Who can stand

DEVOTION

EXODUS

WHO CAN STAND?

Ex 6:1-8

6:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." 2 God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD  I did not make myself known to them.   4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they lived as aliens. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.'"

NIV

There are several things here that are of interest. First we note the God did not reveal himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as Yahweh but rather by El Shadday. The idea here is that God is revealing more about himself then he did before. He continues to do that with all of us. Each day we have the opportunity to see more about him. Each day brings us more insight into God and our relationship with him. As he was only known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty then to Moses as the LORD he now is also known to us as Jesus as well as the Holy Spirit. However within this context he is telling Moses he will now reveal his mighty hand against the Egyptians. Who can stand up against the mighty hand of God? We know and will spend time with all the works of his mighty hand against them, showing himself to be greater then all their gods. Who can stand up to the mighty hand of God? Who, certainly not them, nor can we? Because we are in Christ it would seem appropriate to think we should not be subject to his mighty, or strong hand. He has shown us grace and mercy rather than his strong hand, or his wrath. However we should know he has a mighty hand that can either be used to destroy, or to bless. His mighty hand was used then to destroy the Egyptians but also to redeem his people. He has revealed his mighty hand in that sense for us and continues to do so each and every day. It was his mighty hand that redeemed us through Jesus Christ, in his crucifixion, but fully in his resurrection. Every miracle we have ever experienced was due to his mighty hand at work for us and in us and, yes through us. How great is our God! How powerful is his mighty hand. Who can stand up to him?