Read Psalm 105:26-36. 26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. 28He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words. 29He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. 30Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. 31He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. 32He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land. 33He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. 34He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, 35which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. 36He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
The works of God are always meant to reinforce the words of God. Let my people go (the word of God) was followed up with the ten plagues (the works of God). The plagues were meant not only to chastise Pharaoh but to convince him as well.
Jesus unified God’s word and his work. Christ is the Word of God doing the work of God. If Pharaoh had believed the word of God, he might have avoided the plagues. But for Christ there was no avoiding the cross. Why? Because without the cross none of us would ever believe the word of God. Without the gift of resurrection power in our new hearts, we would be forever hardened against the word of God’s love for us.
But in Christ we have become the work of God. His workmanship created for good works. We no longer need plagues to convince us, our hearts are no longer hardened. We are free. Free to believe the Word of God living in us. Free to be the work of God in the world. Not living plagues, but peacemakers. Not darkness but the light of Christ piercing the darkness. Not self-absorbed, but to live is Christ.
Prayer. Jesus, I am your workmanship created for good works. I don’t want to be a plague to others. I want you to use me to show your love and grace and convince others of your salvation. Use me today. Amen.
To Live is Christ 