Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 2
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Foreshadowed,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
This week as we continue in our series Kingdom Foreshadowed we will be looking at the ten plagues. As we delve into Exodus Chapters 5 – 10 to explore the plagues, we need to understand that each plague sent upon Egypt was a powerful message from God, illustrating His supremacy and the consequences of ignoring His commands. These plagues were not random acts of destruction but divine judgments aimed at revealing God’s power and the chaos that ensues when humans choose their own path over God’s will.
From the beginning, humanity’s propensity to define good and evil for themselves is evident in the story of Adam and Eve. God commanded them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they chose to follow their desires. This disobedience led to the fall and the introduction of chaos into the world.
Genesis 2:16–17 (NIV)
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Similarly, the plagues in Egypt were a direct response to Pharaoh’s hardened heart and refusal to acknowledge God’s authority. Each plague challenged the Egyptian gods and demonstrated God’s unmatched power. For example, the plague of darkness…
Exodus 10:21–23 (NIV)
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
… showcased God’s control over the sun, a deity worshiped by the Egyptians. The chaos that unfolded was a direct result of defying God’s command to let the Israelites go.
Ultimately, these stories teach us that defining good and evil for ourselves leads to disorder and suffering. Only by submitting to God’s authority can we experience true order and peace. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church we will talk about all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
