Prayer from the Trenches

 My life was a circus. 

There I was, the ringmaster, standing in the middle of the chaos that is three boys under the age of 10, trying to make sense of it all. I've always been someone who

desires order. I don't like to leave dirty dishes in the sink or clothes in the dryer. I plan out our meals each week and keep track of our constantly changing schedule on an actual paper calendar that hangs in our kitchen. I love being able to see what's next and knowing what to expect. Doesn't everyone? I always thought I would by the mom who had it all together (whatever that means). I was never going to be the kind of mom who sends her child out into the world with a head full of cowlicks and chocolate smeared on his face. And yet, somehow, in spite of my good intentions, I had become that mother. I was the mom fielding phone calls from teachers struggling with my child's behavior. I was the angry mom who finally snapped after a full day of repeating the same instructions over and over again. My days would begin with hope and end in exhaustion and defeat. What made it worse was that I had everything I had always wanted--house, husband, kids. Why was everyday such a struggle that by the time I crawled into bed each night, I was ready to quit?

    At the end of another trying day with my preschooler (actually, it was more like a trying month), I was, again, exhausted, defeated, and failing. What was I doing wrong? I'd read the books and taken the classes and done countless internet searches. I'd memorized the parenting formulas for producing perfect, well-behaved children (i.e., If child does "A," then I respond with "B" which should equal "A Hallmark movie"). But life didn't feel like a Hallmark movie. It felt dysfunctional and chaotic. 

    It was then that the Holy Spirit finally got my attention. My son didn't have a "behavior" problem. He had a "heart" problem. And the solution to a "heart" problem wasn't going to be found in a parenting blog or the latest behavior modification strategy. Only God is powerful enough to change hearts: "The LORD will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live" (Deut. 30:6, CSB). If I wanted to have children who loved God with all their hearts and souls, I needed God's help. And in order to get His help, I needed to begin praying intentionally for the hearts of my children.

    I realized that for months, prayer was something I engaged in only in times of desperation. My prayer closet was our downstairs bathroom where I could lock the door and turn on the fan in an attempt to drown out the toddler tantrum happening on the other side of the door. God was who I came to once I'd exhausted my own strength and was at the point of tears. Wouldn't life be easier if I learned to depend on HIS strength from the beginning, before everything got so out of control?

    Starting a consistent, intentional prayer time did not magically give me perfect children. But as I began to ask God to soften the hearts of my children and to incline their hearts toward righteousness, I noticed that He was changing my heart as well. Instead of being focused on my child's behavior, I began to see opportunities for teachable moments. And slowly, overtime, my house felt less like a circus, and more like the home I wanted. 

    We're not made to shoulder everything life throws at us on our own. But, as believers, we have access to a perfect Heavenly Father who has offered to shoulder our burdens for us, if we would only let Him.

    "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7, CSB)

The Compassion of God Found in the 10 Plagues by: Marsha Stephenson

Each month, our Northside women meet in small groups for prayer, fellowship, and to read and discuss a devotion written by our writers' group. This year we're studying the book of Exodus as we delve into the character of God. The following is from our May devotion:

  

 “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble

yourself before me?’” Exodus 10:3 

 

    There were many beliefs and myths that surrounded the idea of Pharaoh, and most were

based on the concept that all Pharaohs were sons of gods. While we don’t know much about the

Pharaoh leading Egypt during the Israelites’ slavery, we can surmise that he was arrogant and defiant

which eventually leads to the destruction of his land and people.

    In contrast, we know God holds characteristics we can never fully duplicate or even understand.

In Exodus 7:4-5, God tells Moses, "...I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring

my people the Israelites, company by company, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.

The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the

Israelites from among them.” (NRSV) While His judgment is for those against the Israelites, His

compassion is focused on His chosen people. But, as we’ll see, His compassion can also extend to the

Egyptians. All of this – the slavery, plagues, and release of the Israelites – is a fulfillment of God’s

covenantal promises with both Abram and Moses!

#1 Nile River to Blood (Ex 7:14-25)

After Aaron’s staff becomes a serpent that swallows up the serpent conjured by the magicians,

Pharaoh’s heart is hardened. Presumably, this is because he was unimpressed by God’s power. So,

God turned the Nile to blood - “its rivers, its canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water...even in

vessels of wood and in vessels of stone” - but the magicians were able to duplicate it. There is a

distinct difference, though. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary says that “even if they were able to

mimic God’s miracle, they were unable to reverse it. The Egyptians thus had to dig for water while the

Nile ran polluted and stank for a week (Ex7:24).

So, where is compassion found? We see it in two ways: First, although they had to dig for it, the

Egyptians still had access to clean water. Second, since the Bible doesn’t say that the Israelites had to

dig for water, we can safely assume that their water was not affected by the blood.

#2 Frogs (Ex 8:1-15)

Pharaoh’s magicians manage to replicate this plague as well. But, again, though they can create, they

cannot dispose, and Pharaoh asks Moses to “pray to the LORD to take away the frogs from me and

my people...” God does so, but not by sending them back to the water. Instead, they die where they

are “in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. And they gathered them together in heaps, and the

land stank.” Eww.

Look for God’s compassion - the frogs are only found in Egypt, not affecting the Israelites, and He

does remove them, in His own way.

#3 Gnats (Ex 8:16-19)

This time compassion is again seen in God’s protection of the Israelites because only the Egyptians

are affected. The magicians are also forced to acknowledge, “This is the finger of God!” (v19). Their

recognition of their own failure leads others to be aware of God’s power even if Pharaoh ignores

their wisdom.

#4 Flies (Ex 8:20-32)

We aren’t told this, but some experts believe these could have been biting flies, making this the first

potentially afflicting plague. It’s also important to notice that the magicians aren't mentioned this

time.

Where is compassion here? Although only the Egyptians are affected again, this is the first time God

declares His compassion for the Israelites, saying that “on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen,

where My people live, so that no swarms of flies shall be there...Thus, I will make a distinction

between My people and your people” (v21-23). God’s compassion is found in His continued protection

of the Israelite people.

#5 Death of Livestock (Ex 9:1-7)

This is the first definitively afflicting plague killing all the Egyptians’ livestock.

God’s compassion: The obvious answer is His protection of His people’s livestock, but an easily

overlooked aspect is that He first gave warning - “The LORD set a time, saying, ‘Tomorrow the LORD

will do this thing in the land’” (vs 6). By announcing a specific time, He was both declaring His power

as being behind the plagues while also giving anyone who believed an opportunity to prepare.

#6 Boils (Ex 9:8-12)

Where can we see compassion? Once more, the Israelites are protected as God’s chosen people,

leaving only the Egyptians to be afflicted. In addition, although they are clearly in pain, the Bible does

not state that anyone died.

#7 Hail (Ex 9:13-35)

How can you say there’s compassion in death and destruction? Here is the harshest plague yet,

killing people as well as animals and crops, yet it also holds the most compassion.

According to verses 15 and 16, God could have easily killed Pharaoh just to have him out of the way,

but He didn’t. He could have caused all the Egyptians to drop dead, allowing the Israelites to simply

walk out of Egypt. But He didn’t. Why? Because God is merciful, offering Pharaoh opportunity after

opportunity to acknowledge His power.

Secondly, God again gives a warning in verses 18 and 19 of what is to come as well as when it will

happen. Verse 20 tells us that some of Pharaoh’s officials believed in God and “hurried their slaves

and livestock off to a secure place.” This means that even the Egyptians could be protected from

God’s wrath, but it was still only in Goshen where the Israelites lived that no hail fell.

Third, God keeps his promises. He told Moses where and when and He did just that. There was no

waiting and wondering, just fulfillment of His promises.

Last, all of the crops in the fields of the Egyptians were destroyed, but we’re specifically told in verses

31-32 that “the wheat and spelt were not ruined, for they are late in coming up.” God didn't leave the

Egyptians destitute.

#8 Locusts (Ex10:1-20)

In verse 3, God asks Pharaoh, “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” It reminds

me of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pharaoh’s

refusal to humble himself has already brought about the destruction of his country, economy, and

people.

Where is God’s compassion? When God asks Pharaoh why he refuses to humble himself, He is

telling Pharaoh exactly why all of this is happening. But it’s up to Pharaoh to change. God also gives

another warning of the coming destruction in verse 4. Once again, only the Egyptians are affected;

the Israelites are protected. Lastly, when Moses prays to God, He removes the locusts.

#9 Darkness (Ex 10:21-29)

God did not give a warning for this plague. It must have been terrifying especially considering their

“belief that the regular circling of Amun-Re, the sun god, meant his blessing on Egypt. Any

interruption in that cycle spelled disaster” (NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible).

Look for compassion. Even though there was no warning, the timing was set and after three days

there was light. (Yes, there are parallels with Jesus’ death and resurrection; no, we don’t have time.

😊) The Israelites did not experience this darkness as they were again protected by God.

Warning of the Final Plague (Ex 11:1-10)

Before God describes the final plague to Moses, He shares with him that His covenant with Abram in

Genesis 15 is about to be fulfilled. He tells him that after this last plague, Pharaoh will let them go,

and that they will come out with great possessions.

Find God’s compassion. The entirety of this section is a warning for all who hear, and He even

includes the time, “about midnight.” The horror coming is only directed toward the Egyptians -from

Pharaoh down to the female slave and livestock; once again, the Israelites will be shielded.

Aside from the specific glimpses of God’s compassion found within each plague, there are several

overall instances of compassion to recognize. First, God planned and held to it, to only have 10

plagues. Second, for many of the coming plagues, there is either a warning for the people of what it

will be or when it will occur. Third, because God offers the warning and/or time, His provision can

carry over to anyone who believes in or fears him. Fourth, we cannot finish without recognizing God’s

compassion toward Pharaoh to not kill him even in his stupidity. Do not fall under the belief that God

needed him or was simply using him. God could have easily found another way, but He didn’t.