Something to think about as you start a new week

“You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ Exodus 13:8

Israel was taught to tell the story
Of what the Lord had done.
The exodus was never meant to become dry history.
It was vibrant and personal.

It is a testimony.
You shall tell.
You shall say,
“It is because of what the Lord did for me.”

Things used to be one way
“I was a slave.”
The Lord intervened.
Now things are different.
“I am free.”

The exodus was amazing and miraculous.
It was God’s direct action.
His mighty hand.
There was no doubt, no question
He saved His people from bondage.

But the exodus is a type.
We were held in bondage to sin.
Through God’s direct action,
His mighty hand.
Jesus Christ saved us.

I was lost.
Jesus intervened.
Now I’m saved.

Now, that’s a testimony.
Vibrant and personal.

Do we tell it?

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. Exodus 12:37-38

A mixed multitude
These were not descendants of Jacob
But they saw the miracles
The mighty hand of God
And they wanted to be counted with the winning side.

Later in Numbers
Wandering in the wilderness
They were among the first to complain
About God’s great provision
And they spread discontent among God’s people

It still happens today.
People attach to body of Christ
They say the right words,
They want to be on the winning side,
But they spread discontent among God’s people.

Through the parable of the sower,
And experience itself,
We know that when things grow difficult,
When the way leads through the wilderness
The mixed multitude will be the first to walk away.

Don’t join them.

Pharaoh retorted, “The LORD will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan. Exodus 10:10

In Exodus 10, Moses is just doing as God instructed.
He is courageously confronting the Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s advisors are tired of Moses
They’re tired of the plagues, and the destruction and the suffering.

But when Moses asks one more time to let the people go,
Pharaoh responds with sarcasm and mockery.

Not only that, he accused Moses of the worst motives.
Pharaoh believed he was a living god,
And that he could see exactly what was going on.

So don’t be surprised, or insulted, or scandalized,
If, when you’re just doing what God said,
You meet with resistance and opposition,
Sarcasm, mockery, and even false accusations.

Instead, know that God is at work.
Stay faithful.
Because God is the only one
Who sees through the plans and schemes
And He sees us through as well.

But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Exodus 8:15

A respite is an interval of rest or relief.
Granted, Pharaoh was a pagan,
But he had asked Moses to pray
That God would remove the frogs

God did.

But Pharaoh’s response
was not one of thanks
Or relief
Or even acknowledgment.

He hardened his heart.

How do we, God’s people, respond
When He answers our earnest prayers
For help, for rest, for relief
For respite?

Honestly.
Are we entitled?
Do we demand more?
Do we complain about His timing?

That is, do we harden our hearts?

Hardheartedness is not just for pagans.
Let’s guard against it.