Ten Plagues

      When God has a plan, nothing or anyone can stop it.  When Moses was sent to deliver the Israelites from the cruel hand of the Egyptians, he had to deal with a hard-hearted Pharaoh.  In fact, Pharaoh was so against what God requested that God actually issued 10 plagues  upon the Egyptians.  Why did God use 10 plagues, since He had the power to impose His will at any time?  Scriptures tell us, "I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army.  After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!" (NLV-Exodus 14:4)  
     I pray it does not take anything like these plagues to wake us up to what the Lord wants us to do; although, I must admit, we are having a lot of devastation  and turning from God today.    What will it take to wake up the souls of man to God and His wonderful salvation plan?  God did not send His only Son to earth to be crucified in order to be rejected. 
     As a reminder, here are the 10 plagues God used against the Egyptian people:

1.  The Nile turned to blood.  The fish died and the water stank.  There was none to drink.

2.  Frogs covered the land, entering bedrooms, jumping into ovens and kneading bowls. They tormented the poor Egyptian souls.

3.  Dust turned into swarms of gnats, covering everyone, people and animals alike.  They came from the dust and spread with the wind's gust.

4.  Next came swarms of flies.  They filled the houses and the palace.  No one was spared from their malice.

5.  The livestock died; horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.  None were spared.  For this the people were unprepared.

6.  Festering boils infected the Egyptians and their animals.  The boils spread by soot and ashes in the air which was more than they could bear.

7.  A devastating hailstone blew in killing people and animals, wiping out plants and trees.  Yet it did not bring Pharaoh to his knees.

8  The East wind brought in swarms of locust which covered the whole country and darkened the land.  They devoured the plants and the fruit which had survived the hailstorm.  Not a single leaf remained, in any form.

9.  Deep darkness so thick the people could not see was brought upon the land.  No one moved, and all went un-soothed.

10.  It took death to break the stubborn heart as all the first born sons and animals were struck down.  This brought crying and loud wailing never heard before, all lasting for hours and more.   

Innocent?

     Shakespeare quoted:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exists and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts..."

I stopped here as I considered Pilate, his part, Jesus' part, and our part in the stages of life.  Pilate was a man who set the stage, and he played his part well, or so he thought, when he proclaimed, "I am innocent..."

Scene 1:  The stage is set as Pilate makes his entry.  He stands above a jeering and angry crowd.  Not far away is Jesus and another man, named Barabbas.  Barabbas is a murderer while Jesus is only being imprisoned for telling the truth; however, the crowd wants Jesus released to them to be crucified.  They care nothing about punishment for Barabbas.  Pilate, fearing not pleasing the people, takes water, washes his hands and states, "I am innocent of this man's blood."  Pilate then commands Jesus be flogged and given to the people to be crucified.  Jesus is allowed to not only be beaten until his flesh is torn and bleeding, but is mocked, spit upon, patronized, and then nailed to a wooden cross. 
     The curtain falls, but where am I in all of this?  I wish I could say, "I wasn't there.  I am innocent."  However, in reality I was there.  I was among the crowd.  I was an unbeliever.  Even as a Christian today, I have the ability to crucify my Lord by not acknowledging Him and by going my own way apart from Him.

Scene 2:  The curtain opens and the stage is set with three crosses, the center one illuminated.  Jesus, the innocent Son of God, is there upon that center cross.  He is in agony and pain.  His blood flows freely and jammed upon His head is a crown of thorns.  Yet, He is enduring it all as he shows mercy to one of the thieves hanging on the cross beside Him.  He shows love as He instructs one of His disciples to care for His mother.  He forgives all when He prays, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  He shows obedience to His Father by finishing His task here on earth.  He actually takes on the sin of all mankind as He cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Then as the curtain falls, a loud voice is heard again crying, "It is finished!"
     What, again, is my part to play?  I wasn't there. "I am innocent of Jesus's pain and suffering."  Or was I?  Or am I?   What options do I have in the character I must play?  I can either turn away in unbelief and add to the stripes on Jesus' back.  I can insult and mock Him, or I can choose to believe that Jesus died for me.  I can choose to believe that Jesus was and is the very Son of God.

Scene 3:  The curtain opens.  There is darkness and silence.  Why?  Could it be that the Light of the World was given up in death?  Then suddenly an eruption occurs.  The earth begins to quake and shake, the rocks split, and the temple veil splits from top to bottom.  Graves open up and many bodies of the saints arise.  This brings terror to the faces of His persecutors.  I see tears of grief on the faces of those who loved Him.  There is a sense of awe all around.  The curtain falls, but not before we hear the truth spoken, "Truly, this was the Son of God."
     The part I have to play is obvious.  I am no longer blind to the truth.  I am not innocent in all that has taken place.  Jesus took the beating and the pain for me.  He took the mocking for me.  He took the nails and hung there on that cross for me.  He didn't just die; He died in my place.  When He went to the grave, He lifted me up out of the grave. 

Praise God, Jesus rose the 3th day and is Alive!