The Sovereignty of God in the Egyptian plagues Exodus 7:8-10:29 20/02/2011 By Christopher Stuttle

What is Sovereignty? “Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area” “Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area everything” Important phrases 1.Geographic area 2.Supreme authority 3.independent authority

The Story of the plagues History given by GodFiction FICTIONFACT

Overview of talk Trying to understand more of God’s supreme authority God’s independent authority And always taking what we have learnt and each time applying it to ourselves

The expression of supreme independent authority in the story The story is like a competition: God’s power Vs Stubborn ruler’s power The story is a changing of two people ▫Both with very different responses to Gods power ▫Both with different outcomes dues to response ▫They ended up where they were from getting closer to or further from God. All which is seen in this age and ourselves too

Supreme authority in the rod turning into a snake Pharaoh’s Response ▫Rejects the signs with a hard heart  Rejects the one who sent them ▫Turning to wisdom as authority  Wisdom sustains for a while  God shows supreme authority over wisdom Pharaoh moves away from God due to response ▫Consequences for actions

Are we so far from pharaoh? All of creation sings a song of praise to God Do you hear this song or do you block your senses with idols of today? Do you allow the song to change your hearts or do you harden it? Do you fully free myself from idols, fully open my heart and fully turn to the lord?

Supreme authority in the rod turning into a snake for Moses Moses’ response ▫He was prepared for what was going to happen ▫Steadfast in faith ▫Steadfast in God’s love ▫Steadfast in God’s power and his authority ▫Knows that God will provide Miraculous consequences!

How do we respond to seeing Moses’ actions? Do we know God has prepared us for everything we face just as he prepared Moses resulting in Moses being so faithful? Do you know you are exactly where you are supposed to be right now? Do we draw our strength from God and his word leaving us encouraged in faith even in the presence of adversity? Do we know where our strength lies or do we try and do things on our own?

Gods independent authority Independent authority is the authority to do as you like without control by others and without having to ask permission Events ▫The plagues ▫Request for God to compromise from pharaoh

Egyptian Gods and their jobs Namegod of/head of HapiGod of the Nile heketFrog headed GebGod of the Earth khepriFly headed HathorGod of protection IsisGod of medicine and peace NutGod of the sky SethGod of storms and disorder RaKings of the gods and god of the sun PharaohUltimate power in Egypt

Independent authority in the plagues Egyptian gods were shown to have less than no power over there area of governing All the plagues showed lack of power of Egyptian gods No compromise for the Egyptian gods ▫They couldn’t stop the plagues  Pharaoh’s magicians could stop them either Can compromise for a fearful and loving heart

Our response to Independent authority in the plagues What are our idols? ▫God has power over them! What are the giants in our world ▫God has power over them! The strength needed to see the idols and over come them is in God

Independent authority- God’s response to pharaohs request for compromise “Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness” Requests from pharaoh based on; ▫His pride ▫His plan ▫Pharaoh’s idea that God lacks wisdom ▫His Selfishness God doesn’t compromise for those reasons.

Independent authority- our compromises before God Are you holding things away from God due to lack of trust in him or his plan? Are you holding things away from God due to you knowing better?

Conclusion No fear from guilt Be like Moses at the cross roads of life ▫He was prepared for what was going to happen  So be the same and strengthen yourself in God ▫He was Steadfast in faith  So be the same and strengthen yourself in God ▫He was steadfast in God’s love  So be the same and strengthen yourself in God ▫He was Steadfast in God’s power and his authority  So be the same and strengthen yourself in God ▫He knew that God would provide and sustain  So know the same and strengthen yourself in God

Takeaway Trust in God ▫He is worthy of trust Be open to God’s will ▫Don’t harden our hearts We are heirs to the supreme and independent God ▫Was are his children blessed by him We are more than conquerors when with God!

Questions or comments I have skipped over a lot of material today so please ask questions about any bits I didn’t bring up. It may end up helping the people next to you too.