Sharnita Gates reflects on Exodus 7:3–4 and the Egyptian plagues as signs and wonders, urging you to notice patterns and seasons in your own life. She draws on Romans and pushes for active faith and discernment rather than just hearing scripture.
Blessings everyone and welcome to day 25 of the Lent devotional. Today is going to be Multiply Your Purpose, and the word for today is coming from Exodus 7, verses 3 through 4. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. So Exodus 7:3. It's not the typical feel-good God is going to multiply me scripture, but it is a reminder that God is the ultimate multiplier. In Exodus 7, God tells Moses what will happen when he goes to ask Pharaoh to release the children of Israel. God warns Moses that he will harden Pharaoh's heart and Pharaoh will not listen to him. Prior to the release of the children of Israel from slavery, In Egypt, God sent plagues each time Pharaoh refused to release them. A total of 10 plagues were sent. One by one, the plagues came, each worse than the last. Here they are in order: boils— I'm sorry, blood first. Blood was number one. Frogs, Lice and gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and then death of the firstborn. But there was a reason God kept multiplying his signs and wonders in Egypt, and it's this: so that the Egyptians would know that he is the Lord. Think about it. What we call plagues, God calls signs and wonders. I feel a, I feel a praise break right there. Have you noticed any patterns in your life? Anything going on for a while now that has you asking God what is going on? Is it possible that he is multiplying the signs and wonders in your life so that you and those around you will know that he is God? Yeah, that is something to think about, something to really think about. This is a unique way to look at multiplying, isn't it? Yeah. Remember what Paul tells us in Romans: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Ironic that he starts with and we know. There's an assumption that we know. That all things work together. Do you know, or have you just recited the scripture without really thinking about it? Lord, I need a minute. This one is different. Help me to really see what you are doing in my life through the lens Of the spiritual, because you are a spirit. I don't want to miss out what you are doing. I don't want to call signs and wonders plagues. I don't want to miss you working in my life. I love you. I love you, Lord. Help me to see you. In Jesus' name, amen. That was a big question. And have you noticed any patterns in your life? And I can truly say I have. And that was one of the biggest reasons why just thinking and remembering is so key, just to take out that time to just think and think about his word. Not just, you know, be hearers of the word, but being doers of the word as well. So as we go through day 25, Multiply on Purpose, just know that there's signs and wonders even if there's plagues. So kind of just take some time to think in understanding your purpose, and if there's cycles going on That you can see. We have seasons, we have patterns, we have, you know, but see what God is doing and his purpose for your life so that you won't have a hardened heart, um, and you're able to multiply on purpose. And understand that it's not always going to feel good, but That God has a promise and he has his word, and his word always true, no matter what you may think or what we may feel or what we may do. It's his will will be done. And you guys have a blessed— thank you for joining me for day 25 for Multiplying Your Purpose on this Lent devotional. You have a blessed one.
