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Political office is often called “a position of power.” Some might say, “So-and-so is the most powerful person in this nation.” Consider, for example, the pharaoh highlighted in the book of Exodus. It could be argued he was the most powerful person on earth at that time. However, God appeared to Moses, a lowly shepherd—a fugitive of Egypt—and provided him with miraculous power.
The word powerful is relative. How powerful was the average Hebrew at that time? Not very, especially when compared to an Egyptian. How powerful was the average Egyptian? Not as powerful as Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. But how powerful was Pharaoh compared to the God of the universe? He was about to find out.
The plagues God brought upon Egypt were frequently called signs. These signs pointed to the authority of Yahweh, the God of the universe.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” Exodus 10:1–2
When God performed these plagues through the hands and staff of Moses and Aaron, it proved that these men came as approved messengers of Yahweh. At the same time, it also proved that all power and authority belong to and originate with God alone. What a lesson for Pharaoh—a man who tried to set himself up as an all-powerful king, unwilling to consider authority outside his own!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:1–3
The Scriptures highlight three periods of history where God gave miraculous abilities to people. They were during the ministries of Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus and the Apostles. The power that inherently belongs to Yahweh was granted to the hands of men. And those men accomplished much with that power.
Discussion Question: What is your response to the fact that the same God who spoke the universe into existence was willing to provide His power to some of His lowly, fallen creation?
Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation
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