Exiting Egypt Chapter 9B P5

Exiting Egypt

“Seventh Plaque – Fire and Hail”

Exodus 9:13-35

By Dennis Lee: Chapter 9B P5

Now, we see Pharaoh actually break down and confess His sinfulness. But we also see that it wasn’t sincere. Not everyone who confesses their sin is sincere. The telling sign is repentance, that is, turning away from the sin and towards God, which isn’t what Pharaoh did.

You see, the truth is that not everyone who makes promises to God in times of crisis is sincere. For it to be sincere there must be follow through. Even Jesus said that not everyone who calls Him Lord or who did work in His name is saved.

Look at what the Lord said the prophet Ezekiel

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain (Ezek. 33:31 NKJV)

But if we repent, turn from our sins and wicked ways then God will hear and what we know is this, that God is merciful and full of grace, and will deliver us. I like how the prophet Jeremiah puts it, and also the Apostle Peter.

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not (Lam. 3:22 NKJV)

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9 NKJV)

Now what we see is that Pharaoh once again reneged on his promise, and Moses knows it. He said, “I know that you and the people will not fear God, but I’m going to pray for you anyway.”

Whoa, that’s a show stopper. Moses knows that Pharaoh isn’t serious, but he still is going to prayfor him and for Egypt.

In the same way God has called for us to be intercessors, even for those who hate us. We are to pray for them, not like David prayed when he asked God to break their teeth and dry up their bones, but pray for God’s mercy.

This is what we see in the story when God met up with Abraham and told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham interceded to the last, and got God down to at least ten righteous people. The only problem is that God only found four, or one, Lot, and his family of four.

But we should not only pray for those who hate us, but also for those who ask us to pray and we know full well that they aren’t sincere about wanting to change. They just want God to get them out of their problem, not change their lives. But we should be like Moses and intercede for them with God.

But Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to repent, and so God is now going to bring a more severe judgment. A hard heart is a terrible thing and God warns against are developing one.

So, through whatever you are going through, turn to the Lord, listen to his instructions, and follow them. Do not harden your heart by doing things your own way, but soften your heart through repentance, and God will shelter you and pour out His mercies upon you, and the good thing about God’s mercies, they are new every morning for us.