July 18, 2026
Saturday, July 18
This week’s devotionals have been darker than usual. We’ve seen millions of people suffer, and untold numbers die (including children), all at the hands of God. I’ve done my best to help explain this. Here’s what I’ve said so far:
God’s wrath is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a necessary characteristic of a righteous, loving God.
In the plagues, God specifically targeted the gods of the Egyptians, so that they would see that their gods were useless. He stripped away their false confidence so that they might turn to Him.
Even in the last and most heartbreaking of the plagues, there was mercy from God. He gave a warning, and instructions for anyone who believed to save their children. Some Egyptians listened, and became part of the family of God.
But here is the most important thing I know: Thirteen hundred years after the Exodus, the Son of God was nailed to a cross on a hill in Jerusalem. At High Noon, the sky went completely dark. Just as it was dark in Egypt for three days, it was dark in Jerusalem for three hours. In Egypt, it was a darkness of the soul, not just the eyes. In Jerusalem, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was experiencing the fulness of Divine wrath—His own wrath--in that moment. His very soul was being forsaken. This was God in human flesh bringing the ultimate plagues upon Himself, so that we could go free. You have to read Exodus in light of the cross. When you do that, you see for certain that God isn’t bloodthirsty or ruthless. He’s the God who will do whatever it takes to save us. He’s the God who would rather die for us than live without us. Why would you call on anything or anyone else? Our salvation is only found At the Cross.
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
