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Idols Don’t Save, They Only Enslave

Sunday, May 23, 2021
Pastor Jojo Ma

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Exodus 9:1-12

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, 3 behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. 4 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die."'" 5 And the LORD set a time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land." 6 And the next day the LORD did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. 8 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt." 10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. 12 But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

I.          A very severe plague upon your livestock [vv1-7]
II.        Boils breaking out in sores on man and beast [vv8-12]
III.       Some lessons to be learned

I.         A very severe plague upon your livestock [vv1-7]
God not only judges, God distinguishes. v4 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.

Rev 14:10-11…will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night.

II.        Boils breaking out in sores on man and beast [vv8-12]
Deut 28:27 The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, and with tumors and scabs and itch, of which you cannot be healed.

The Egyptian gods were humbled.

The Lord was exposing every idol and false god for what they were: weak to help and powerless to save.

Medicine can be a wonderful good but it makes for a terrible god.

How many Christians have simply ignored the commands of Scripture because of COVID fear --- to love, to give, to serve, to gather, to worship? How has fear in COVID become greater than faith in God?

Whether through medicine or miracle, all healing ultimately comes from God’s hand and no one elses. Jesus alone is Lord over your body and my body. Medicine can be a wonderful good but it makes for a terrible god. Watch where you put your hope in life and death.

Not only was God humbling their gods, but God was humiliating their magicians. vv10-11 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians.

Again we see the priority of trusting in Christ. Without him in our lives, we are exposed to the curses of God and final condemnation.

III.      Some lessons to be learned
First, Jesus is the true exodus.

Jonathan Edwards: “Christ and his redemption are the subject of the whole Word of God.”

Second, worshiping God is our life goal. 

Third, idols don’t save, they only enslave.

Satan’s deception is that idols will free us but they really only bind us. All idols might temporarily give feelings of joy but in the end will only disappoint. Idols don’t save, they only enslave.