Finger of God
March 27, 2025 - Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Luke 11:14-23
The phrase "finger of God" appears twice in the Old Testament, both times in connection with the story of the Exodus. The first occurs when the Egyptian magicians, witnessing the signs performed by Moses, acknowledge God’s power: “This is the finger of God,” they admit, unable to replicate one of the plagues (Ex 8:19).
The second reference appears when God inscribes the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets. The Book of Exodus recounts: “When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God” (Ex 31:18). In today’s Gospel, Jesus invokes this expression, saying: “But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20).
Throughout history, Christians have read the Book of Exodus during Lent, seeking not only a historical account but also spiritual meaning behind its events. In this tradition, Egypt symbolizes our spiritual slavery, Pharaoh represents the prince of demons, and Moses, the liberator of Israel, prefigures Jesus Christ, the true Redeemer of humanity.
The battle between Moses and Pharaoh was, at its core, a confrontation between the Lord and the false gods of Egypt. Similarly, the clash between Jesus and unclean spirits is the ultimate struggle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of evil. Just as God made it clear in Exodus that Israel belonged to Him, so too does Jesus’ work of liberation reveal that we belong to God.
Many scholars note that in biblical times, demonic possession was often described through the lens of physical and mental ailments—epilepsy, muteness, deafness, even suicidal tendencies. While modern medicine has given us insight into some of these conditions, there remains much we do not understand. Our ancestors would remind us that beyond the physical realm, a spiritual battle persists, and that the liberating works of Moses and Jesus fulfill God’s plan of salvation.
A mute spirit prevents one from praising the Lord and proclaiming the Gospel. In this sense, many today remain spiritually muted, unable or unwilling to share God’s truth. But today’s Gospel also reveals another destructive force at work: the spirit of slander. Some in the crowd accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons. They, too, are in need of liberation.
We should always remember the words of one of our ancestors in faith, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, a Doctor of the Church: “The glory of God is a person fully alive.” This is why Jesus came into the world—to make us fully alive, that we may praise God and share His Gospel with others.