We are all pharaoh.
The Exodus story of the 10 Plagues recounts numerous times pharaoh regretting his decisions only to walk right back into disobedience. As a reader of scripture, I found myself aghast that someone would not “get it” after the first plague…or the second…or the third and so on! But really, aren’t we all pharaoh to some degree?
When I was studying Exodus I did some digging into who the pharaoh was during the time of the plagues. There is so much debate on who he might have been and no real answers. I do not believe it is vital to our faith to know who he was specifically. Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” When we go digging to “prove” everything in the Bible we can get wrapped around the axle in confusion. I believe one of the points of these plagues being recorded for us to learn from is to understand that sometimes we all want the benefits of God on our side, but are unwilling to follow through on the obedience portion of the relationship with God.
The lack of documentation of these events is initially surprising because the Egyptians were notorious record keepers but not really when it came to anything that would bring shame or embarrassment upon their pharaoh or people.
“No record of the exodus has been found in any Egyptian tablets, but that is not unusual; the new dynasty did not make a habit of recording its defeats. ”
Reminding me that we all do this too! Our social reels are highlights of the good, the beautiful, the accomplishments, and the brags. We generally do not post negative stories or anything that would bring us shame of embarrassment. So why would it be difficult to believe the Egyptians would subscribe to the same motives?
Back to the point though… when I asked myself the hard question of “when have I been pharaoh?” It felt invasive and I immediately did not want to dig into this question but I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to really think inwardly not not take the easy route of blaming and shaming pharaoh.
When have I asked for God’s help and then immediately turned my back on Him?
When have I asked for God’s help and then forgot to praise Him for the outcome?
When have I asked for God’s help and then forgot there was an obedience part of the prayers I prayed?
When have I asked God for help but getting the answer meant I had to give up something I love?
When have I asked God for help but getting the answer meant I had to give up something that made my life easier?
“Lord if you will…then I…”
Sound familiar? Ya, me too.
When have I asked for God’s help and then immediately turned my back on Him? After every plague, Pharaoh wanted relief, but then turned his back on obedience.
When have I asked for God’s help and then forgot to praise Him for the outcome? After every plague, Pharaoh wanted his possessions restored, but wouldn’t admit who was the real giver of all good gifts.
When have I asked for God’s help and then forgot there was an obedience part of the prayers I prayed? After every plague, Pharaoh wanted his comfort back, but didn’t want to follow a God that required sacrifice.
When have I asked God for help but getting the answer meant I had to give up something I love? After every plague, Pharaoh wanted the Israelites to continue doing the hard labor so he could be a majestic ruler over many peoples, yet following God requires we cast away anything that takes us apart from God’s mercy.
When have I asked God for help but getting the answer meant I had to give up something that made my life easier? After every plague, Pharaoh wanted the Israelites to continue doing the hard labor so he could remain work-free, yet following God means getting our hands dirty and serving others.
Pharaoh turned away from God and hardened his own heart after the first five plagues. He asked Moses to pray to his God for relief from the plague and then turned his back once there was relief.
Moses: Green
Pharaoh: Coral
Let my people go! No! River of blood. Pray to your God and I will let your people go. Great! Never mind. Pharaoh hardened his own heart towards God.
Let my people go! No! Plague of frogs. Pray to your God and I will let your people go. Great! Never mind. Pharaoh hardened his own heart towards God.
Let my people go! No! Plague of gnats. Pray to your God and I will let your people go. Great! Never mind. Pharaoh hardened his own heart towards God.
Let my people go! No! Plague of Flies. Pray to your God and I will let your people go. Great! Never mind. Pharaoh hardened his own heart towards God.
Let my people go! No! Plague of livestock. Pray to your God and I will let your people go. Great! Never mind. Pharaoh hardened his own heart towards God.
This next part is what frightens me the most.
Let my people go! No! Plague of boils. Pray to your God and I will let your people go. Great! Never mind.
“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart. ”
There comes a certain point where God cements our disobedience after multiple opportunities are presented to us to repent and make changes. “We see that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was the strengthening of what he already had set himself towards.” (David Guzick)
“The moral would be that God hardens those who harden themselves.”
This is my biggest fear, that God would give up on me or those I love. A fear that we would ask for God’s mercy, grace, and blessings but not be willing to make the sacrifices required of faith or serve the way Jesus modeled loving others.
“Lord God make it apparent what we need to repent of and give us the wisdom to be obedient even when it is hard, painful, scary, or it doesn’t make sense. You always bring meaning to our stories and the plans you have for us. Knowing it is written in John 10:10, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows] (AMP).” Let us repent so we can live abundantly. Please Heavenly Father do not harden our hearts, do not harden the hearts of the ones I love. Do not give up on us. - Amen”
