In Moses’s time, the Pharaoh and the rest of the Egyptians had to learn the hard way, when it came to fighting against God’s will. When God told Pharaoh, through Moses and Aaron, to let His people go free, there were warnings after warnings, but each time he hardened his heart. Therefore, God’s plagues were targeted upon him and his people. This was done to wake them up to their sins. First of all, their magicians were only fakes and could only do so much, until they themselves were affected by the plagues. Second, the taskmasters were ruthless and caused great heartache and bondage to be upon God’s people. Therefore, God heard their prayers and these people and others that rejected the Lord’s calling, to let His people go free were in grievous pain and even died because of the boils that formed on their bodies, and the hails + fire that reigned down from the heavens. All this was done, that they may fear the Lord and no longer cause pain to fall upon the children of Israel. Each plague was more fierce then the last one. It even got to the point that the Pharaoh appeared to learn from his evil ways and repent. It is recorded, 1“and Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.” (Exodus 9:27,28) However, after the sky settled and no more hail was left, his heart was hardened again against God. He loved what he had too much, then to give it all up. It was his pride and others that stop them from doing right thing and following God’s will.
It is true that when we fight against God, then there are consequences to our actions. There will be pain and sorrow throughout that person’s life. They will try to find happiness and never be satisfied. Instead, they will continue to do different things in this world that only bring temporary pleasure, but always shame and regret along with it. It is not worth living in addiction to porn, drugs or alcohol. It is also not worth living a sexually immoral life, such as fornicating, committing adultery or being homosexual. Each of these things are grievous sins in the sight of God, and therefore, plagues will fall down upon such people because of this. With sexual sin comes a variety of sexually transmitted diseases, such as Aids. With smoking and other inhalation drugs, comes lung cancer. With getting drunk comes intoxication and death. And even if a person thinks that what they are doing is causing no harm to their health, it is absolutely killing the person’s chances at being saved. Because their hearts are hardened to God, His blessings of salvation and eternal life in heaven is over, lest they repent and come to Jesus. A clean slate through the blood of Christ is necessary while in this life, for a person to be redeemed. Only when we turn from our sins and follow Jesus, are we able to resist temptation. The Lord must be in our life, in order for us to live any differently. Please know that choosing a sinful lifestyle is pushing God away. If this is you, then please know that hell is your destination, lest you choose to change your life and come unto Jesus. Only through Christ can true joy be found in this life and the next. What path will you choose? Jesus or this world?
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people’s hearts will no longer be hardened against You. I know that many people know of Your will for their lives, but have instead resisted it because of their sinful lifestyle. They have not chosen to forfeit the things that You hate and give their heart to You. This is very sad to see this, especially when many of these people proclaim to be Christians. I wish that they would live out what they believe in, but instead, it is only words to them and no action at all. Their faith is meaningless since Your light is not in their lives. Lord, I wish that people would know the urgency of following You. Our time is short in this life and if we don’t make time for You, then other things will become our idols. Surely, dancing around our calling in life is only making a mockery of what You would have for our lives. Every person in Your kingdom is called to be Your child for a reason, and what people are doing is not deserving of being Your child at all. Because these people have a lack of humility and do not desire to give up things that are holding them back, shame and regret will continue to plague their lives. This I know Lord, will cause a barrier between them and You, for the rest of their lives, lest they repent of their sins. A turning unto You in their confessions and following You is necessary for salvation. Thank You for teaching me this principal. I pray that every person that desires to go to heaven will understand this and do what is necessary to be saved. I love You Lord. Nothing is better than following You and obeying Your commands for my life. I love Your ways and can never get enough it. Thank You for leading me safely home. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Exodus 9 (KJV)
1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3 Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4 And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.
5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land.
6 And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
8 And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.
13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s.
30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God.
31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.
