What does the country of Egypt look like after the plagues of water being turned to blood, invading frogs, annoying lice, biting flies, terrible sickness with the cattle, sheep, oxen, and donkeys, horrible boils attacking the skin of both humans and animals, and yesterday's plague, hail mingled with fire? Exactly what would a country so ravished by disaster resemble? In my mind, it would look like a war zone. What would the faces of the people reveal? Some of those faces might reveal a brokenness, a genuine repentance; but, the one face that could have sought God's forgiveness for his land and his people remained dogmatically against listening to the voice of God. Pharaoh would not be persuaded even in the face of total loss. The Bible says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, and we talked about this a little previously. Be careful that you don't play with God, girls. If you do, do not be surprised that when you are tired of playing, you cannot seem to find the grace to repent even though you desire to do so.
Again Moses and Aaron come before Pharaoh and ask for the release of the Hebrews. In no uncertain terms, Moses gives an ultimatum: let the people go or face plague #8---locusts. If Pharaoh refused, the locusts would come in and eat everything in their path. Remember, the flax and barley plants were destroyed with the hail. But, there was still the wheat and rye that could be salvaged. The Scriptures give this account of the interaction between Moses and Pharaoh:
Scripture Reading for the Day:
Again Moses and Aaron come before Pharaoh and ask for the release of the Hebrews. In no uncertain terms, Moses gives an ultimatum: let the people go or face plague #8---locusts. If Pharaoh refused, the locusts would come in and eat everything in their path. Remember, the flax and barley plants were destroyed with the hail. But, there was still the wheat and rye that could be salvaged. The Scriptures give this account of the interaction between Moses and Pharaoh:
And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field: And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.
Exodus 10: 5-6
The warning is there! Even the servants gave the King a warning in telling him that the country was destroyed and that there was no reason to continue to fight God. But, Pharaoh remained resolute.
Has there ever been someone in your life that you shook you head at wondering what it would take for The Lord to get their attention? As I think of Pharaoh, that's surely what those servants must have been thinking. With the threat of the locusts, Pharaoh ALMOST gave in, but at the last decided against giving in. Reminds me of those who are "almost persuaded" to do right. Almost is not enough, girls. It wasn't enough for Pharaoh, and it isn't enough for you and me either.
Scripture Reading for the Day:
Proverbs 4
Revelation 11
I never thought about what Egypt would have looked like after going through all those plagues. Thank you for pointing that out! What a true picture of what sin does to our lives.
ReplyDeleteIt's like that saying "almost only counts in horse shoes". We have to do the right thing, not just think about it
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