Mensa Otabil - God's Outstretched Hand (11/07/2025)
Exodus chapter 3, verses 19 and 20. But I’m sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go. No, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders, which I will do in its midst. After that, he will let you go.
God spoke to Moses about his assignment. But he also gave him an indication of what was in the future, that Pharaoh was not going to budge easily. He’s a very tough customer, and he was determined to keep the Hebrews in Egypt. So God says that even when I start working, he will not let you go, and he’s going to try to hold on for as long as possible.
And so God knew what Pharaoh would do. He knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart. He knew the response of Pharaoh, and that’s a good indication of the nature of God. He knows ahead of time what the enemy intends to do. He knows the plans of those who scheme against you and those who have plotted. He knows it well ahead. So he knew what was ahead. The other thing you would note is that God also knew what he would do. He said, «I will stretch out my hand against Egypt. „God knew how to respond to Pharaoh’s stubbornness. Not only does he know what the enemy plans to do, but God also knows how he’s going to respond to what the enemy does. And then God says, „When I respond, I will do wonders in the midst of the Egyptians.“
God is going to do something so powerful, so magnificent, so wonderful that it will amaze Egypt. And that he told Moses in advance. I believe the reason why God is telling all of this in advance to Moses is that Moses himself is not too sure how this thing is going to go. The children of Israel are not too ready for God, and they are not even ready to be delivered. So Moses is going to have his own doubts. The Israelites are going to have their own doubts. God is assuring Moses way before these things happen that this is how it’s going to go. But in the end, he will let you go. No matter how stubborn Pharaoh is, in the end, he will break. In the end, he will submit. In the end, he will let you go.
This Sunday, I just want to announce to somebody, I don’t know what battle you are dealing with or what fight you’re facing, but in the end, they will let you go. In the end, God is going to win. In the end, God will break them. In the end, God will cause his will to prevail. And don’t ever be discouraged because of the intervening stubbornness of Pharaoh. Because God is going to win this in the end.
Let’s pray. Say with me, „Heavenly Father, stretch out your mighty hand and do mighty works in my life, in Jesus' name.“ Amen and amen.