager for their prey, rushed together and swallowed the Egyptian army in their black depths” (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 287).
And in the morning, when Israel awoke, she saw a dead army washed upon the shore. And they knew that God was Lord over all. “Jehovah alone had brought them deliverance, and to Him their hearts were turned in gratitude and faith” (ibid). And in the book of Psalms, David sings of that deliverance-- “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men” (Psalm 66:5).
Our God is truly a God of might and power. But He is first and foremost a God of deliverance. He’s able to rescue you from the chains of sin and bring you fully into the Promised Land. Whatever difficulties surround you, Jesus will open up a path for you. He will set your feet upon a Rock so you can stand by His side –forgiven and victorious (Psalm 40:2).
Jesus says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!” (John 8:32) He will transform your anger into peace, your doubts into faith, your self centeredness into love. And you will experience as Israel once did the almighty power of God. For the Lord's most awesome work happens when we surrender our lives to Jesus—when our life of sin is turned completely around and we become a son or daughter of God. “Old things have passed away; behold ALL things are become new!”
“The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit” (Desire of Ages, pg. 172).
“When the Spirit of God controls mind and heart, the converted soul breaks forth into a new song; for he realizes that in his experience the promise of God has been fulfilled, that his transgression has been forgiven, his sin covered. He has exercised repentance toward God for the violation of the divine law, and faith toward Christ, who died for man’s justification. “Being justified by faith,” he has “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1” (Acts of the Apostles, pg. 476).
As we experience that miracle of grace, we will become a living testimony to God’s almighty power. And we will truly say with David, “Come and see the works of God! He is awesome in all He has done for me!”
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