Proverbs 22:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Godly influences can only be taught if the parents have been brought up in a manner that they can train the next generation in the way to go. This is generational influence. Parents and grandparents have the first opportunity to influence children. This is why we have been encouraged not to be unevenly yoked.

Do not believe that it is just that simple. The wisest man to rule over Israel fell away from instructions in righteousness and it caused that kingdom to be divided. King Solomon was unduly influenced because of the desires of the flesh.

1 Kings 11:3-4 English Standard Version

³ He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. ⁴ For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Wisdom alone will not keep us on the right path. Influences afflict the wise as it does the common man. This must be taught as a warning to the children that learning alone is insufficient to allow us to make right choices where wisdom fails us. We must examine those things that influence us.

We left off yesterday with this thought. “It is in the breaking of the influences that we can come to see our salvation is at hand.” It is the Lord who sets us free from the power of sin that enslaves us, then how does the Lord break those influences in our lives so that we might seek Him and follow Him?

Have we loved a particular food so much that we gorge ourselves to the point of being sick?

Sin is like that.

Exodus 3:14 English Standard Version (ESV) God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”^{[I am, That, I am]} And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

When a secular search is made of the plagues of Egypt we might find an opinion that the ten plagues match ten gods of Egypt. The reasoning being that in those plagues God was showing Himself to be the God above all gods and that He alone was in control of their destiny.

Since this is a spiritual journey let us not settle on secular opinions, reasoning and theories.

Israel was enslaved by those who worshipped false gods. There is no indication that they themselves or that any of the slaves being held worshipped false gods. What held them in place was a very human condition and that was the will of a people to exert their power over others.

How does this relate spiritually to anyone in these times in order to relate to the need to be set free?

Most people who come to Christ do not consider themselves to be slaves. We are all free to make choices for ourselves and it seems that our choices have led us to a place of discomfort and a desire for change. But how does this relate to the plagues?

We are held captive by the influence of others. We might not see that they serve false gods or even give them a name, but it is no less true just because we do not recognize the situation. The Prince of the Power of the Air only has influence to enact his evil plot to keep us from worshipping the One True God, the God above all gods. The lost might not believe in Satan, they might only see the influences he has thrust upon us by reason of desires of the flesh.

It is in the breaking of those influences that we can come to see our salvation is at hand.