Exodus 9:27-30 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron
and said to them, "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and
I and my people are in the wrong. (28) Plead with the LORD, for there has been
enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no
longer." (29) Moses said to him, "As soon as I have
gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will
cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is
the LORD's. (30) But as for you and your servants, I know that
you do not yet fear the LORD God."
The plagues continue to come against Pharaoh and Egypt, whilst the
Israelites remain untouched and under the blessing of God. Pharaoh’s stubbornness,
defiance and deceit remains unchanged in spite of the devastation that has come
upon the land. Pharaoh’s sinfulness and refusal to acknowledge and obey God is
coming at a greater and greater cost. The livestock has been struck down, a number
of people have died, and the crops lie destroyed, broken, shredded by the hail.
But Pharaoh remains defiant and hard-hearted.
In the verses above, Pharaoh once more speaks deceitfully to Moses and
although Pharaoh claims to acknowledge that this is the working of God and his
sinfulness towards God, Moses is able to discern what truly lies in Pharaoh’s
heart. Pharaoh’s talk is cheap, for he has not truly changed, nor has he
genuinely acknowledged his sinfulness before God. Moses rightly says to
Pharaoh, “But as for you and your
servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.” Those are
frightening words for they illustrate just how hard man’s heart can be. God can
demonstrate His presence and His power in a number of ways, with crystal
clarity and yet man can still refuse and reject God, man can remain unchanged and
unmoved. It leaves one asking; what will it take for Pharaoh to actually fear God?
Pharaoh is not alone in his defiance, refusal and hard-heartedness.
Many in our very own day and age have the same attitude towards God, and
maintain that attitude even when God works in power. As believers in Christ we
are constantly astounded at how hard-hearted some people can be and we rightly
fear for their souls and their eternal condition. We know that if man does not come
to fear God in this life, he will spend his eternity filled, overcome with fear
and terrified of God. Our response as Christians is to be filled with a greater
and greater concern and compassion for those who continue to defy God. We
should be all the more eager, motivated and zealous to make Christ known to
them, so that they might come to truly know God. And as we do this, if they
should continue to harden their hearts against God, we should pray all the more
for them and plead that God might deal with them graciously now, breaking their
proud hearts with the Gospel, before the day of grace draws to a close.
Our awesome and almighty God, You are God
that is to be feared by all men, for there is none greater than You. We thank
You that through the work of Christ we have come to fear You in the right
manner, so that we already bow the knee and worship You. But we pray today for
the many who do not fear You and should they die in this state, they will then
know Your terror and wrath for eternity. We plead that You would break their hard
hearts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring them into Your family. We pray
especially for those in our family and amongst our friends who do not fear You.
Save them we pray, all for Your glory and for their eternal good. Amen.
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