SCRIPTURE: Exodus 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
That you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.” [Exodus 10:2]
Not just a series of unfortunate events, these are signs, directed by God for a purpose.
God is communicating, and everyone involved is the intended audience, including future generations.
Yet some hearts hear, while others do not; some are open while others are closed.
Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. [John 12:37]
Jesus also performed signs, some people believed while other did not.
And then there were some who wanted to believe, but would not admit it.
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. [John 12:42-43]
God is speaking all around us, God is speaking to us, and yet do we hear Him, do we believe Him?
Whether they be obvious catastrophes or a still, small voice, God trying to get our attention…
Does this seem cruel, or do drastic circumstances require drastic action?
If a tsunami is heading towards a coastal village, how far would you go to get peoples’ attention?
Humanity is plummeting towards eternal disaster, and yet people refuse to accept it.
At the end of the day, no one will be able to say, ‘why didn’t God warn me’?
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. [Exodus 10:27-28]
Doesn’t God want Pharoah to know, is God preventing Pharoah from believing?
No, God is hardening an already hard heart, He is directing Pharoah’s obstinacy to impress the message on a larger group of people that He is the Lord!
There are many warnings in life that we do not heed (exercise more, stop polluting the environment, smoking is bad for your health, etc.), and one day we will realize our folly.
Through this life God is also reminding and warning us that He is real, that we need Him, that we cannot survive without Him, that His way is the right way – will we listen, will we believe?
Where is God trying to get your attention, where is He calling or warning you?
PRAYER:
Lord, I want to be open to hearing from You. Open my heart so that I can see, hear and believe.