Conquered by Frogs

13 MARCH

He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish. Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. Psalm 105:29-30

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Exodus 8:1-15

The plague of water being turned into blood was especially grievous to the Egyptians because water was one of the two great means of supporting life. The power of God shone forth brighter considering that the land of Egypt was well irrigated, yet the Egyptians were parched with drought. It is said that their land brought forth frogs and entered even the chambers of their kings. God thus manifestly showed that he was the author of miracle, for though all Egypt swarmed with frogs, the courts of the kings should have been exempt from this nuisance. The term kings denotes either the noble of the realm of the king's sons, who were brought up in expectation of royal power, for at that time, as is well known, only one king reigned over all Egypt.

From this we learn how, by a kind of mockery, God easily humbles those who pride themselves in the flesh. He did not gather an army to fight against the Egyptians, nor did He forthwith arm His angels or thunder out of heaven. But God brought forth frogs in Egypt, which contemptuously trampled upon the pride of that haughty nation and held in contempt the whole world besides. It would have been no disgrace for Egypt to have been conquered by powerful enemies, but consider how dishonorable it was to be vanquished by frogs!

By this God showed that He has no need of powerful hosts to destroy the wicked, for He can do this, even seemingly in sport, whenever He pleases.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: Calvin provides us with a unique reminder of how deluded we are when we think we are in control. Whether by great natural disasters or by an army of frogs, God will remind us that He is the one in control. How does the Holy Spirit teach us experientially to relinquish control of our lives to God?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Qualified for Service

12 MARCH

He sent Moses His servant; and Aaron whom He had chosen. Psalm 105:26

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 77:11-20

Here the prophet briefly refers to the deliverance of God's people. If the Egyptians of their own accord had allowed the people of Israel to leave Egypt, neither the service of Moses nor miracles of God would have been required.

But God determined that His people should be delivered in such a way that denial of its author would be impossible. Moses is called His servant to teach us that he was not self-appointed to his office and that he attempted nothing by his own authority. Rather, as the minister of God, Moses executed the office with which he was entrusted. The same is true of Aaron, who is said to have been chosen. What is attributed in particular to each of these eminent men applies equally to both. Therefore Psalm 105:26 is basically saying: God sent Moses and Aaron, His servants, not because of their intrinsic fitness or because they spontaneously offered their service to God, but because God chose them. 

This passage teaches us that those who are engaged in active and useful service for the church are not exclusively qualified for it by their on exertions or by their own talents, but are stirred by God to serve. Moses was a man of heroic virtue, but in himself, he was nothing. Accordingly, the psalmist would say all that is accounted worthy of remembering Moses as well as Aaron is to be ascribed to God alone. Whatever men do for the welfare of the church, they owe the power of doing so to God, who, of His free goodness, has been pleased thus to honor them.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: This teaching goes against every natural inclination of our hearts. How easily we take pride in ourselves when God blesses our work, as if we were somehow ultimately responsible! The honor, Calvin says, belongs to God alone. How does this both humble us and fill us with gratitude?

365 Days With Calvin 

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Keeping an Eternal Perspective

6 MARCH

For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Luke 12:16-21

We know that people who have completed the circle of life are forthwith taken out of the world, yet the knowledge of this frailty fails to make a deep impression on our hearts because we do not lift our eyes above the world. Moses awakens us by showing us the eternal perspective of God, without which we do not perceive how speedily our life vanishes away. 
The imagination that we shall have a long life is like a profound sleep in which we are all benumbed. Only meditating upon the heavenly life can swallow up this foolish fancy respecting the length of our continuance upon earth. To those who are blind to eternity, Moses presents the view of God as Judge. "O Lord!" he seems to say, "If men would only reflect upon that eternity from which Thou beholdest the inconstant circling of the world, they would not make so great an account of the present life."
The reason that unbelievers indulge in pleasures is that they have their hearts too much set upon the world and do not taste the pleasures of a celestial eternity.
Hence we learn the application of this teaching. Why do we have such great anxiety about our life that nothing satisfies us? Do we continually molest ourselves because we foolishly imagine that we shall nestle in this world forever? 
Moses does not only contrast a thousand years with one day; he also contrasts them with yesterday, which is already gone. For whatever is still before our eyes captivates our minds. But we are less affected with the recollection of what is past. So, let us elevate our minds by faith to God's heavenly throne, from which He declares that this earthly life is nothing compared with what is yet to come.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: Maintaining an eternal perspective is difficult. But isn't our failure to do so the reason why we find ourselves falling into worldliness so often? Yesterday is past. WE must keep the next thousand years in perspective.

365 Days With Calvin 
Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke