This sermon covers chapters 5-10 of the Book of Exodus, in which we will read where Moses and Aaron come to Egypt to deliver the message of God to Pharaoh. Consequently, the king of Egypt denies the children of Israel of their freedom and instead adds to their already heavy burden. What follows is a series of plagues, 10 in all, which God sends to punish Pharaoh, the people of Egypt and their gods and godesses,
It was the apostle Paul who used the terms “objects of wrath” and objects of mercy” in Romans 9.22-24. When answering the argument about the sovereign will of God, he responded by quoting (See Romans 9.17) the very words of God in Exodus:
For had I now put out My hand and struck you and your people with plague, you would then have been eliminated from the earth.
But indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name throughout the earth.
Exodus 9.15-16 / NASB
Pharaoh was obviously the object of wrath, which God could have easily judged and destroyed. However, He was holding back His wrath, and allowed the king of Egypt to continue to flourish despite his defiance of the God of Israel, because God was going to use him to demonstrate God’s power and rmake His name glorious among the nations.
On the othern hand, God also wanted to show the riches of glory and grace to His objects of mercy, namely, the people of Israel. God has heard their cries and seen their condition in Egypt, and He has come down to bring them out of that land into the place that He has prepared for them.
Divine providence is once again at the forefront in this sermon, and so are God’s faithfulness, mercy and justice.
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