Exodus 8; Luke 11; Job 25–26; 1 Corinthians 12
Have you ever read a Bible story from the other point of view? I am betting that when you read today’s Word, you chose one, or two of the characters to identify with. Take Exodus 8, for example. When I read it, I am Aaron or Moses, of course. Why? Because Pharaoh is an idiot. He intentionally sabotages the work of God for his own gain. I want to be on God’s side, so I stay as far away from Pharaoh as possible. Until, I intentionally read the story as Pharaoh.
Like Pharaoh, all of us will experience pain and discomfort in our lives. Now, we probably will not experience the stink of dead frogs gathered in heaps, or swarms of flies, but we will have something from which we need relief. What do we do? We turn to God. We ask him for relief, for help and for provisions. When real desperation shows up, we begin to offer God anything that he wants. We will do whatever it takes, if he would just take it away. And then it’s gone. The pain subsides.
The true test of our lives shows up not just in the time of distress, but also in the time of relief. Like Pharaoh, it is easy for me to commit to God when I need something. I know deep down that he can provide it. The hard part is maintaining that faith when I don’t need him. This is exactly what happens in verse 15. As soon as there was relief from the frogs, Pharaoh moved his own direction and worked toward his own gain.
So am I like Pharaoh or Aaron and Moses? I know what I want the answer to be, but I am afraid of what the answer is. The realization that there is darkness in my heart leaves me with two options. The first leads to a dark place that I’d prefer not to talk about, the other is filled with grace and love. It is at the foot of the cross. It is a reminder that even though I have sinned, I have hope. I have hope, I am given new life, because of one sacrifice that was perfect and complete.