“4Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.” — Exodus 7:4 (ESV)
The LORD speaking to Moses here makes it clear that even with the LORD behind him, Pharaoh will still not listen to words coming from Moses. God knows that it will take “great acts” to impact Pharaoh. And notice that it will take “great acts” not just acts themselves.
Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and speak to him. They then, as instructed by God, Aaron cast a staff on the ground to turn into a serpent. Pharaoh was not impressed and had his team do the same thing. The staff of Aaron consumed the staffs Pharaoh’s team and yet Pharaoh was still not impressed and did not listen. So just acts did not do it. It was not until God began to plagues, yes plural, that the “great acts” begin to make a difference.
In my life, I have brought forth speech and works that seemed to fall on deaf ears and eyes. I look and do not see an impact that has been made until the acts become great. Even Jesus was ignored to some degree until He committed great acts to get the attention of others (water to wine, feeding 5000 from a lunch kit of one child, walking on water, turning over tables in the temple, and rising from the dead). What I have learned is that just speaking something is not really getting it done. I have to act and those acts have to be great to make an impact on the larger group.
My last couple of sentences above, I feel I have to explain a bit so as not to give the wrong impression. It is not that I should use the “great acts” to get everything done. It is that I must be willing to go to great lengths to do that which is right. I have to be willing to make a mess to to be heard, but that mess should be in line with the will of God and not in the interest of advancing my own agenda, thoughts, or feelings. Just because I may feel like we should do away with something or take on a new policy does not give me the right to act like a child throwing a temper tantrum. My “great acts” should be in the interest of advancing the gospel and the will of God.
Now, I come back to the idea of “great acts” and their impact on making a difference. In my personal life and for my own advancement, I still need take action as opposed to simply making statements and wanting them to come through. I have to be willing to act and not just wait. For the year 2023 I have chosen to live out the word “Act” to remind me to do so. I will have the full year and going forward (my 2022 word) to “Act”. I must remember to not just speak about things, I must take action. And with those actions, before taking the action, I have to review how those actions and work I am looking to commit to measures up with the advancement of the Gospel. When they align, I will take those “great acts”.
What experiences have you had as relates to speaking and not being heard? Are you then taking action? What if you aligned yourself with God and the advancement of the gospel and then take “great acts”?
Trevor's Thoughts 