Exodus 8 — Thoughts

Who Do We Obey?

The plagues God brings against Egypt aren't random. Each comes with a sort of poetic justice, a judgment against the idolatry of the Egyptians.

The plague of the Frogs was a direct affront to Heqet, Egypt’s frog-headed fertility goddess. Turing the dust of the earth into gnats was a direct affront to Geb, the Egyptian god of the earth. And the plague of flies is an affront to Khepri, Egypt’s bug-headed god.

In a sense, we can see this as God putting the Egyptians in their place. They were a world power, and they likely believed they had attained that status because they had earned the favor of their gods. But the reality was that they were far from the one true God — and He was much more powerful than their fragile nation.

But we can also see these plagues as a warning to God's people: The idols we allow into their lives will become our undoing.

Paul writes about this in Romans 6:16: "...you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness...”

The Egyptians made themselves slaves to idols — to sin — and through God's plagues, those idols brought them death. What idols have we allowed into our lives? What things do we obey in place of obeying God?

There are many potential idols for modern American Christians. Those who chase money may find that other areas of their lives are bankrupt as a result. Those who chase notoriety may find themselves lonelier without deep friendships. And those who chase political power may find their witness weaker than when they started.

What was true for the Egyptians is true for us today. An idol always brings destruction. But the one true God brings life.

(Originally written January 23, 2021)