In The Garden
"Whatever 'IT' Is"
Pastor Wayne Clabaugh

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Scripture: "Moses said to him, 'As soon as I go out of the city, I will lift up my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the LORD.' " Exodus 9:29 (KJV)

We all know the story here but let me just recap to make a point for today's devotional...

First we find in Exodus 7:14-25, that God turned the water in the Nile River into blood for 7 days, causing the death of fish and leaving the Egyptians with undrinkable water.

Second, we find in Exodus 8:1-15 where God created a swarm of frogs that came up out of the Nile river and covered the land of Egypt, infesting Egyptian houses.

Third... Look out! Lice/gnats swarmed in the air and irritated the skin of the all of the Egyptians and their animals. We find that in Exodus 8:16-19

Not enough?

Fourth, reading in Exodus 8:20,21we find where God sends a swarm of flies that bit the Egyptians and attached themselves to their eyelids, but the Hebrews were unaffected by them.

Fifth - The Lord tells Moses to warn of a type of virus (possibly anthrax) that would come upon all of the cattle and livestock and make them sick and then die, ye the Cattle and Livestock of the Israelites would not be affected Ex 9:1-7.

Sixth - The Lord sends huge, painful boils on all of the people of Egypt that evolve into open sores Exodus 9:8-12. These boils were so bad that the Egyptians had difficulty standing or walking, or even sleeping at night. It was Miserable!

Seventh, God sends a Major Hailstorm, which again, did not affect the Israelites. Ex 9:18-34, yet the Bible tells us there that the Hail storm was the worst ever seen in Egypt and many of the animals and agricultural assets of Egypt perished because of it.

Eighth, if we look at Exodus 10:1-20 we find where God created a swarm of locusts that covered Egypt, infested Egyptian homes, and ate all the plants left over from the hailstorm. There were clouds of locusts that were so dense, they darkened the sky. The 10th Chapter and the 6th verse says

And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. STILL PHARAOH DOES NOT REPENT! He made it sound like he would, yet, when the locusts were gone, so was his confession. (OUCH! Sound Familiar?)

Ninth, we read there in Exodus 10:21-23 where God created darkness over the land of Egypt; it was so dark, no one could even see one another. The Egyptians were so afraid they didn't move for three days. That's what the Bible says....

"And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." Exodus 10:22.23 (KJV)

This time the Pharaoh's mind was moved to let the Children of Israel go, but His heart is still hardened toward God and demands that they leave their cattle and other animals behind. Kind of a compromise deal.... none of us do that do we? Okay God, I'll do what you say "if"... you do what I ask! Double Ouch!

Of course Moses wasn't about to compromise and neither was Pharaoh and he decided once again to NOT LET THEM GO!

In Exodus 11:5 we find the final plague (10th) that ensured Israel's deliverance, claiming the life of first-born of every household, including the Pharaoh and the Israelites, unless"... they smeared the sacrificial blood of a lamb on the door posts. Oh are you getting this? Time after time the Lord came to Pharaoh and time after time Pharaoh refused to let His People go! But it was more than that! you see, it was the arrogance and lack of surrender that there was a God! Pharaoh would not admit that "he" was not the supreme ruler, but GOD WAS!

Now, let me tell you... that's what we're seeing in this land today. A whole bunch of people refusing to admit that there is a God and they are willing to "press their luck" by trying to enslave the Christians into not standing up for their faith in God anymore. Time and time again God has come to their rescue and yet they would rather listen to "the enlightened" crowd and forsake their Saviour and Lord.

But Oh my friend, I have GOOD NEWS for you today! Those people that are oppressing you; those circumstances that are so weighing you down; that addiction that's got such a grip on your life that you can't break free; that depression that has all but destroyed your life... IS SUBJECT TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD! In your case, God is telling you that HE CAN DELIVER YOU, if "YOU" will let "it" go - whatever that "it" is in your life. Surrender it to Him and allow Him to work in your Life.., and YOU WILL BE DELIVERED AND SET FREE!!!

Can you trust Him for that today?

Father, You left us all kinds of promises in your WORD that you will be with us... with me Father.. and yet in my stubbornness I have defiantly stood on my laurels alone forgetting that without you - there would be "No ME!" I come to you once again today and surrender my willful pride at the Cross and I ask for your Mercy as you begin in me ANEW! May I not e like Pharaoh and believe that I am the Master of my Life, and to lean more on you each day. Starting today Lord. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.