Exodus 9 God Knows the Hearts of men
Exodus chapter 9 reveals the struggle between Moses and Pharaoh. It can be a difficult passage to understand.
Years ago my husband and I sat at his fathers bedside during his last few days on earth. His mother had died a few years before so it was an exhausting emotional time for all of us. Stan had been sharing the Gospel message with his dad hoping that in these last few days he would finally hear and respond.
Stan's father had a close friend that was also in the room, so he was hearing the message as well as Stan repeated the words to his dad. He was drifting in and out so Stan was never sure how much he was taking in. At one point Stan turned to his fathers friend and said "what do you think of all this?"
His response haunts me to this day. He answered with no hesitation. He said "well I guess well find out, but if there is a God, Ill face Him when I get there." It gave me chills. However all the pleading and debating in the world was not going to open this man's eyes. Only God would know when and how to get through to this him.
We let it go and continue to whisper words of love from God to his father.
The mystery of God opening peoples eyes to his truth is more than I can understand. What I can do is obey when He asks me to speak, be quiet when He doesn't and trust He knows men's hearts.
Romans 9:14-20New International Version (NIV)
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
Exodus 9:19-21New International Version (NIV)
19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”
20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.
Exodus 9:12New International Version (NIV)
12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.
God will be acknowledge and praised. He gives everyone the opportunity to turn to Him, and to choose the consequences if they do not, but make no mistake in the end, every knee will bow in heaven and on earth.
Philippians 2:9-10
DIG DEEPER:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+9&version=NIV
Years ago my husband and I sat at his fathers bedside during his last few days on earth. His mother had died a few years before so it was an exhausting emotional time for all of us. Stan had been sharing the Gospel message with his dad hoping that in these last few days he would finally hear and respond.
Stan's father had a close friend that was also in the room, so he was hearing the message as well as Stan repeated the words to his dad. He was drifting in and out so Stan was never sure how much he was taking in. At one point Stan turned to his fathers friend and said "what do you think of all this?"
His response haunts me to this day. He answered with no hesitation. He said "well I guess well find out, but if there is a God, Ill face Him when I get there." It gave me chills. However all the pleading and debating in the world was not going to open this man's eyes. Only God would know when and how to get through to this him.
We let it go and continue to whisper words of love from God to his father.
The mystery of God opening peoples eyes to his truth is more than I can understand. What I can do is obey when He asks me to speak, be quiet when He doesn't and trust He knows men's hearts.
SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER:
John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.Romans 9:14-20New International Version (NIV)
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[b] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Exodus 9:19-21New International Version (NIV)
19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”
20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.
Exodus 9:12New International Version (NIV)
12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Philippians 2:9-10
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth
DIG DEEPER:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+9&version=NIV
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