The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 10:20,
"But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go."
Following the horrific plague of locusts Pharaoh summoned Moses and confessed his obstinance ("I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you." Verse 16.) in not allowing the Israelites leave Egypt. He asked Moses to pray to "your God" to take away the locusts. Moses did so, the locusts left and the above verse is the next thing we read.
Here are a few observations about this series of plagues and Pharaoh's refusal to allow the Israelites to have their leave of Egypt:
"But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go."
Following the horrific plague of locusts Pharaoh summoned Moses and confessed his obstinance ("I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you." Verse 16.) in not allowing the Israelites leave Egypt. He asked Moses to pray to "your God" to take away the locusts. Moses did so, the locusts left and the above verse is the next thing we read.
Here are a few observations about this series of plagues and Pharaoh's refusal to allow the Israelites to have their leave of Egypt:
The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so he was incapable of allowing the Israelites to leave.
The Lord did not want Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave - which was the point of hardening his heart (until the final plague).
Pharaoh did not have the freedom to exercise his will in the matter. He was being manipulated by God.
At the end of the series of plagues God would finally allow Pharaoh the freedom to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (His heart would still be somewhat hard and following their exit he had his military chase after the Israelites - something that did no go well at all for Pharaoh.) However, until that last plague of death, there was no possibility that Pharaoh would or could allow the Israelites to leave.
Pharaoh was being manipulated by God. God had his purposes and here we find a case where everybody does not always have the freedom to make their own choices.
Do you think that kind of thing might happen in our day (not the plagues - but the ability to make our own choice in some matter)?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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