We’ve picked up on the themes of creation and de-creation, the defeat of Egypt’s gods, the death of the first-born and where God’s people are in the story of Exodus so far. These themes help us to apply the signs, wonders and plagues to our context. There is of course much to learn along the way. Paul in Romans 9:14-18 will pick up on the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart. There is a warning of course not to allow our hearts to become hard and resistance to God’s command and calling. The focus in Romans though is on God’s sovereignty, his right to choose whom he will show compassion and mercy to and to choose to use some to show his power and justice.
We learn to apply the Old Testament through Jesus. Jesus was of course the fulfilment of the promise to Eve in Genesis 3 that one would come who was the serpent crusher. It is Jesus who has the authority over the serpent. We see God’s victory over all other god’s and powers in Jesus’ victory at the Cross. The Cross at one level looks like de-creation. Jesus enters into that place of curse. Water and blood are mingled, darkness falls, the firstborn dies. Yet there is re-creation in the resurrection, day light, the rising sun and the rising Son with life again as the tomb is emptied.
This draws us to the question “where are we in the story?” As Gentile believers, we were not God’s people and Ephesians 2 tells us that we were “far off” we were not in the place of God’s presence, protection and provision. We were cursed, we deserved death, just like the Egyptians. However, there is a hint of something in the description of the people as a mixed body, others joined themselves to Israel. Christ’s death and resurrection was not just in the place of Israel but in my place and your place too. We are ingrafted in, joined to God’s people (Romans 11).
Faithroots 