“But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them.”
--Exodus
8:19
Set before
Pharaoh were the ideal conditions in which to turn to the God of Israel in
belief. God had put before him marvelous acts of his power, even to the extent
that the magicians and sorcerers of the land could not replicate what was
happening. Yet, his heart was hard to all that God was revealing to him. He
pushed away all rational thinking and dug his feet into the ground of defiance.
How many
times have I looked down upon the people who refuse to believe in the name of
God despite having innumerable facts that prove his existence. Yet, throughout
this I have ignored the words of Matthew, “Why do you see the speck that is in
your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (7:3).
I always
claim to believe that God is capable of all things, and deep down inside I
truly believe that He is. Still, there is always this nagging the back of my
mind that His all powerful being must have some limitation.
While I read
through the beginning chapters of Exodus, I started mindlessly reading the part
where God began inflicting the plagues upon the Egyptians. Ever since I was
young I have been taught this story. Numerous times teachers have gone through
the ten plagues, and the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart. But now, I wonder if my
heart is just as hard as Pharaoh, only in a different manner.
Instead of
being blinded to the very existence of God, I am blinded to his power. Instead
of seeing the strength of God through these plagues, I just see a historical
event. Part of the problem lies within my knowledge of the story. I have grown
up learning about Moses, and the plagues. The story is so well known to me.
What about the other stories? What about God raising a valley of dry bones?
What about the countless times Jesus healed the sick? Why is it that I am
continually blinded to the amazing power of my
God? When will I be able to
understand the gravity of the situation?
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