The Winds of Oppostion

                                                                                                 

     The Winds of Opposition

     If we look up the meaning of the word "opposition" the dictionary says that it is:  A disagreement, hostility towards, disapproval of or resistance to.  It can be any group opposing authority or those who oppose a proposal, position or actively show a hostile attitude towards something or someone.

     A prime example of opposition in action is the story we read in the book of Exodus, chapters 5-14.  It is the story of the opposition that took place between Pharaoh, king of Egypt and the Lord God of Israel.  It's about the plans and destiny God had for the children of Israel and how God blew the winds of opposition upon Egypt and Pharaoh and why? Because of his resistance, rebellion and opposition towards God.

     God had called Moses to be the deliver of the Israelites and Aaron to be Moses mouthpiece. He gave Moses specific instructions on what to speak and showed Moses miraculous signs to give to Aaron.  So Aaron spoke the words and did the signs in the sight of Israel and they believed; and once they knew that the Lord had visited them and they knew that God had looked upon their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped Jehovah God.

     The bible says that God sent Moses and Aaron to be His spokesman and that they appeared before Pharaoh to convey to him the divine command and to allow the departure of the Israelites to go into the desert to worship their God. The scripture says that Aaron cast down his staff before the king, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh called for his magicians  and sorcerers skilled in magic and divination and they also cast down their rods and they became serpents; but Aaron's rod swallowed up their snakes (rods). The scripture says that Pharaoh's heart was hardened against Jehovah and Pharaoh refused to let Israel go (Ex 7:13).  And because of Pharaohs opposition to the will of Jehovah God, God in response, brought ten plagues of opposition upon Egypt.

     The first wind of opposition that Jehovah brought against Egypt was turning all the water that Egypt stored in their vessels of wood and stone and all the water in the Nile river into blood.  It caused the fish to die, the stream to stink and the water became undrinkable to drink.  This plague was humiliating, inasmuch as the Egyptians were so dependent upon the Nile for water that they worshiped it as a god, as well as some of its fish. The scripture tells us that the magicians of Pharaohs court were able to imitate the miracle through their magic and dismissed the matter as a mere trick; and Pharaohs heart was made hard and obstinate and he did not listen to Moses and Aaron and would not let Gods people go.

     So God brought a second wind of opposition upon Egypt.  This time God released frogs from the Nile that penetrated into the houses and inner rooms and crept into the domestic utensils, the beds, the ovens, the kneading troughs and even got upon the men themselves. This miracle was also imitated by the Egyptian magicians by means of evil occult power, but once they had brought up more frogs they could not remove them from the land so Pharaoh was forced to send for Moses and Aaron to intercede with Jehovah to take them away. And Moses prayed for God to remove the frogs, but when Pharaoh saw that their was temporary relief, he made his heart hard and once again opposed God. 

     The third wind of opposition towards Pharaoh and Egypt were gnats (Ex. 8:16-19) This plague was caused by Aaron's smiting the dust of the ground with his staff; all the dust throughout the land of Egypt turned into gnats, which were upon man and beast that would sting and cause a painful irritation. Pharaohs magicians tried by their magic and secret arts to bring forth the gnats also, but they could not and they said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God! But Pharaoh continued to oppose God and his heart was hard and he would not listen.

     The following six plagues of opposition that God brought upon Pharaoh and Egypt consisted of swarms of insects (Ex. 8:20-32), probably dog flies that would fasten themselves upon the human body, especially the edges of the eyelids and become a dreadful plague.  Then came pestilence that consisted of a severe disease that killed the cattle of Egypt (Ex. 9:1-7), next came boils breaking forth in sores (Ex. 9:8-12) and hail accompanied by thunder and lightning coming down like burning torches, and multitudes of men and beasts were slain, trees and plants destroyed (Ex. 9:17-35) and still Pharaoh would not let the people go.  So what followed next were locusts that came in dreadful swarms that covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened and nothing green was left on trees or plants of the field (Ex. 10:1-20).  Next came thick darkness that was so great that the Egyptians could not see one another, and no man rose from his place (Ex. 10:21-29).

     Gods last wind of opposition would be a devastating blow to the very heart of Pharaoh and the Egyptian people (Ex 11:1-12:30). The Lord said to Moses, I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt; afterwards he will let my people go. Then Moses commanded the Israelites to ask from the Egyptians articles of silver and gold, and God gave Israel favor with the Egyptians. Then Moses spoke to the people and told them that at midnight God would go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, even Pharaoh's firstborn would die and that there would be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as has never been nor ever shall be again.  But against any of the sons of Israel shall no harm come that they may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

     And God instructed Moses to tell the congregation of Israel to take a lamb that had no blemishes, kill it and take the blood and put it on the two side posts and the lintel of their houses. He then proceeded to tell them that He would pass through the land of Egypt that night and would kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. Moses told them that the blood would be for a token or sign to them upon the doorposts of the houses where they were, and that when God saw the blood, He would pass over them, and no plague would come upon them to destroy them as death moved through the land of Egypt.  By the sprinkling of the door posts of the Israelites with the blood of the Paschal lamb; by the institution of the Passover as an enduring ordinance with the words, "When I see the blood I will pass over you,: the people were taught that life can be obtained only by the death of a substitute.  Life was possible for them only through the blood of a life given in their place and appropriated by the sprinkling of that blood and was only a shadow of what was to come.  Israel had no idea that this would foreshadow the coming of their Messiah Jesus and that He would become their Paschal lamb;  shed His blood for all humanity and reconcile us back to God.
   
     In chapter 12:30 & 31 it says that:  Pharaoh rose in the night and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.  Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron at night and told them to "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the Lord, as you have asked and Pharaoh let them go.  We can see that time and time again Pharaoh would harden his heart in rebellion to the God of Israel and would willfully oppose Him.  He would stand against the will of God in his pride and arrogance opposing the very God that had placed him in his position as Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 

     I know many of us are going through opposition and we are questioning God why, who and where is it coming from.  Some of us have brought it on ourselves due to our rebellion, pride and disobedience towards God and what He is asking us to do.  Yet others are facing opposition that is coming from the enemy and why?  Because we are carriers of the authority and power of the blood of Jesus that destroys him.  His plan is to stop us from stepping into our destiny and purpose and keep us bound to our past, bound to the memories of our failures, the overwhelming feelings of despair and keep us trapped in discouragement, disappointment and the hurts of the past. If he can keep us looking back to Egypt and not forward into our future, then we become paralyzed and we stay in the wilderness of wanderings, confusion, fears, doubt, anger and unbelief. 

     God gave Moses specific instruction on what to say and what to do as he came into the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  Pharaoh was the authority of Egypt and held the power of life or death in his words.  Pharaoh thought he was a god himself and could win over the God of Israel, but God had a plan and He had a purpose for His people and that was to bring freedom and release them from the bondage's of Egypt. 

     This is exactly what God wants to do in your life today.  He wants to set you free from the slavery of past sins,  the shame, guilt and the condemnation you feel.  Sometimes we think we have let go, forgiven ourselves and others, but when opposition comes ,we are drawn back into those old behaviors once more.  Today, Jesus wants you to walk in victory, freedom, peace and power. And just as He gave instructions to Moses on what to say and what to do in the face of the enemy; so has God given unto us through His word.   Those instructions are the truth that sets us free.  They are the power, the authority and the weapons that can and will defeat the enemy, but you must stand in your position armed with the sword of the Word of God and fight the enemy head on.  Beloved, we are in a battle, a battle for our very life and future.  Don't let the enemy condemn you, accuse you, intimidate you and bring fear.  Will you face Pharaoh?  Will you say what God has instructed you to say?  And will you do what He has asked you to do?  "Remember to stand strong in the Lord, and in the strength and power of His might." Ephesians 6

Blessings,

Elma Garlock