But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:15 ESV)
When I was reading Exodus 7-9 today, I was struck by the pattern of Pharaoh. God was trying to get Pharaoh’s attention so that he would obey the Lord and release the Israelites from slavery. To do so, God would use plagues that would put Pharaoh and the Egyptians in an uncomfortable position and make life miserable for them so that they would call upon Him and do what He commanded.
But the problem that occurred was that once relief had come, Pharaoh hardened his heart and returned to his old way of thinking. It was this attitude that resulted in further plagues that not only affected him, but the people he led as well.
There are times when God is trying to get our attention so that we will obey Him. He will use difficult circumstances such as financial trouble, relational and marriage issues, health problems, and other trials to get us in a place where we will call out to Him. We saw this same result after September 11th. People streamed into churches for prayer meetings because the tragedy caused them to call on the Lord.
But like Pharaoh, when relief came, many of those same people returned to their old patterns of thinking and living. How about us? Do we return to the old patterns of life dismissing what God was calling us to do when the relief comes How many times do we make promises to God only to break them after He answers?
Prayer Focus: Today, ask God to reveal areas of your heart that you continually harden when relief comes rather then do what He is asking. Let the Holy Spirit search your heart and let the grace of God bring true change to your life.
Pastor Aaron,
My wife and I were just talking about this very thing. A few weeks ago, my cars engine blew up , the next day my brothers house was not getting electrical power in their living room and their son put their Durango in a ditch. Then, this week our oldest daughters car battery dies, he windshield wipers stopped working, and even after she had a new battery put in her car. Her car died on State Street in Erie last night, on it’s way to getting the wiper situation repaired. Now it looks like her alternator went. This past Monday night my sister called at 2a.m. all upset because her ex- husband was keeping her from their daughter, which caused my parents to have to end their vacation in Florida….and my wife said, “Either God is trying to get our families attention ? or “Were making the devil mad and he is working overtime on our family. Either way something is up”.
God Bless;
Dave Crumrine
Dave,
I know what you mean! I will praying that God would use these circumstances to accomplish His plan!
Blessings,
Pastor Aaron