January 23, 2026 - Exodus 9-11

The plagues continue, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, and the ninth.  Then, “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt’” (11:1).  And, as he brought all initial nine plagues, God will make good on “one plague more.” Pharaoh should have listened to Moses!  I’m thinking about all this and realizing that God means what he says.  If he says he will do something, he will do it.  If he threatens, look out!  If he promises good, wait on him!  He means what he says!  Pharaoh, perhaps used to making promises to his people and not doing what he promised, maybe he didn’t think Moses’ God would really follow through with things.  In this he was probably like many politicians of our day; they make promises to get elected only to govern differently than they assured the voters.  We do not put our ultimate trust in men, certainly not in politicians; rather we trust God and his promises.

All my hope on God is founded;

he doth still my trust renew.

Me through change and chance he guideth,

only good and only true.

God unknown,

he alone

calls my heart to be his own.

Human pride and earthly glory,

sword and crown betray his trust;

what with care and toil he buildeth,

tower and temple, fall to dust.

But God's power,

hour by hour,

is my temple and my tower.   -- Joachim Neander (1899)