Take What Is in Your Hands and Strike!
Word of the Lord received on January 28, 2025:
It's Time to Act
As I started to pray for February, I heard this strange word three times in my spirit: "Strike, strike, strike."
At the start, I was confused, thinking, "Lord, who will strike whom?" Then I heard a strange sentence: "It's time to act."
The Holy Spirit led me to the book of Exodus, and as I read, my eyes landed on this verse: "God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act" (Exodus 2:24–25 NLT, emphasis added).
What's interesting is the chapter and verse number 2:25. We are in February, the second (2) month in 2025. So, I really felt that this was a direct message from the Lord.
As I continued reading, I come across the following verse, and this is when I heard, "Strike, strike, strike."
Exodus 3:20–21: "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders that I will perform in it; after that he will let you go. I will bring this people into such favor with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed." (NRSV) (Photo via Pixabay)
Divine Judgment over Oppression
We will see divine judgment over every entity that has kept God's people oppressed. In the book of Exodus, Egypt serves as a metaphor for oppression, bondage, and captivity. It represents the place of slavery and suffering, where the Israelites were subjected to harsh treatment under Pharaoh's rule.
The purpose of the oppression was to stop God's people from growing, since their numbers increased from seventy to over two million, and to stop them from worshiping Him.
"The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.
"Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them." (Exodus 1:5–7 NIV)
"Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. He said to his people, 'Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are.'" (Exodus 1:8–9 NLT)
"But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became." (Exodus 1:12 NLT)
Next, Pharaoh took drastic measures.
"So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor..." (Exodus 1:11 NLT)
"Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 'When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.'" (Exodus 1:15–16 NLT) (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
As a result, God raised a deliverer and struck the gods of Egypt. How do we know that this striking was from God? There was intensification, prophecy, distinction, and purpose.
Intensification: While frogs, locusts, flies, and gnats were known in Egypt, they intensified far beyond any ordinary occurrence.
Prophecy: Moses prophesied the moment of the plagues' arrival and departure.
Distinction: The plagues did not occur in the land of Goshen where the Israelites were living [making a distinction between the Israelites and Egyptians].
Purpose: The purpose was not a "freak of nature" but a divine judgment from God.
"When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down." (Exodus 12:23 NIV)
Water Turned to Blood: Importance of the Nile
Take the first plague for example. The Nile River and all the water in Egypt turned to blood, killing fish and making the water undrinkable (Exodus 7:14–24).
"So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake." (Exodus 7:15 NLT)
In Egypt, the Nile is at its lowest point in May. Its rise begins in June, and the main flood waters reach the country in July and August, with the peak occurring in September. The heartbeat of Egypt has been the Nile. Without it, Egypt would be as desolate as the deserts. It was a slice of blessing and fertility. Hymns were written to the Nile. The economic health of the land depended on the faithfulness of the Nile, and offerings were made to Nile.
The Nile was considered sacred by the Egyptians; their gods were associated with the river. For example, Khnum was considered the guardian on the Nile. Hapi was considered to be the "spirit of the Nile." Osiris was the god of the underworld; the Egyptians believed that the River Nile was his bloodstream. That's why the Lord turned the Nile into blood.
"Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down My fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue My forces—My people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. (Exodus 7:4 NLT)
"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Pharaoh's heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. Then announce to him, "The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, 'Let My people go, so they can worship Me in the wilderness.' Until now, you have refused to listen to him. So this is what the LORD says: 'I will show you that I am the LORD.' Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile."'" (Exodus 7:14–18 NLT) (Photo via Pexels)
"Strike, Strike, Strike Until You See My Breakthrough"
The Lord says, "You are moving into a month of agreement and alignment. I am bringing divine alignment to your life, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
"The fight is over your freedom; for your cry came before Me, your groaning was heard, and your voice penetrated the heavens. This is the time I have decided to act, to move, and to release you from bondage. My roar will be heard like a lion, shouting, 'Let My people go!'
"Therefore, I tell you that February will be an action-packed month, for I have decided to act on your behalf. For I will stretch out My hands over all the forces that are holding you, oppressing you and your country, to bring individual and national freedom. The captives, My people, will be set free; your children will be set free and will come into the light.
"As I challenged Pharaoh with the biggest display of wonders, I will do it again. For I will stretch out My hands and strike the forces of darkness to release you from bondage. The challenge is on again, for these entities and forces are no challenge to Me. Not only that, but I will bring you into divine favor [so] that you will not leave empty-handed. For as My people plundered the Egyptians, you will plunder the enemy.
"You will see a new display of My power—one you have not witnessed before. This is not a month to stand and watch but to partner with Me and strike! Like Moses who used what he had in his hands to strike and part the sea, use what you have to strike, and you will see My glory.
"This is the time to be as shrewd as serpents but as innocent as doves. February will be a month to strike, strike, strike until you see My breakthrough. For your breakthrough is coming, and it's coming fast! This is a month where I will multiply My signs and wonders."
