Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 8:16-19.
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.” Exodus 8:16-19.
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In the prior miracles (plagues), the magicians did the same with their secret arts, but in today’s Scripture, we read: “The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; … Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”
We remember the first miracle of God turning Aaron’s staff into a serpent. “Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.” Exodus 7:11-12.
In summary, God was glorified by Aaron’s staff swallowing up the magicians’ staffs. God was glorified in the magicians saying to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” And, God was glorified in prolonging the miracles by the role that the magicians played in hardening Pharaoh’s heart. “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 7:3.
It is a wonderful experience when we recognize: “This is the finger of God.”!
“11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.” Psalm 77:11-14.
“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4.
“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.
“Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 111:1-3.
How much more wonderful it is to recognize the finger of God from the beginning to the end of our salvation!!
“You have by Your power redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.” Psalm 77:15.
We see the finger of God in providing all that we need for salvation from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” and “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints” (also known as “Perseverance of the Saints”), the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP” which is the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation as more fully taught in the Reformed confession of faith called Canons of Dordt.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. …” Ephesians 1:3-4.
“… In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. …” Ephesians 1:4-8.
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 