And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring forth Mine armies, and My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I AM the LORD, when I stretch forth Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. (Exo 7:1-5, 10-13)
GOD begins to work with Moses and Aaron to not only convict Pharaoh, but to show His power and majesty. What looks to Pharoah as simple magic tricks that even his own magicians could do is simply the beginning. The simplicity and duplication also served to further the hardening of Pharoah's mind and heart toward GOD and Moses. Not only was Israel delivered by the strong and mighty Hand of GOD, but GOD would indeed be justified in the judgments He poured out in wrath upon rebellious and idolatrous Egypt.
Pharoah had a choice to repent, but turned away from GOD, instead of turning away from his sIn, and received exactly what he wanted, but not in the way he expected it. GOD is going to deliver His people, and Egypt will suffer for it because of their idolatry and rebellion, but in all of it, GOD is just and wanted to show mercy to those who believe and repent, trusting Him alone for deliverance.
Today, we are much the same way, when tragedy strikes, or 'evil' comes our way, we are faced with a choice. We can trust GOD, and repent where necessary, or we can remain in rebellion to our Creator. If we get angry at GOD for the 'evil' in this world, or blame Him when He chastises us, we are looking in the wrong place. When Adam sinned and all nature was cursed, this world was no longer the perfect place that GOD had created. When we stray ourselves, GOD is just to punish us and to correct us, so that we repent and give GOD the glory He alone deserves.
For, until He calls us Home, we are here on this earth to minister to those around us, as His ambassadors. We are to disciple one another so that His children are equipped for the work, and we are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. As we go, we are commanded and commissioned as partakers of the grace of GOD to take the message of hope and mercy to this lost and dying world that they might hear and believe, and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Just as GOD called on Pharoah to repent and release the Hebrews, GOD calls you to trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided deliverance to Israel, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new heart in Christ. Don't harden your heart as Pharoah did, but turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
RSS Feed