“He wants men everywhere to search for Him with all their hearts, and if they do so, they will find Him, because He is not far away. He overlooked our past ignorance. But now He expects people everywhere to turn to Him and change their ways.” – Acts 17:27, 30 ClearWord
Ever have that feeling when you know you’re doing something wrong and you realize you’re sinning but don’t want to give it up just yet? God is trying to transform our lives, but we can’t seem to let go of this! Stubbornness is a part of every human’s life; one person we could see living this dangerous characteristic was Pharaoh.
I’m sure we are all familiar with the story of Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians. 10 plagues were placed upon the Egyptians...9 of which Pharaoh would not budge...I don’t know about you, but I’m sure I would have been convinced that Moses’ God was the God of all gods when the first plague hit and the ENTIRE Nile River turned to blood. Blood, frogs, gnats, flies, killing of all livestock, festering sores, hail (wiping out everything), locusts, 3 days of utter darkness, and lastly the death of all firstborn sons...only the last of which Pharaoh surrendered. He was the king of obstinacy.
I heard a sermon by my father, of which he borrowed ideas from other pastors that made me think of the frogs the people had to deal with. There weren’t just a few toads here and there...but, it says in Exodus 8:3, 4, “They will come into your bedroom and even into your bed...They’ll get into the kitchens, brick ovens, and all over the baking pans. They’ll jump on you...whether you’re sitting up or lying down.” Pharaoh called back to Moses and Aaron to take the frogs away, and they simply responded they’d pray and just like that, the frogs would disappear; all Pharaoh had to do was say the word, yet his response was...tomorrow. TOMORROW!? It was driving everyone bonkers and God was willing to eliminate the frogs immediately, but Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow. I’ll take one more night with the frogs.”
How many times have we said, “Just one more night. I know it’s unhealthy, I know it’s wrong, I know it’s hurting me, I know it’s sin...but I want just one more night! One more night with my personal bitterness, with my stubborn self, with my refusal to forgive, with my evil desires...just one more night! I’ll stop sinning Lord!!! ...Tomorrow.” We tend to find ourselves famous for what we’re going to do tomorrow. Hebrews 3:7, 8 says, “TODAY when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.” When the plea comes asking to give your life to Christ today, or fully surrender your life, talents, and money to God’s glory today, most people realize and know they should, plan on doing it sometime...but fail to do so and put it off until tomorrow.
Hardening your heart is the most dangerous thing a person can ever do. If God is working, blessing, and protecting, yet you are still solidifying your heart, that’s as serious as it gets. Why should we want one more night with the frogs? The Lord is waiting right now for us to turn from our sins and stop waiting for that day we like to call “tomorrow”. If today God is stirring repentance or conviction in your heart and you hear God’s voice speaking to you, don’t harden your heart but repent of your sins. Come to Jesus, accept and obey Him, and follow His path so that you too may be saved while there’s still time left.