Literature Paper on The Power of the Word
Words are the most powerful and authoritative forces that drive humanity. Words have the capacity to assist, hinder, humiliate, uplift, or humble a person. In the Bible, words were either written and spoken to drive certain message. The book of Exodus expounds on the history of the Israelites in Egypt and how God used Moses to deliver them from slavery. The book exhibited the power of words when God commanded Moses to deliver the message to the Egyptian king concerning the plan to direct the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses was empowered by God’s words, even when he could not see Him. The power of word is depicted by how God chose Moses, how He sent Moses to Pharaoh, His will in history, and how He made the Israelites continue trusting in His actions.
Powerful God
In the book of Exodus, God is manifested as being so powerful through softening Pharaoh’s heart. His first meeting with Moses depicted how authoritative His words were, as He commanded Moses to talk to Pharaoh to release the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptians. Moses could not believe that he was talking to God, thus, he sought clarification from God. God assured Moses that he would witness how He would make Pharaoh accept what Moses was telling him. When Moses sought from God how he would convince the Israelites that he was indeed sent by Him, God told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” (Ex. 3: 14). Through His mighty words, God reiterated to Moses that Pharaoh would allow the Israelite out of Egypt.
God’s word’s depicted the plan that He had over the Israelites, as His initial call to Moses incorporated an explanation of how He has intended to roll out the plan. However, it seemed as if God’s words strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, as he was not ready to let the Israelites leave Egypt. Pharaoh’s actions shocked Moses, as he was not sure whether God was indeed committed to secure the release of Israelite from Pharaoh. Moses questioned God on why He allowed the Israelites to suffer from the day he commanded him to approach Pharaoh for their release.
Moses went once more to Pharaoh with the message that “The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, he has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.”(Ex. 7:16). Pharaoh had earlier claimed that he did not know God; hence, he did not understand whose authority was Moses and Aaron used to command him to release the Israelites.
The power of God’s words was again demonstrated when Pharaoh refused to allow children of Israel to leave Egypt. Whatever happened later had not occurred in any other place in the world. God allowed the Ten Plagues to torment the Egyptians after Pharaoh ignored God’s command, as explained by Moses. The first plague occurred when water turned into blood. Egyptians were taught a lesson on why they should respect God to avoid His wrath. Some of the could not believe how all the rivers could be covered with blood rather than water when they go to fetch water, but the same water seemed fit for the Israelites. This was God’s words in action, as Moses continued to gain strength to face Pharaoh.
People are likely to notice God’s power when they go against His rules. Egyptians were never punished for making the Israelites their slaves, but when God’s words were delivered to their king, their sufferings began. The king disregarded the words of Moses, and God was not hesitant in inflicting pain to the Egyptians. Every plague that He described to Moses was implemented because He wanted people to believe in His powerful words. When the king saw that his people were suffering due to stinking water and the multitude of frogs, he ordered Moses to leave Egypt together with
God did not hesitate to tell Moses that “I am the LORD.” That statement was in itself powerful to offer an assurance to Moses that he was indeed serving a powerful God by delivering a message to Pharaoh. God’s powerful words can destroy people’s spirit, in addition to stirring their emotions. God explained to Moses how He would make him look like God himself before Pharaoh while his brother Moses would act like a prophet (Ex. 7:1). God knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart, even after seeing Moses and Aaron performing miracles, but was adamant that Pharaoh would eventually give up on his stubbornness. God assured Moses that no power was beyond His reach.
God’s Word and His Will in History
God’s words in Exodus demonstrated His power, as well as His will in making the history of the Israelites. When Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh, they were prepared to show God’s power as instructed by God. God demonstrated that He was more powerful than the most popular witch doctors in Egypt. God gave Moses a rod, which he was to use to perform miracles. When Aaron let the rod fall on the ground, the rod became a snake. Pharaoh challenged the country’s wise men and sorcerers to do the same, and when they threw their staffs on the ground, Aaron’s snake swallowed all other snakes. Pharaoh was still unmoved by what he saw from Moses and Aaron, as he did not promise to let God’s people leave Egypt.
God’s word is capable of accomplishing what it promises, even though it may take time. From Genesis, God made a covenant with Abraham that his generation will spread like stars, and will settle in the promised land of Canaan. Although the Israelites moved to Egypt due to drought, they were turned into slaves after the death of Joseph. The reigning Pharaoh did not care who they were, until the time of deliverance, when God revealed to Moses of His plan. Whenever God promised to attend to the Israelites, He ensured that the promise was fulfilled. God knew that Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened, but He was committed to set free the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptians.
God’s word is infallible; it does not have errors. It can be utilized as a shield to those who believe and trust in Him. When God replied to Moses that He was God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He wanted to remind the Israelites where they originated from, as well as the promise that He made to their ancestors. He knew that the Israelites would trust in him if they were aware of the covenant between Him and their forefathers. God demonstrated His power by promising to form a godly community that was guided by His spirit. Through Moses, God assured the Israelites that He would take them as His people, as He would be their God.
People have Strong Faith in God
Moses was faithful to God’s word, and he was convinced that God would use him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He revealed to his brother Aaron concerning everything that God commanded him to say, as God had instructed him to seek the assistance of his brother while facing Pharaoh. Moses also disclosed all the sign that God directed him to demonstrate to Pharaoh that he was undeniably sent by God. The Israelites were behind Moses and Aaron, as they had already gained trust in what Moses had told them about God’s word.
Moses demonstrated his faith in God by complying with what God directed him to do. He was totally convinced that God would not abandon the Israelites before they were free to leave Egypt. Pharaoh began to realize God’s words and power after the seventh plague, which incorporated a great hail that had never been experienced in Egypt. Through His powerful word, God commanded Moses to stretch his hand towards heaven and the hail came down with thunder and fire. When Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, he conceded that he had sinned to God and His people, and that he would have wished the hail to cease so that he would permit the Israelites to leave (Ex. 9:28). Moses accepted the king’s words and promised to make a plea to God that the thunder would stop because he knew God was faithful to him. However, Pharaoh changed his mind upon seeing that the rain had stopped.
God’s power parted the Red Sea water apart, thus permitting the Israelites to cross the lake. The power of words made the Red Sea become dry on both sides to pave way for the Israelites to walk across. The Israelites experienced god’s power because they had faith in Him. They were quite aware that God’s word was strong to hold water and create a dry ground until they were safe on the other side of the sea. However, the Egyptian soldiers who were pursuing them drowned in the sea because they were acting against God’s power. As the water returned, the king’s army was swept by the water, and none of them was spared by death (Ex. 14:29). They did not believe in God’s faith, since they assumed the parting of the sea as a normal activity. When the Israelites saw what had happened to the Egyptian army, they feared God because they knew He had delivered them from their enemies. They continued to trust in God, through the instructions of Moses and Aaron.
Conclusion
The book of Exodus depicts that words are not just simple cosmetics, but rather carry real power. God’s word is totally authoritative, as it was depicted by Moses when he approached Pharaoh. God was willing to make the Israelites a popular community by setting rules and regulations of worshipping. He promised to deliver them from Pharaoh and take them to the Promised Land, as He had guaranteed their ancestors. The Egyptians would not have suffered the Ten Plagues if their king had adhered to God’s word. The Israelites continued to have trust in God by following the instructions that Moses gave them. Thus, people should respect the power of words by concurring with what God’s word commands.