“He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses” (Exodus 9:20).
TEXT — Exodus 9:13-26
Message
The story was told that many years ago, the steamer, christened, “Portland”, left harbour after all the danger signs were switched on for the weather was stormy. Although the port’s agents had advised all vessels not to sail out, the captain of the “Portland” did not take heed. He sailed out, saying to the keeper of the lighthouse, “keep your light brightly burning tonight. We may come back.” But no one on board ever came back, because, just outside the harbour, the vessel was torn to pieces from the fury of the mighty storm.
In our text today, God pronounced the plague of hail and graciously advised Pharaoh and his people to send their servants and cattle out of the field so that they might be sheltered. Pharaoh and many of his people despised God’s word and paid dearly for it. But even among his servants, some hearkened to the word of God and escaped His judgment. God again made a difference between those that served Him and those that served Him not. There was peace at Goshen.
Our response to God’s warnings will determine our destiny. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the wise foresees trouble and hides himself. The exhortation in Hebrews 12:28,29 affirms the wisdom in demonstrating reverential fear. It says, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”
Today, an opportunity abounds for all who have the dread of God and His word to save themselves from sharing in the imminent judgment that will come upon the wicked. Scripture states, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Unfortunately, many despise God’s warning, to their own peril. The Lord declares that He would not cast anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37). The gate is still wide open. He will surely receive you. But hardness of heart and foolish stubbornness will lead to destruction.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
I need the daily manna from you directlyAA