In chapter 10 we see twice how Pharaoh tried to call the shots, even though he knew he was negotiating from a point of weakness. Both times he tried making restrictions on the terms Moses wanted.
Moses wanted all Israelites - men, women, children and livestock, to leave Egypt but Pharaoh wanted to keep some of them back, as well he wanted to restrict how they worshiped God. He would allow some to worship but not all. Pharaoh's advisers wanted to be rid of Moses but Pharaoh saw the ruin Egypt would face if it lost all the Israelites. The reality was that Egypt was already ruined.
Do we ever try, unknowingly sometimes, to dictate the terms in our relationship with Jesus? An example would be - do we set aside time for God then leave him out of the rest of our day? I do this sometimes, I spend time reading His word daily, but then go on to get caught up in work or other activities and leave God out of it by forgetting to pray throughout the day. God wants our attention, we can't restrict that to only our time of reading and studying His word.
Later on in chapter 12 during the exodus, Pharaoh shows a much more humble attitude towards the Israelites and a respect for God,
Verse 32 - "Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”
At this time Pharaoh sees that he's lost, and knows the power of God, and now wants to be in on God's plan by asking for God to bless him. We see again how Pharaoh wants things on his terms, he fought so hard against God and lost, so he'll jump over to God's side and let the Israelites go, so he can get blessed by God, the true source of power.
3 comments:
"And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' You shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.' And the people bowed their heads and worshiped." - Exodus 12:26-27
Do I forget what God has done in my life? Have I told my children how God has blessed me? We are to trust God in all situations, but we are also called to remember, and to tell others of God's great leading and how He has provided for us.
It's interesting that sometimes the Bible says that Pharaoh hardened his heart, and sometimes it says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It seems that Pharaoh chose to harden his heart until there came a point where God confirmed that Pharaoh freely chose a life of resisting God and his heart became permanently hardened. Eventually, there comes a point where someone permanently rejects God, but only God knows when that point has been reached. Because we can't see that, we need to continue to pray for our unsaved friends and family and that they will turn to God while they still can.
I love the symbolism of the Passover as it points to Jesus and His blood saving us from eternal death.
"and also bless me" stood out for me too. I'm not sure if I would ask a follower of the One who killed my son to bless me....
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