Sometimes I can be so stubborn. I’ll admit it…I’m stuck in my ways. My old habits and ways of thinking are often hard to change.
I have spent some time in the book of Exodus this week- and it’s given me some new insight into my resistant nature. Moses had pleaded to Pharaoh on multiple occasions to let his people, the Israelites, leave Egypt. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, however, and despite plagues of frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts and darkness- Pharaoh still would not let Moses and his people leave. Egypt had been devastated with disaster upon disaster! It finally took the tragic death of the firstborn of all Egyptian families for Pharaoh to relent and allow a passage out of Egypt.
During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” Exodus 12: 31-33
It was a pretty drastic wake-up call, for sure.
Upon reflecting on this situation, I realize that I’m truly no better than Pharaoh. There are so many areas in my life where my heart has been hardened. There are relationships that I need to mend. Situations where I’ve been hurt and I need to forgive and forget. Times when I have had the opportunity to show mercy- but my stubbornness and pride wouldn’t allow it. In Pharaoh’s case- God had hardened his heart. I don’t have this excuse.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Proverbs 28: 13-14
Let us all search our lives (and hearts) for those areas where we need to change. And pray that we have the courage to address these areas. I need your prayers in this regard.
As always, let me know if I can pray for you. God bless.
Friday Word(s) 
Amen. It is so difficult sometimes to differentiate in our lives the Word of God that never changes and our own humanity that constantly changes. We flourish in God’s unchanging message and try to order our lives to mirror His desires for us. Our earthly situations change constantly however, and instead of looking to God’s word for our answers we give in to our fleshly impulses to guide our actions often adversely effecting others.Thank you for your gentle reminder to never take our eyes off of our God and his desires for our behavior.
Good Morning Keith,
I would like for you to ask you to pray for my son. He was in a car accident tonight on his way to work. He will be going to surgery here very shortly. Both of his femurs are fractured and will need pins to stabilize the fractures. The car is totaled but he is alive.
Thank you and I will keep you in my prayers as well.
Thank you
Missy
Missy- I will pray for him (and you) now. I’m very sorry. Keith