Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy." Psalm 33:18
Text: Exodus 9 : 30, 33-35
NAIVE NO LONGER
Would Moses pray to the Lord on behalf of Pharaoh and the land of Egypt? YES! However, Moses was not naive any more. He let Pharaoh know that he was not taken in by his diplomacy.
“But as for you and your servants,
I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God.”
EXODUS 9:30
Did Pharaoh blanch when he heard these words? He didn’t care what Moses thought of him, so long as the hailstorm ceased! He knew that Moses spoke the truth!
ANOTHER GREAT ANSWER TO PRAYER
Once again, Moses entered into the Presence of God! This was no game that God was playing. This was not a charade. The plagues that were sent on the land of Egypt were real and devastating! Moses had to exercise all his knowledge of God and his faith even as he interceded for Egypt.
“So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh
and spread out his hands to the LORD;
then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain
was not poured on the earth.”
EXODUS 9:33
The Lord heard and honoured the plea of Moses! Immediately, He caused the hailstorm to cease! What an amazing answer to a simple prayer!
RENEGING ON HIS WORD – AGAIN!
Pharaoh was untrustworthy! He had proven that his words were “no good”. Whatever he had promised, he could be counted on to renege on his words.
“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail,
and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more;
and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.
So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would
he let the children of Israel go,
as the LORD had spoken by Moses.”
Exodus 9:34-35
1. “He sinned yet more”
Pharaoh had already confessed that he knew he had sinned against God! Nevertheless he continued in his sinful and arrogant ways! He compounded his sin problem acting as he did!
2. “So the heart of Pharaoh was hard”
Pharaoh once again hardened his heart! Little did he know that the Lord knew all about him! Sin begets sin! Hardness of heart also begets further hardness!