Living Room Study

Exodus 8

“Pharaoh responded, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but don’t go very far.  Make an appeal for me.”  Exodus 8:28

The plagues were disciplinary chastisements of God.  Instead of annihilating the tyrant by one stroke, God, in His divine forbearance, inflicted 10 successive plagues to break his pride.  Important to note, is how the plagues God inflicted were direct judgments against the “gods” of Egypt.

Notice how different the ways of God are from the ways of man.  Human warriors attack by surprise; they don’t space out their blows; and when they have the enemy beneath  their feet, they makes an end of him.  But God warned Pharaoh 10 times, and each time the Lord gave Pharaoh the opportunity to repent.  Before punishing Pharaoh, God showed him mercy each time.

There is grace and merciful forgiveness for all who repent; but there is unsparing punishment for those who, hardening their hearts to the voice of God, continue in their stubborn ways.

But what is repentance? 

Repentance is more than lip service.  It is more than praying a prayer, walking an isle, donating money, etc.  Repentance is complete surrender.  It is the total giving-over of your life to the Lord.  Anything less falls-short of what the Lord requires.

In today’s passage, Pharaoh seems to have repented.  But Pharaoh is not repenting.  He is negotiating.

For a moment, try thinking of Egypt as representative of “the world”.  “Pharaoh” may represent a personal demonic bondage holding you captive, threatening you against trusting the Lord.  Imagine yourself as being so valuable that two warring kingdoms would fight to the death to obtain you.  One wants to exploit you, while the other wants to lavish its love upon you.  One is Egypt and the other is the Lord.

Now, imagine yourself hearing the truth of the gospel, about Jesus’ offering of grace, mercy and forgiveness for all who would repent.  Imagine a growing desire in your heart, to obey the God’s voice…to trust Jesus.

The enemy senses you are about to be won by the Lord, so it offers a compromise: follow God, but not completely.

Don’t buy the lie.  Anything less than complete surrender is not true repentance.  Have you completely surrendered your life to Jesus, or are you still in negotiations?

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins