Cows

O.T. #153  "Cows"
Oct. 23, 2013
Exodus 9-Part 1
And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.  Exodus 9:6

LET IT GLOW

As I write this, my neighbor's cows are in our yard again, pooping and making deep prints, making a mess of our well-groomed yard. How ironic that today's lesson is about the plague on the Egyptians' cows and livestock. How tempting it is to pray for the same thing for my neighbor's stock. It is hard to keep a "love your neighbor" attitude, I must admit. I would like to have a few steaks from them today, since this has happened countless times. So I have a BA-bad attitude that needs changing, Lord Jesus. So does Pharaoh.

Four times God gave Pharaoh warning about the plagues to come, but he refused to let the Hebrews leave Egypt. Now another plague is coming, to prove God is greater and more powerful than the Egyptian gods.

Apparently stabled livestock did not succumb to the pestilence. Although incredibly severe, some animals were still alive afterwards for Egypt to continued without total loss to an economy which depended on domesticated animals. A few months later, the seventh plague killed some cattle still in the field.(MacArthur)

Plague #5 Livestock

What did the Lord do?

• He sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go so they could serve Him.
• If Pharaoh refused to let them go, the hand of the LORD would bring a terrible plague, murrain, upon the cattle in the field, horses, donkeys, camels, sheep and goats. (NIV) Murrain means a pestilence according to Strong; signifies a deadly disease according to Falwell. 
• The children of Israel would have nothing die.
• The appointed time for the plague was the next day.
• It happened as the LORD had said.

Do we refuse to let go of anything that the Lord wants?

LET IT GROW

The MacArthur Bible Commentary informs us:

This was the first time personal property was targeted. Livestock was very valuable to the Egyptians. Whatever the exact nature of this pestilence-anthrax, murrain, or other livestock disease-it was clearly contagious and fatal. Religious implications were obvious:

• Egypt prized the bull as a sacred animal with special attention and worship being given to the Apis bull, the sacred animal of the god Ptah.
• The goddess Hathor, represented by a cow, or a cow-woman image, was worshiped in several cities.

Does this sound familiar? We have a religion in our day that does the same thing, worshiping cows while people starve for food.

Pharaoh had to check on the Israelites situation-none of their livestock was killed. Yet, his resistance and disobedience continued with a hard heart.

Did you notice that when the previous four plagues occurred, Pharaoh asked Moses to entreat the LORD so He would remove the plague? When all the animals died in the fields, there was no reason to ask.

What we make an idol of, it is just with God to remove from us. This proud tyrant and cruel oppressor deserved to be made an example by the Just Judge of the universe. (Matthew Henry)

Are there any idols in our life that we need to let go?

LET IT GO

Check my heart.

Grow in faith in Jesus.

Forgive my neighbor and love him as Jesus does.