We are in Exodus chapter three with our word for today. פָּלָא do something wonderful, be too difficult, be unusual, miraculous acts, be surpassing, extraordinary, something that causes feelings of wonder that are often miraculous. It is used 73 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of being so amazing that it is beyond our understanding. This description is used of God. Job 5:9 and Job 9:10 He performs great things that cannot be fathomed, נִ֝פְלָא֗וֹת marvelous things that cannot be counted. Job 37:14-16 Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s נִפְלְא֬וֹת wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? We also see our word used in the sense of a miracle that goes against how God set up his general and special providence (the laws of nature and answered prayer). Exodus 34:10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do נִפְלָאֹ֔ת wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Psalm 106:7 When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your נִפְלְאוֹתֶ֗יךָ miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 3:19-20 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the נִפְלְאֹתַ֔י wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. These miracles that God preformed through Moses truly brought the response of wonder and amazement. Not just because they went against how God set up nature to work most of the time but also because of who these miracles were directed against. We will look at each of these in the days to come when we get further along in Exodus. But for today it is worth noting that these miraculous acts of power were attacks against the gods of Egypt that they relied on to make sense of life and take care of them and their future. God was showing them that these so called gods were not real, not in control and definitely not worthy of worship and trust. This is specifically stated in Exodus 12:12 On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. Each of the previous miracle was a direct attack on the very foundation of what Egypt believed in.
God still does this allowing what we really are trusting in to be shaken so that we will let go of it because it doesn’t work anymore. This is because he loves us and wants us to worship and trust in him alone. This is what is best for us and our loved ones. I’ll close with this challenge to us. Hebrews 12:25-29 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
