God of Wonders, King of Kings
Following World War II, the Allied Forces held a series of military tribunals called the Nuremberg Trials (1945-46). In those hearings, they tried a number of Nazi war criminals who were charged with oppressing their fellow human beings through economic, political, and military means. Most of them were German and had embraced Hitler’s design for world domination and exalting himself and the nation of Germany above all others. While top German officials Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels committed suicide before they could ever stand trial on earth, they were unable to escape the most terrifying trial of all—standing before “the Judge of the Universe” and giving an account for their sin.
In the book of Exodus, we find a similar—though more significant—series of “trials” that resemble a biblical version of the Nuremberg Trials. Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, had exalted himself against God and had been charged with oppressing God’s people with harsh labor. He enslaved them and refused to let them go in order that they might worship and serve the Lord. In response, the Lord raised up Moses to deliver His people and sent him to confront Pharaoh.
In other words, the Lord put Pharaoh on trial. God is the Judge, Pharaoh the guilty party, and Moses the prosecuting attorney who does the interrogation on God’s behalf. God’s method of prosecuting Pharaoh (and Egypt) is through “great acts of judgment” that display His power, a series of plagues that serve to indict Pharaoh and “the gods of Egypt.” Condemned by his sin, Pharaoh refuses to bow himself before the one and only God and King!! In Exodus 7-10, God declares His greatness by displaying His power over Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. He reveals that He is not only the God of Wonders, but He is the King of kings and Lord of lords!! May we respond by humbling ourselves and exalting Him!!