THE SIXTH PLAGUE – BOILS
(10) So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. When Moses threw it heavenward, it became boils erupting with sores on both men and animals. (11) Moreover, the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, because they were on the magicians, as on all the Egyptians.
Exodus 9:10-11, TLV
Have you ever been working outside, when the winds kicks up and you end up with a speck of dust, or something, in your eye? Your eye hurts, it starts to water, and you literally can’t think of anything except the speck in your eye. Now, imagine that you’re one of Pharaoh’s subjects, one of his magicians, and that speck turns into a boil that bursts and turns into a sore… and spreads all over your body. All from a little speck of dust, a piece of dirt.
When we get a speck of dirt in our eye, we wash it out with water… until it’s gone. Because we know that if we leave it there, something bad could, and probably will, develop from it. And, when it’s gone, there is such a relief from the immediate discomfort and from the thoughts of what it could have become.
Are we as vigilant when there’s a speck of sin in our spiritual eye? How do we deal with that? Do we ignore it or try to hide it? Do we convince ourselves that it’s not that bad? Or do we recognize what it is and deal with it? Do we bring it to the one who can clean out it perfectly? To the one who can take away the immediate spiritual discomfort and who can prevent it from becoming something much, much worse?
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean from all your uncleanness and from all your idols.
Ezekiel 36:25, TLV
The one who promises to replace our stony heart and place His Ruach within in us.
Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned. Pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed. For you pardon and forgive. Blessed are you, O LORD, abundantly gracious to forgive.
Amidah, 6th Stanza
Questions to ponder: Do you recognize the speck, the sin, in your life? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to ignore it… or bring it to the one, the only one, who can clean it out? Do you know who that is? Is He your savior and the Lord of your life?