Political Leaders Are Not Gods

 John 1:18 and I John 4:12 tell us, “No man hath seen God at any time.  God had commanded Pharaoh to set Israel free, but because Pharaoh could not see God or his kingdom, he considered him unimportant.   God sent Moses to represent God to him.  Pharaoh was considered a god by his people, so God started by showing he could out do Pharaoh’s magicians.  It is helpful to understand that what we call magic is the application of scientific principles in ways we don’t understand.  The magicians were the scientists of their day, observing what happened and trying to explain why it happened.   As a result, they were able to do things that appeared miraculous to other people.  Pharaoh used those abilities to convince people that he had special powers.  When God changed the stick into a snake, then changed it back, it clearly demonstrated that God was a little more powerful than Pharaoh. 

 

The Egyptians, including Pharaoh worshipped the Nile River.  When God changed the water to blood, he demonstrated himself to be more powerful than the River, and when he brought out the frogs, and the magicians had to ask him to get rid of them it demonstrated he had powers they couldn’t match, and could use even the river against them.  Refusing to admit God had greater power, Pharaoh refused to allow the people freedom to worship.  God stepped up the pressure in Exodus 8:16-17, so that the people could realize Pharaoh’s limitations.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.  And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”

 

God literally turned the dust into living insects.  Pharaoh ordered his magicians to do the same thing, but there was nothing in science that enabled them to bring inanimate things to life, as Exodus 8:18-19 tells us,  “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.  Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”  The scientists recognized that only God can make life, but Pharaoh refused to accept their statements. 

 

The lice were miserable on the people, constantly biting, but in his pride and determination not to listen Pharaoh ignored the impact of his decision on his people, just as our politicians have ignored the effect of the decisions on people during the Corona virus “Pandemic”.  He didn’t even ask the Lord to take them away.  The people would have to deal with them themselves. 

 

Next, God sent swarms of flies into the Egyptian delta region.  While they are small, even one house fly can be annoying so imagine having thousands of them.  Many kinds of flies have painful bites as well, making them even more annoying,   To top it off, they walk constantly lay their eggs in exposed flesh or fruit, producing millions of larva that eat the fruit and flesh, and cause spoilage, even on living animals.  Exodus 8:20-24 describes what happened.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.  And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.  And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.  And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.”

 

Even the Israelites had been affected by the water turning to blood, the frogs, and the lice.  Because we live in the world, many times Christians deal with the same problems the world faces, but sometimes, he works differently in our lives to drive home the differences in our beliefs and lifestyles.   While the flies were corrupting everything along the river, they did not come into the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived.    

 

Even Pharaoh was not able to escape the infestation of flies, and offered to let the people go, but insisted on them doing things the way he wanted.  Moses told him it would have to be done the way God wanted, and desperate to end the frustration, Pharaoh agreed, in Exodus 8:25-28.  “And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.  And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?  We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.” 

 

Like many of the politicians during the “Pandemic”, Pharaoh was unwilling to give up control and let people do what they felt was right.  While Moses agreed to ask God to take away the flies, but he didn’t trust Pharaoh not to reverse his decision once he had what he wanted.  Exodus 28:29-describes what happened.  “And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.  And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD.  And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.”

 

One thing we learn from history is that once politicians gain power they will not give it up voluntarily.  Exodus 8:32 tells us, “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.”  This was Pharaoh’s own stubbornness and hunger for power.  God did not harden his heart this time.  He was just like the politicians who promised to lift the restrictions when certain conditions were met, but are now insisting they must maintain them to prevent a second wave.  They are still ignoring God’s authority and power, unwilling to admit they are not gods and cannot control people’s life and health.