The Year Of The Greatness Of God

Exodus 14

Four hundred years had the family of Jacob had lived in Egypt. They had moved there when there were yet five more years of deep famine as the Lord had shown that Pharaoh in two dreams. The Lord had raised up Joseph from prison as the means to preserve His people during that time of famine.

But another Pharaoh came to power over Egypt and Joseph was forgotten and Jacob’s family had become known by the new name God had given Jacob, the children of Israel, Israel, the one who has power with God, the prince of God.

And years of waiting on the Lord they became many, but also were made to be slaves of Pharaoh. Then in answer to their cry to the Lord for deliverance Moses was raised in Pharaoh's court, tried to do something about their slavery, and ran away to save his own life when his own efforts failed. Gone for the same length of time he had growing up in Pharaoh's house he was out tending sheep in the desert when the Lord told Moses to go back to Pharaoh and tell him to let God’s people go. It wasn't Joseph's family, nor was it Jacob’s family. Though they were now called “the children of Israel” that wasn't how the Lord had Moses speak of them to Pharaoh. The Lord told Moses to say, Let My people go.

From Pharaoh's stubborn refusal over the next year the Lord brought ten signs and wonders to pass with the last of those ten being death to the first born male child or beast of burden in houses where the blood of a lamb was not found surrounding the doorway. But there was another decimation that would take place, the entire army of Pharaoh would be washed from the face of the earth… quite literally.

Some might say that year that began with Moses and Aaron walking into Pharaoh's court to say for the first time, the Lord says, Let My people go, culminating with the Red Sea parting allowing the children of Israel to walk across, two million just pass through in one night, and then that same parted sea collapsing down over the Egyptian army, some could say that was the year of God's greatness.

Or was the year of God's greatness that year God preserved all who entered the ark (after one hundred years building it only eight people got on board) for that year the flood waters covered the entire earth? There are years that God seems to do more great things (in man’s sight) than others. On this earth in a man or woman's life we might say that was their year to shine. But the Lord shines every year. In the words of a man who was a long time man of God and leader of many others who served the Lord around the world:

God is good everywhere all the time.

That is God's greatness. We don't have to see what He is doing all the time, every year to know He is working, that He is being great. That is one lesson we are reminded of from the Christmas season each year. There were 400 silent years, and then a lot of misunderstanding, pain, and sorrow we read in the Christmas story, but the greatness of God shines forth from it all.

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Truly every year, including this New Year is the greatest year of God. Don't miss it.