Plague נָגַף

We are in chapter thirty-two of Exodus with our word for today. נָגַף injure by striking, strike, strike ones foot, stumble, smite. It is used 49 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of being defeated in a military conflict. Deuteronomy 28:25 The Lord will cause you to נִגָּף֮ be defeated before your enemies. 2 Chronicles 25:22 Judah וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף was defeated by Israel. Our word is also used in the sense to deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon. Exodus 21:22, 35 When men strive together וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ and hit a pregnant woman … When one man's ox יִגֹּ֧ף butts another's. Our word is also used in the sense to afflict suddenly, usually adversely. This word is used to reference the plagues God sent against Egypt. Exodus 8:1-2 Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I נֹגֵ֛ף will plague all your country with frogs. Exodus 12:23, 26-27 For the Lord will pass through לִנְגֹּ֣ף to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses לִנְגֹּֽף to strike you … he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when בְּנָגְפּ֥וֹ he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” This is the same sense our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 32:35 Then the Lord וַיִּגֹּ֥ף sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made. It is interesting that the same word is used in both instances of when God strikes Egypt and now strikes his people. What is also interesting is what happened right before this striking or sending a plague. Notice how God relented from what he was going to do wipe the people out in response to Moses prayer. Even though God forgave this did not mean that there were no consequences to the people’s sin. We see this throughout the Bible. We see that even though God forgave the people of Israel they still had to suffer the consequences of dying in the wilderness without seeing the promised land. We will see as we continue through Deuteronomy that Moses also was not allowed to go into the promised land because of the consequences of his sin of dishonoring God before the people. God did forgive him but that still meant there was some consequences to what he did. David also was forgiven for his adultery and murder but that did not mean he did not have to suffer the consequences of his actions. 2 Samuel 12:13-14 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” This does not mean that God is unmerciful. He is quick to remove the penalty of separation and often spares us from many of the consequences of our sins. When he does allow certain consequences to remain, it is always to teach us and others not to sin again. What is interesting about our word is that Satan uses it when he quotes from the Bible. Psalm 91:11-12 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you תִּגֹּ֖ף strike your foot against a stone. Jesus of course knows what he is doing trying to get him to abandon his mission to not only have his foot injured but to die for the sins of the world on a cross. Jesus has taken away the biggest and most serious consequence of sin separation from God forever in hell. In this life God will still allow some consequences to our sin to keep us reminded of just how dangerous sin is to our relationship with him. He loves us and wants us to be close to him forever. I’ll close with these great reminders. Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.