Good
Morning Friends,
The
story of Moses and Pharaoh is an interesting look into human nature. Moses
worked miracle after miracle. His staff turned into a snake and then back to a
stick. The water of Egypt turned to blood when Moses gave the word. Frogs
swarmed over the whole land, then gnats. On and on the miracles went and with
each one came the same response from Pharaoh, he hardened his heart and would
not do what the Lord was asking through Moses. (Exodus 7-10)
Pharaoh
did not want to believe and so nothing would change his mind.
I
once read of a graduate student in science who gave convincing proofs of God’s
existence to his roommate over the course of the year. The roommate’s mind
remained steadfastly unwilling to accept that there was a God. Finally, the
Christian roommate asked the other why he would not believe. With surprising
honesty, the roommate replied, “If I wanted to believe I would, but I don’t
want to believe.” Not many people are that honest.
That’s
the story of Pharaoh. That’s the story of many others through the centuries. It’s not that they can’t see the evidence of
God. It’s not that the evidence is unconvincing. They do not want to believe,
so they harden their heart against what they see.
In
Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man in the place of torment
cried out to Abraham to send someone back to his brothers to warn them of what
was ahead. Abraham replied, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,
they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31) The
most convincing proof will not be enough if they do not want to believe.
Proof
doesn’t move someone to God. Willingness to surrender moves them. Pharaoh
stubbornly refused because he could not imagine a life in which he was not in
control of his destiny. There was a hardness in Pharaoh’s heart that would
never change.
When
God looks at your heart does He see hardness or a softness that is willing to
listen and surrender?
His,
by Grace,
Steve
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