Day 18

No One Said It Would Be Easy

Read: Exodus 5-7

Moses’ attempt to do what God wants runs into stiff resistance from Pharaoh. He has an arrogant attitude toward Moses but also toward God. There are people like that today. From this biblical story, we see that such people are in big trouble. How do frail human beings dare rebel against Almighty God. Yet they do. Let us be sure we are not one of them.

Things often get worse before they get better. So it is for the Israelites. Instead of being let go, their situation worsens. Who is ahead at the end of the first inning in a baseball game is not very important; it’s who is ahead at the end of the ninth that counts. Never forget that.

God told them he is “the LORD,” that is Yahweh, the God who is the constant One, who has made a covenant of grace with his people and who will keep that covenant. Things may be difficult, but you can depend on God. You may not be able to depend on yourself or on other people, but you can depend on God, the faithful One who keeps his covenant promises to his people.

Meeting with the ruler of Egypt comes next. Pharaoh hardens his heart. What is the punishment? God further hardens his heart. Often God does not hurl thunderbolts against sinners; he just lets them harden in sin, which brings sure punishment.

PRAYER
Father, no matter how difficult things may be for us today, give us faith to know that in the end all will be well as we trust you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.