Exodus 8:20-32
- We all get overwhelmed at some point in our lives. Sometimes everything that needs to be done seems like too much.
- And here’s the worst part- It never ends. This week Crystal and I were leaving the gym and she said “theres another one and thousands to go” me- “when can we just walk” “never. You’re going til you die”
- We all need rest. We need to unplug and take a rest. God made it this way.
- Today we’re looking at the 4th plague, The false God Kephri and the 4th commandment.
- Remember- we’re corresponding all of these. It’s a connection that exists and the main point is still the same- Let the people go, YHWH is the real God, all others are false.
The Plague of Flies (Exodus 8:20-32):
- Plague of Flies: God instructs Moses to warn Pharaoh of a plague of swarms of flies if he doesn’t release the Israelites. The swarms will infest Pharaoh, his people, and their houses but spare the land of Goshen, where the Israelites reside.
- Pharaoh initially agrees to let them sacrifice in the land but later permits them to go into the wilderness after Moses insists telling that one day isn’t far enough away.
- Moses warns Pharaoh about the swarms’ departure and urges him not to deceive in preventing the people from sacrificing.
- There is divine intervention- Moses prays, and the Lord removes the swarms as promised.
- Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart continues- Despite relief, Pharaoh persists in refusing to release the Israelites. He will not let them go. He continues to overwork and enslave them.
Was it flies or something else?
- The original text in the Hebrew does not include ‘of flies’ It just says a “swarm”
- The Hebrew term “arov” doesn’t provide a precise identification of the insects
- It is a term that indicates a mixture or swarm of creatures, and beetles could be one possible component of this swarm. Scholars differ on the interpretation. But it was a swarm – not good
- researching on this plague, it was interesting because many commentators differ on what type of insect it was. Some say flies, beetles, or even a wolf-like animal.
- Many commentators think that it may have been a Scarab Beetle (Dung beetle)
- Beetles, especially the scarab beetle, had symbolic significance in ancient Egyptian culture. The scarab beetle was associated with creation, transformation, and protection.
- Given the context of the plagues occurring in Egypt, some commentators may draw on this symbolism to suggest that beetles were part of the swarm also because it coincides with Kephri
- Here’s what’s interesting that I found out in my study of dung beetles this week
- The taurus scarab, Onthophagus taurus, needs powerful muscles to defend its territory.
- Females dig mating burrows to attract a mate and males must push their rivals out of the tunnel. The strongest males can pull 1,141 times their own body weight, the same as a person pulling six double decker buses!
- these dung beetles the strongest animals on Earth for their size.
- ‘Rollers’ regularly transport balls of poo that are 10 to 30 times their size. In extreme cases some can roll balls 79 times their own body weight.
- They can travel up to 200 metres to find a safe place to bury what they find.
- The easy translation is that your God eats poop and ours does not. (In closing)
- Dung Beetle: emerge fully formed from dung, symbolizing transformation and renewal.
- Khepri: often depicted as a scarab beetle. daily movement of the sun, paralleled with the dung beetle’s activities, symbolized the continual process of creation and renewal.
- Dung Beetle: some dung beetles, navigate using the Milky Way showing celestial connection
- Khepri: is closely tied to the sun and its daily rebirth. Its ongoing continual work.
- The movement of the beetle pushing a dung ball is analogous to Khepri guiding the sun across the sky, reinforcing the connection between earthly and celestial cycles.
- The emergence of young dung beetles from dung balls mirrors the belief in spontaneous creation and rebirth. Same as Kephri
The flies
- I spent far too much time on this. But I want to get it correct.
- Dung beetles play an invaluable role in ecosystems. Without them- tons of dung.
- But most translations say ‘flies’ even tho not in original text. Why did some think beetles?
- Something about these beetles- They are very effective at clearing up waste products
- Dung beetles improve pasture by removing waste and keep fly populations under control. By bury poop and improve soil conditions and return nutrients through their own excretions.
- Europeans went to Australia and brought cattle and no dung beetles, overran with flies.
- Here’s what I think- I think it was flies to showcase the insignificance of the dung beetle. God brought forth flies to show that Kephri and the dung beetle had no power. A “dung beetle God” could have easily taken out flies because the dung beetles keep the fly population down. Nope
- All of these plagues are to denigrate a false god- and this one is the scarab- Kephri (beetle)
How it connects to The 4th commandment
- Exodus 20: 8 -11 READ 4th has a few demands- work six days, one day for the Lord. No one works. God rested, you rest. God made it holy (set apart)
- Now you should notice a connection here- Kephri was a God who sustained the cycles of the sun depicted as a scarab (beetle) who continually worked as well. All work every day.
- The Egyptian depended on this God to sustain them on a daily basis. The sun must come up
- God’s destruction of this God displays his grandeur and power in that our God gives us rest.
- Our God is more powerful than the God that moves the dung ball- You get a day off from dung
- The fact that God rested does not mean that the took the day off, it merely means that God ceased creation depicted as ‘rest’ and desires that we, as his people do the same.
- In John 5, Jesus healed a paralytic on the Sabbath. The pharisees were upset. He said this
- John 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” GOD NEVER STOPS WORKING- HE SUSTAINS THE EARTH
- Its important to note that Sabbath is for us- Not for God. He just demonstrated it for us
- Mark 2:27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
- The Sabbath is a day of rest. God divinely established and instituted it.
- The plague was a consequence of overworking the Israelites. They never Got any rest.
- But now- They will get rest. God is saying- Don’t overwork my people- I created them for rest
- Interesting side note- even when Israel overtook nations and slaves- Still gave them a day of rest
- God has given you a day of rest as a GIFT. Its part of your religion- You get a full day off!
How do we walk out the Sabbath?
- This, much like many other parts of Christianity, becomes a distinction on which people hang all of their spirituality. You will find people who make their whole entire Christianity surrounded by the observance of the “sabbath” and those who do not keep it, are in heresy
- There’s many things like this- gifts, baptism, salvation, bible translations, worship music, communion, church leadership, eschatology, Church membership, covenants, diet, etc
- You will not struggle to find someone out there that says we’re doing it wrong
- Today- there are some Christians who observe Saturday and some Sunday
- But if you get real deep into it, it opens up a can of worms and semantics- meanings of words
- Romans 14:5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
- Colossians 2:16-17 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
- Christians should not be judged based on dietary choices, religious festivals, or Sabbath observance, as these are shadows of the reality found in Christ. Sabbath does not save you
- Romans 14:5 reinforces individual conviction regarding sacred days, emphasizing that each believer should be fully convinced in their own mind.
- Hebrews 4 says we can enter into the rest of Christ and he becomes our Sabbath.
- (Acts 15): Sabbath Not Mandated
- In the early Christian community, comprised mostly of Jews, the Jerusalem council addressed the dilemma of instructing Gentile believers in Mosaic Law.
- The decision, outlined in Acts 15:19-20, did not impose Sabbath-keeping on Gentile believers, indicating it was not considered a universal command for Christians.
- Contrary to the misconception, the Sabbath command (Exodus 20:8-11) focused on refraining from work, not designating it as a specific day for corporate worship. You can take it any day.
- Early Christian Meetings: First Day of the Week (Sunday)
- Acts 2:46-47 indicates that early Christians met daily, and if there was a consistent day of meeting, it was the first day of the week (Sunday), not the Sabbath (Saturday).
- Sunday, commemorating Christ’s resurrection, became a day for special worship distinct from the concept of a “Christian Sabbath.”
- the emphasis is on daily worship, not confined to a specific day.
- Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
- If a Christian feels led to observe Sabbath-keeping they have the freedom to do so
- those observing the Sabbath should not judge those who do not, and those who do not should avoid being a stumbling block to those who do (Colossians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 8:9).
- Galatians 5:13-15 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another
- Why do we bite and devour each other over disputable matters of personal conviction?
How do we walk it out
- 1. You should make Church the central priority of your life
- Everything in your life should center around the things of God, starting with the Church
- This day is our protected day of worship unto our God. Weekly (don’t eat once etc)
- The Church is God’s divine institution. Worship and connection to the Body is important
- In the army- I always went to chapel and demanded it. It was my right. Worship sustains
- I understand some careers, FAA, medical, fire etc, not possible, but when possible, or WED
- 2. You need a weekly sabbath. A day in which you do close to nothing you don’t want to
- No commerce, no labor, no requirements, no obligations. If it causes you angst, don’t do it
- God created the Sabbath for YOU. God knew a day of rest helps your mental and physical. It shows you that you’re worth more than your labor. You separate from the world. It gives you time to rest, refocus, be present. Strengthens your relationships. More time for prayer, contemplation, bible study, fellowship, loving the simpleness of life.
- Work aside, I’m sure people say, I can’t get everything done in a week!
The Sabbath, like tithing, trains you to effectively manage your TIME like your money. - Living on 90 takes planning! Getting it all done in 6 takes planning!
- That means less screen time, laziness, procrastination, idleness and more PLANNING
- And in this day an age, rest looks different for some. Messing in the garden or hobby building is fun for some people. Some it’s a chore. Same for hanging out with people. YOUR CONVICTION
- But the PRINCIPLE is- take a full day of rest unto the Lord. Guilt free. Talk to family about it.
- 3. You are not saved from your sin by observing the Sabbath. It’s a gift to you (like salvation)
- The Sabbath gives you time to enjoy God and rest from your labors. To lean into HIM
- The deliverance of the Israelites was a gift to bring them out of bondage and give them rest
- You are not a dung beetle that must continue to work every day, you get to rest!
- You get to rest from Physical labor, but you also get to rest from spiritual labor
- 4. Rest from your spiritual labor
- We must embrace the reality of the finished work of the Cross of Jesus. Life in Christ is to be enjoyed, not endured. We are blessed to be saved, and should live our lives unto him.
- The principle of rest is all encompassing- Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
- Kephri works all day. Dung beetle works all day. You get a day off. It’s a gift. Walk in it.
- We have Ro 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin:
- We are not bound to continue to work in bondage towards a false God- we are free in Christ
- 5. No False Gods
- We connect with the plagues and the false God in this day and age because people worship false Gods as well. What we value is shown in what we give our time to. (we must rest)
- God brought a plague on Egypt to show that he was to be revered more than anyone
- But for us, we must protect and guide our lives to honor God and him alone.
- We’ve got better than a Dung beetle. We’ve Got a God who sustains and gives us rest.
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