Towards the end of Genesis, through Joseph, God communicates truth to an Egyptian Pharaoh. Strangely, this pagan ruler and his magic-wisemen heeded God’s revelation and counsel. As a result, Pharaoh and his people were saved from God’s famine.
At the beginning of Exodus, through Moses and Aaron, God communicates truth to another Egyptian Pharaoh. Sadly, stupidly, and tragically, despite numerous signs, wonders, and miracles, this pagan ruler and his magic-wisemen reject God’s revelation and counsel.
Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice? … I do not know the LORD …”
Pharaoh is consistently depraved and dull. Time after time, miracle after miracle, sign after sign, curse after curse, opportunity after opportunity, proof after proof, he continually displays his hardened heart and will not listen to the Lord and his prophets. (Exodus 7:13, 22-23; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12)
In the account, by the time one arrives at the 7th plague — hail from heaven — some in the land of Egypt are waking up to reality. Moses and Aaron present God’s next action, and they respond differently:
Exodus 9:20-21 Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field.
In the 9th chapter of Exodus, there is a time when Pharaoh looks like he is ready to respond wisely. Following God’s showering the land with Hail, Pharaoh cries out to Moses and Aaron:
Exodus 9:27-29 This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Plead with the LORD ….
Sadly, this is just a momentary lapse of rationality, for the text continues:
Exodus 9:34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.”
On and on like this, Pharaoh’s story continues. In the end, he is troubled, plagued, defeated, humiliated, plundered, and drowned in the midst of the Red Sea. Such are his earthly consequences, and these pale in significance to his eternal woe.
How good it would be for Pharaoh, his family, and his nation if he submits to God and his revelation.
Friends, some of God’s truth can be learned from general revelation — science, philosophy, history, and common sense.
Much more of his thinking, counsel, and admonition can be learned from special revelation — sacred scripture and Spiritual illumination.
Oh brothers and sisters, scripture and history prove this to be true:
How blessed are individuals, their families, and their nations, as they receive, read, meditated upon, learn, and obey the Word of God.
His revelation is loving, true, wise, good, fixed, understandable, beautiful and beneficial. So, what’s wrong with us? What’s wrong with me? Why do I consistently respond like the dull, depraved, stupid, and tragically dangerous like ruler in Moses’ day. Why do I …
- Have God’s Word and so often neglect it?
- Read through the text quickly, as to get it done and check it off my list?
- Have access to godly teachers and authors and discount their Spirit-given giftedness which I need?
- Practice selective obedience — picking and choosing which loving counsel seems right in my own eyes?
- Refuse to learn from my own experiences and that of others?
- See the heartache and damage I cause to those under my leadership and yet remain stiff-necked.
Scripture is true:
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
This morning, God is not hardening my heart. He is softening it, awakening it, renewing it, causing me to desire to enjoy his salvific grace, his communing grace, and his revelatory grace. I am repenting! What a privilege it is to have the Word of God so near and clear! What a privilege it is to read and heed! Yes, today, for me and my household, I want to be a Pharaoh of the Joseph sort.
I wish the same for you.
I also wish the same for those “rule” in the land that I love.
For this I read, see, and know — it will go better for all of us as we trust and obey.
Unfathomable Grace 