TOPIC: “Half-hearted Repentance“

Text:  Exodus 9:27-35

27. And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

28. Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thundering and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

29. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’S.

30. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

31. And the flax and the barley was smitten; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

32. But the wheat and the rie were not smitten; for they were not grown up.

33. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

34. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

35. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

KEY VERSE: Exodus 9:27

“And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.”

MESSAGE

The king of Egypt maltreated the Hebrews with hurting impunity and had settled within himself that the Israelites would serve the Egyptians forever. The fact that there was a personality coming to negotiate the freedom of the Jews was unwelcoming to Pharaoh. The stand of the king of Egypt was hard, rigid and final, as far as he was concerned.

However, little did Pharaoh realize that he had drawn a dangerous line of battle for himself with the Lord of the Hebrews whom he scorned and refused to recognize. Gradually, hell broke loose on the Egyptians with repeated plagues, which came upon them in quick successions until God unleashed upon them the plague of hailstone mingled with very grievous fire, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

Pharaoh’s position in the ensuing conflict had led to devastating defeats and plundering of Egypt with many of his people crying out aloud about the damage their nation had suffered and continued to suffer for his stubborn stand on this matter. Pharaoh’s repentance in the past and present were deceitful and the servants of God – Moses and Aaron – knew beforehand that the worst must happen to Pharaoh before he would let Israel go.

Rebellious sinners and backsliders should know that nobody has ever contended with the Lord and prevailed. The only viable option for salvation, life and peace is for the sinner to repent genuinely and turn unto the Lord God of heaven in spirit and in truth.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
It is unwise to dare God.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Corinthians 8-11

Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM). It is an extraction of God’s Word designed to draw the sincere seeker closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.