Dear Family,
Today is Sunday, May 5, 2024. This is Day 1 of Week 2. It is Day 8 in our Count to Pentecost.
Throughout the Scriptures, the Sovereign God reveals that He has numerous prerogatives that are His and His alone. For example, He clearly chooses whom He will call and when He will call them. In essence, that also means that He chooses whom He will not be calling at a particular time. This God-level prerogative is unmistakably and openly demonstrated in the story of the Exodus, especially regarding Pharaoh, who is symbolic of God‛s archenemy, the devil.
Pharaoh and his people lived through some horrific plagues, but he continued to make very bad decisions. He refused to submit to God. The signs and wonders did not persuade him.
Why is that?
Scripture tells us that God “hardened” Pharaoh‛s heart for His own divine purpose. God wanted to show that He is God. Romans 9:17 says God did this so His name would be known throughout the earth.
Many Bible readers have misunderstood the concept of God‛s “hardening” Pharaoh‛s heart.
Let US be sure we do not misunderstand. God knows how to work out His purposes. He has a PLAN!
Notice carefully that Scripture does not say that God created the evil heart in Pharaoh, nor does it say that God forced Pharaoh to make bad choices. God only hardened the heart Pharaoh already had. God knew just how strong evil was growing among the people (Amorites) of the general region and exactly how long it would be for the evil to be full enough to enslave His people. God told Abraham (Genesis 15) about the captivity of his children. He also told Abraham it would be some time before He would deal with this situation because “the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full.”
Further, Scripture also reveals, in several places, that Pharaoh hardened his own heart as well.
Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exodus 8:32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
What God‛s servants MUST remember is that God is just and good; and, He has a generous, marvelous plan to save mankind. According to 2 Peter 3:9 it is not God‛s will that any should perish. We can trust those words!
God has a plan, and some of it is still a mystery to most of mankind. WE are truly privileged for God to have shared so much of it with US now.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God