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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I praise you as the sovereign God. You harden those who stubbornly reject your will, but you have mercy on those who believe and accept your call of salvation. Pharaoh is an example of someone who hardened his heart against you, and you gave him what he wanted most—the ability to resist you no matter the cost. You have given me the freedom to choose, and you honor my choices. May my choices always bring glory to your name! Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Today you told me how Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh and ordered him to let the Israelites leave Egypt. His reaction was hostile and sarcastic: “Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice?” (Exod 5:2). To Pharaoh, such a request showed how lazy the Israelites were. Clearly they needed more work! He stopped giving them straw to make bricks, but demanded they continue to meet their brick quotas. The foremen berated Moses, and he complained bitterly to you: “Why did you ever send me?” Moses clearly expected faster results and fewer problems. This teaches me that I shouldn’t be surprised when your promise to bring about good in my life leads to suffering, setbacks and hardship. You allow these problems because I need to learn to endure through difficulty and trust you to do what is best for me. My responsibility is to submit to your will, honor you in my present situation, wait on your timing, and remember that you will not abandon me. You sent Moses back to the Israelites with a message of encouragement: “I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments” (Exod 6:6). You told them to put away their false gods and worship only you, but they refused to obey (Ezek 20:5–9). You had brought them to the brink of the greatest miracles in human history, yet they wouldn’t budge because of a little hardship. What a sobering lesson for me! You bore with their sin for your name’s sake, and then you called Moses to renewed action. Moses and Aaron worked a miracle for Pharaoh, but his magicians did the same with their secret arts, and his heart remained hard just as you said it would. Reflection Giving people your message sometimes results in them turning away from you. A good leader learns to see beyond such setbacks and keeps on proclaiming the truth. Request Father, keep me from becoming angry and resentful when I go through times of trial and testing. Remind me that these hardships are designed to refine my character like gold. Thanksgiving Thank you for your patience with stubborn people! What hope would there be for any of us if you weren’t longsuffering and forgiving? Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Come Closer to Me” by Barney E. Warren. Meditation Verse: Exodus 7:5. |