Home
|
|
|
|
|
You know, when trying to compare yourself to someone in the Bible, most people try to find a great hero. Some people would like to be like Elijah, a great and wonderful prophet of the Lord. Some people would like to be like Jesus himself, the greatest leader of them all. Still others would like to be like Moses, leading God's people into the promised land. While wanting to be like any of these is in no way wrong, it is also wise to look at someone whom we are truly like. So, when trying to find someone I am like often, well, I found the Pharaoh. No, I am not a big, powerful person viewed as next to God like Pharaoh was, but I do have something in common with him - I am faced with decisions to make and fight the temptation to look back into the past.
I. The Choice You see, Pharaoh had a choice. The Lord was going to be praised and the people would know that God is the Lord (Exodus 6:7) regardless of his choice, but he had a choice. His choice? To either obey God or not to obey God. Let's do some comparison... God Then = God Today Moses and Aaron = Teachers, preachers, anyone else spreading the Word God's plea, "Let my people go." = God's plea, "Repent, come unto me, I will give you rest." Pharaoh's choice = Our choices
II. The Story See, as the story goes... God showed Himself through incredible signs: 1. Aaron's staff becomes a snake and eats the other snakes (Exe. 7). 2. Water is turned into blood (Exe. 7). 3. Frogs cover the land (Exe. 8). 4. Insects plague the land (Exe 8). 5. Cattle die (Exe. 9) 6. Boils cover people's bodies (Exe 9). 7. Hail beats down on the land (Exe 9). 8. Locusts plague the land (Exe 10). 9. Darkness covers the land (Exe 10). 10. Firstborn children dies (Exe11&12).
Finally, after the final plague, Pharaoh submitted and obeyed God. Here's the catcher, though. Pharaoh looked back. Possibly Pharaoh remembered that he had a good thing going with all those slaves and didn't want to give them up. After all, he had things to build and lands to conquer. Maybe Pharaoh's servants spoke to him, reminding him that he is the most powerful ruler of the earth. I don't know. But what I do know is that he looked back (Exe 14:5). Imagine how awesome it would have been if Pharaoh simply had done what God wanted him to do.
III. The Question When you look back over your life, do you have any regrets? Are you ashamed of anything? Do you laugh at any of your memories? What do you see when you look back? Pharaoh went back on his word, chased down the Israelites and was destroyed in the waters (Exe. 14). Here's the question you have to think about: Will you do what the Lord asks?
Use freely, adding or taking away as you feel needed. I do ask, however, you acknowledge where you found the lesson. Thanks. - Sunnydale Jay Hyde
|
