Stiff Necks & Hard Hearts: A Comparison of God's Power in Biblical Egypt and America Today

THE STIFF NECKS WILL FALL SOON - AND PROVE THAT THE LORD IS GOD

PROVERBS 29:1

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

*Note - Today’s message will be a little different than most of my other devotionals. This message is a comparison of what God did in Egypt to set the people of Israel free and what He is doing in America today.

A move of God has already begun, and this year, we will watch it continue to unfold. If you read last week's devotional, you will remember, I prophesied that we would see things in 2017 that we never have before. Pastor Eugene also gave a word that not only will 2017 be a year of seeing the unseen, but that this will be a year of complete victory! That means, the body of Christ and in our country.

America has been under demonic, evil control for many years. The corruption in our country's leadership is so sickening that often, my mind doesn’t want imagine that things could really be that horrifying. This year, I believe that these wicked things will be exposed and brought to the light for all to see. What has been hidden and covered up for decades will be shocking, but do not fear, THIS WILL BE THE LORDS DOING. This exposure must take place for us to move forward as the Christian Nation we were created to be! God will cause those in power with evil agendas to become confused and fearful. They will begin to destroy each other and justice will take place. Righteousness will prevail! Prepare your hearts, because God is about to show off - BIG TIME!

Let’s take a look what God did in Egypt:

- Plagues came upon the people of Egypt but the Israelites were spared

- Witchcraft and sorcery that had been used for centuries was made foolish and powerless at the hand of God

- There was a DISTINCTION between the Israelites and the Egyptians in divine protection, blessings, provision and deliverance

- God hardened Pharaoh's heart to prove miracles (basically, to show off!)

GOD'S POWER VS SATAN'S COUNTERFEIT

EXODUS 7:10-12

10 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

12 For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

EXODUS 7:13

13 And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.

Counterfeit Power: Satan always tries to out-do God with witchcraft, magic and manipulation. He is nothing but smoke and mirrors, and tries to control by fear and deception. God is the ultimate power and scripture tells us that He has already won the victory. Like the miracle God performed with Aaron's staff, the sorcerers in Pharaoh's court were able to turn their rods into serpents as well. However, the Lord's serpent ate the others - proving that God is greater.

PLAGUE 1 – WATER TURNS TO BLOOD

EXODUS 7:20-22

20 And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21 The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

22 Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew HARD, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.

PLAGUE 2 - FROGS

EXODUS 8:6-7

6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt

7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

EXODUS 8:15

15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his HEART and did not heed them, as the LORD had said.

Satan is a Copycat: Up until this point, Pharaoh's sorcerers were able to create similar miracles, thus causing Pharaoh to pay no mind to the works of God. Many people refuse to acknowledge the power of God because satan has so many counterfeits in the world, distracting them. The sorcerers were able to produce duplicates of the first few miracles God was performing, BUT Satan's counterfeit will never win! Watch what happened next:

PLAGUE 3 - LICE

EXODUS 8:17-19

17 [Aaron] stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.

19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

Acknowledgement of God: The sorcerers were unable to perform this act, and even acknowledged that this miracle was the hand of God. Satan can try to copy the works of God, but cannot compete with the power! Wouldn't it be amazing to see God completely change the hearts of men and women in our country and have them declare publicly that He is Lord?

PLAGUE - 4 FLIES

EXODUS 8:22

22 And in that day I WILL SET APART the land of Goshen, in which MY PEOPLE dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.

23 I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”’

24 And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.

EXODUS 8:32

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

PLAGUE 5 - LIVESTOCK DIES

EXODUS 9:3-7

3 behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence.

4 And the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”’

5 Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”

6 So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died

7 Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, NOT EVEN ONE of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

Divine Protection: God set the Israelites apart, and not one single plague touched them. In fact, they prospered during this time of turmoil in Egypt. Even their livestock and pets were not touched during the plagues. Take courage! God is doing this same thing for us. We are set apart from the rest of the world. No matter what storms take place, we know that we are under the divine protection that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

PLAGUE 6 - BOILS

EXODUS 9:8-12

8 So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh.

9 And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.”

10 Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast.

11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.

12 But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

PLAGUE 7 - FIREY HAIL

EXODUS 9:14-20

14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.

15 Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth.

16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.

18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.

19 Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die

20 He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses.

EXODUS 9:24-26

24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

25 And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.

26 ONLY IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN, WHERE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE, THERE WAS NO HAIL.

EXODUS 9:34

34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.

The Goodness of God: This was an interesting turn in the plagues of Egypt that shows the goodness of God. His desire is that none should perish, but that all should come to the saving knowledge of Christ. He could have very easily wiped out all of Egypt to set the Israelites free, but instead sent the plagues as a warning. God's desire was for Pharaoh and the Egyptians to change their hearts and acknowledge Him as the true God and set the Israelites free. At this point, some of the Egyptians were listening and taking action. The Israelites, as promised were spared from these plagues. Remember: God's children are always protected and set apart!

PLAGUE 8 - LOCUST

EXODUS 10:13-20

13 So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them.

15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.

20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

PLAGUE 9 - DARKNESS

EXODUS 10:23

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. BUT ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD LIGHT IN THEIR DWELLINGS .

EXODUS 10:27

27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

No Fruit For The Wicked: During this part of the plagues God caused locust to devour everything, and caused great darkness in all of Egypt. The Bible tells us that we are to be known by our fruit, and that we are light on this earth. God quite literally caused every seed the Egyptians had sown to be destroyed. In the move of God happening today, He is destroying the fruit of corrupt men and women in our Nation. However, as His children, we should expect a season of great increase and harvest.

PLAGUE 10 - DEATH OF FIRST BORN // PASSOVER

EXODUS 11:1

And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward [Pharaoh] will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether.

EXODUS 12:12

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

EXODUS 11:7

7 [Then] you will know that the LORD does make a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.

EXODUS 12:23

23 For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and WHEN HE SEES THE BLOOD on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will PASS OVER the door and NOT ALLOW the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.

EXODUS 12:29-30

29 And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.

30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

The Blood Sacrifice: By spreading a blood sacrifice over their door post, the Israelites were spared from the angel of death. In the same manner, we are spared from the grave by the blood of Christ. The blood of Jesus covers us from the snare of sin and death. We celebrate Jesus, because his sacrifice is what set us free. In the same way that God's divine protection was on the Israelites, we are protected from the turmoil in our world.

THE HEART OF PHARAOH

EXODUS 7:3-5

3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and MULTIPLY MY SIGNS and MY WONDERS in the land of Egypt.

4 But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

EXODUS 9:16-17

16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.

EXODUS 10:1-2

1 Now the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, THAT I MAY SHOW THESE SIGNS OF MINE before him,

2 and that YOU MAY TELL in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”

Pharaoh's Hardened Heart: If you noticed, after every plague Pharaohs heart was hardened. Compare that too the hardened heart of those in power right now. God has allowed many of the wicked and corrupt officials to rise in power I order to make a public spectacle of them. God is about to show His greatness amongst us and perform great and mighty miracles in our midst. It has already begun. Watch for news headlines claiming things like "for the first time in history", and "never before". God has promised 2017 to be the year of the unseen. Everything taking place is all to prove that Jesus is Lord and that our Father is the one true God.

WEALTH TRANSFER

EXODUS 12:35-36

35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing.

36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

DEUTERONOMY 11:31

“For you are about to cross the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall POSSESS IT AND LIVE IN IT…”

God Keeps His Promises: Start rejoicing! God always keeps His promises. Not only did He set the Israelites free, He gave a transfer of wealth to them on their way out of Egypt. History recalls that during the time of Pharaoh(s) there was a great excess of technology and wealth in Egypt. As they Israelites were leaving, they took much of that with them! God has called us to prosper. His children should live in abundance! During this time of change in our Nation, it is my belief that there will be a great wealth transfer back to the righteous.

IN CONCLUSION

Please do not misinterpret that I'm saying God will cause plagues on our nation. That's not at all the case. God was making a statement to the Egyptians. They had kept the Israelites as slaves for hundreds of years, and the Lord saw fit to deliver His children. I believe at this time in our history, God is wanting to move again on His chosen people (His Church) and set us free from the darkness that has surrounded us for so long! This of course will make the devil mad!

Whether you voted for Trump, or not - we, as the body of Christ, cannot deny that God was the one who appointed him as the leader of our nation. We must pray for our president. Our cry is that the Lord's hand is upon him and that he is led by the spirit of the one true God. Since this election took place, there has been much backlash in our country. If you look at the way so many have reacted, it's very immature and not at all how we should receive an appointed official.

Don’t be moved by the stirring and shaking of ungodly outcries: the protests, rallies, and ultimately, the outright rebellion against God and his people that others in this country may be doing. The corruptness in our media and everything else that may be going on is a direct result of Satan trying to bring confusion and division. Much of this backlash against our new President is part of the manipulation and control Satan has had in our country, attempting to destroy both Israel and America.

STAND FIRM! DO NOT BE MOVED! BELIEVE GOD! PRAY!

PRAYER

Yes Lord, yes! We set our eyes upon You to deliver us, our nation and our families. We choose not to fear anything but you Lord, for in this is the beginning of wisdom. We repent for all our wrong doings, and give you permission to cleanse our minds, hearts and souls, so that You may bring healing to us. We pray that we may see You as You really are: the all magnificent, all powerful, almighty God who is the author and finisher of all things. You are love, and have nothing but love for our children.

Amen