Highly Regarded

Passage: Exodus 11:1-9

Exodus 7-12 covers the story of the Ten Plagues. The gist of the story is this: the children of Israel are toiling as slaves in Egypt. God sees their plight, and determines to rescue them. God appoints Moses to be his spokesperson, and sends him to convince the king of Egypt (Pharaoh) to let his free labor force go. Pharaoh’s not keen on the idea, but Moses becomes more convincing when God unleashes devastating plagues (water turned to blood, hailstones the size of baseballs, Amityville-style swarms of locusts, flies, and gnats. You get the picture). After each plague Moses returns to Pharaoh and says, “Okay, God’s offering one more chance. Let my people go.” Each time Pharaoh refuses.

Right before the final plague, we’re told this:
Now the LORD had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”
The author then adds this footnote:
(The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)

Wait. What? Moses and the Israelites, whose presents has meant nothing but tribulation and misery – this Moses and the Israelites are highly regarded by the Egyptians? What’s that about?
By this point in the story, it’s obvious that the only reason God hasn’t eased up on Egypt is Pharaoh’s “hard-heartedness.” All Pharaoh has to do is dismiss the Israelites. God has told him nine times. Nine times Pharaoh has refused, and nine times God has rained calamity upon his nation. This is obvious to us, the readers; it’s obvious to Moses and the Israelites; apparently it’s obvious to Pharaoh’s own people. What’s also obvious to the Egyptians is that the LORD is the one true God, and Moses is the LORD’s representative. This is why they are favorably disposed to the Israelites; why, when the Israelites ask their neighbors for silver and gold, they’re showered with it. Because the Egyptians see it clearly, and hope that their favorable disposition might cause God to respond favorably toward them.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see God evoking two responses in people. Either they revolt against God’s power and authority, digging in their heels and resisting God with all their might. Or they rightly recognize God as the ultimate power, and bow the knee. All who resist break themselves to pieces against the inexorable onslaught of God’s Kingdom. Those who bow the knee experience God's grace. The Egyptians regard Moses and the Israelites favorably because they have recognized the hand of the one true God.

But then we have to assume that there is also something about the way Moses and the Israelites carry themselves that wins the hearts of their neighbors. Had they sneered in the face of the Egyptians’ suffering, or lorded it over them, it’s hard to imagine the Egyptians being "favorably disposed". Had God’s people instead conducted themselves with humility and even understanding or compassion, the positive response of their neighbors would make more sense.
When displays of God’s power become evident in our world, how do God’s people respond? Do we turn to the victims of economic crisis, natural disaster, war, and terrorist attacks and say, “That’s what God does to sinners?” Or do we conduct ourselves with humility and compassion? Are we “highly regarded” by our neighbors? What could we do to change that?