THE FINGERPRINT OF GOD (2 OF 7)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19
This content is part of a series.
The Fingerprint of God (2 of 7)
Series: Walking with Moses
Jeff Strite
Exodus 8:16-19
OPENING: Tell me, what Sport is this:
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.
Each man that's on the side that's in goes out and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.
When 3 men are out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When both sides have been in and out nine times including the not outs, that's the end of the game.
(get audience to reply) Of course... It's baseball. But how did you know? What gave it away? Of course. You knew what game it was, because baseball has a distinctiveness about it that sets it apart from other sports. So also, God's handiwork has a distinctiveness that sets it apart. Notice the comment of Magicians as they surrender: They said what had occurred was a result of the ''Finger of God.''
I. What made these magicians believe that? Why would they suddenly believe that God had acted in this miracle?
After all they had duplicated all the previous miracles. They had turned their staffs into snakes, the waters of the Nile into blood, materialized frogs from dust... But frankly, these were all parlor tricks for them. Slight of hand and misdirection was their stock in trade. This was the first miracle they realize they couldn't duplicate.
After this miracle, and from this time on, the magicians join the voices warning Pharaoh: ''Get rid of Israelites!''
II. The Magicians become troubled... BUT Pharaoh becomes hardened... Why was there a difference in how they responded?
The gods of Egypt were personifications of forces that helped them explain their human experience. Were the Cows dry? Was the rain not falling? Crops not growing?
If so, it was time to appease the gods.
The Priests and magicians of Egypt were the scientists of the day. They interpreted why things happ ...
Series: Walking with Moses
Jeff Strite
Exodus 8:16-19
OPENING: Tell me, what Sport is this:
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.
Each man that's on the side that's in goes out and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.
When 3 men are out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When both sides have been in and out nine times including the not outs, that's the end of the game.
(get audience to reply) Of course... It's baseball. But how did you know? What gave it away? Of course. You knew what game it was, because baseball has a distinctiveness about it that sets it apart from other sports. So also, God's handiwork has a distinctiveness that sets it apart. Notice the comment of Magicians as they surrender: They said what had occurred was a result of the ''Finger of God.''
I. What made these magicians believe that? Why would they suddenly believe that God had acted in this miracle?
After all they had duplicated all the previous miracles. They had turned their staffs into snakes, the waters of the Nile into blood, materialized frogs from dust... But frankly, these were all parlor tricks for them. Slight of hand and misdirection was their stock in trade. This was the first miracle they realize they couldn't duplicate.
After this miracle, and from this time on, the magicians join the voices warning Pharaoh: ''Get rid of Israelites!''
II. The Magicians become troubled... BUT Pharaoh becomes hardened... Why was there a difference in how they responded?
The gods of Egypt were personifications of forces that helped them explain their human experience. Were the Cows dry? Was the rain not falling? Crops not growing?
If so, it was time to appease the gods.
The Priests and magicians of Egypt were the scientists of the day. They interpreted why things happ ...
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