Daily Retreat 07/17/09
2009 Jul 17 Fri:Ordinary Weekday
Ex 11:10 – 12:14/ Ps 115(116):12-13. 15 and 16bc. 17-18/ Mt 12:1-8
From today’s readings:“Although Moses and Aaron performed various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land.... I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the Name of the Lord.... For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath....”
Plagues and Passover
One of the most dramatic parts in the book of Exodus is the series of plagues detailed in chapters 7-11. These ten plagues (bloody water, frogs, gnats, flies, plague of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and firstborn) first merely fuel Pharaoh’s obstinacy, but then he starts to crack under the pressure as the plagues get worse and worse, and Pharaoh realizes that his magicians, who initially were able to partially duplicate Moses’ miracles, have clearly been outclassed by the greater power of the God of the Hebrews.
As always, it’s better to take the time to read all the details of those chapters, but Exodus 11:10 is used by the lectionary to summarize all of the mounting tension of the first nine plagues: “Although Moses and Aaron performed various wonders in Pharaoh's presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land.”
The Bible’s insistence of God’s role in “making Pharaoh obstinate” can be misunderstood. God did not take away Pharaoh’s free will - rather, Scripture just wants to make it clear that neither did Pharaoh’s stubbornness thwart God’s plan at all. The explanation God provides for Pharaoh after the plague of the boils is illustrative (Exodus 9:15-16): “For by now I would have stretched out My hand and struck you and your subjects with such pestilence as would wipe you from the earth. But this is why I have spared you: to show you My power and to make My name resound throughout the earth!” So we must not tire of reminding ourselves (and heeding the Bible’s reminders!) that even when we can’t understand how all of the pieces can possibly fit together, God always has a plan, and He always knows best! In Romans 9, St. Paul cites Pharaoh’s obstinacy as the Apostle offers his own reflection on the tension between God’s omnipotence, divine election, and man’s free will. Check it out!
Ex 11:10 – 12:14/ Ps 115(116):12-13. 15 and 16bc. 17-18/ Mt 12:1-8
From today’s readings:“Although Moses and Aaron performed various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land.... I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the Name of the Lord.... For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath....”
Plagues and Passover
One of the most dramatic parts in the book of Exodus is the series of plagues detailed in chapters 7-11. These ten plagues (bloody water, frogs, gnats, flies, plague of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and firstborn) first merely fuel Pharaoh’s obstinacy, but then he starts to crack under the pressure as the plagues get worse and worse, and Pharaoh realizes that his magicians, who initially were able to partially duplicate Moses’ miracles, have clearly been outclassed by the greater power of the God of the Hebrews.
As always, it’s better to take the time to read all the details of those chapters, but Exodus 11:10 is used by the lectionary to summarize all of the mounting tension of the first nine plagues: “Although Moses and Aaron performed various wonders in Pharaoh's presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land.”
The Bible’s insistence of God’s role in “making Pharaoh obstinate” can be misunderstood. God did not take away Pharaoh’s free will - rather, Scripture just wants to make it clear that neither did Pharaoh’s stubbornness thwart God’s plan at all. The explanation God provides for Pharaoh after the plague of the boils is illustrative (Exodus 9:15-16): “For by now I would have stretched out My hand and struck you and your subjects with such pestilence as would wipe you from the earth. But this is why I have spared you: to show you My power and to make My name resound throughout the earth!” So we must not tire of reminding ourselves (and heeding the Bible’s reminders!) that even when we can’t understand how all of the pieces can possibly fit together, God always has a plan, and He always knows best! In Romans 9, St. Paul cites Pharaoh’s obstinacy as the Apostle offers his own reflection on the tension between God’s omnipotence, divine election, and man’s free will. Check it out!
posted by FrPitstick | 7/11/2009
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