A Stubborn Pharaoh

Just a quick post today, but I came across something in Exodus I thought it was interesting and worth mentioning.  It happened during the ten plagues of Egypt when Pharaoh stubbornly kept the Israelites in Egypt instead of letting them go to Caanan to worship God.  Although what I noticed was just a small detail, I think its implications are important.

Often I’ve wondered why the heck Pharaoh kept going back on his word to let the Israelites go.  Couldn’t he see that he was in a battle he wouldn’t win?  The power of God was causing chaos, death and destruction across Egypt.  Why was he so stubborn?  A small, repeated phrase might provide some answers.

Out of the ten plagues, the Bible only mentions Pharaoh hardening his own heart after five of them.  In the others, it says that “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” or something to that degree.  To me this seems to say that God allows for free will but also intervenes in situations where he sees fit.  But why would he keep hardening Pharaoh’s heart when that means the Israelites remain as slaves for longer?

After the 7^th plague (storms and hail) the Lord says to Moses:

 “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them 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.”

God wants His glory to be known and displayed and praised.  He wants His power to be seen.  We often don’t understand why He works the way He does, but we can stand assured that it is for His glorification.  If we’ve truly taken up our cross and died to ourselves, the glory of God is always the best possible outcome.

The Lord’s Job For Moses

I was both frustrated and convicted when I read about God’s conversation with Moses through the burning bush.  God had heard Israel’s cries for help because of their slavery in Egypt and decided to rescue them.  He chose Moses as the one to lead them out and bring them to the Promised Land.

What really struck me was Moses’ fear of The Lord, yet his insistence that God was wrong.  When God announces his presence and declares who He is, Moses hides his face because he was too afraid to look at God.  Most of the rest of their conversation consists of Moses questioning God and insisting he isn’t the right person for the job.  Here’s a shortened version:

Moses: Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?

God: I will be with you

Moses: Suppose the Israelites ask who sent me?  What should I say?

God: I Am Who I Am.  Tell them “I Am” has sent you.  Tell the elders of Israel that the Lord has promised to bring you out of Egypt and into the land of the Caananites—a land flowing with milk and honey.  I know the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him, so I will strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform.

Moses: What if they don’t believe me?

God: Throw your staff on the ground (staff turns into a snake) put your hand inside your cloak (skin becomes leprous, then changes back when he puts it back in the cloak.)  If they don’t believe you, take water from the Nile and pour it on the ground.  I will turn it into blood.

Moses: I have never been a good speaker.  I am slow of speech and tongue.

God: Who gave human beings their mouths?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say.

Moses: Lord, Please send someone else.

By the end of it I just wanted to yell at Moses, “Just shut up and do it!”  But then I started thinking to myself, “Doesn’t this conversation sound familiar?”  It’s one I’ve had with God more than once.  I’m never the right person, the circumstances are never right, it’s never easy enough, God can’t help me enough.  I start thinking of everything that could go wrong and decide it’s too risky, too uncomfortable.

Jesus never said following Him would be easy or safe or comfortable, or even that we’d want to do what he asks us to.  I think that comfort and security are some of the most deceptive idols in our lives because that’s what the world says we should work towards.  Francis Chan does a cool demonstration of what a life of safety and security looks like, and I think it’s important to look at our lives and ask, “What will God think of my routine?”