Prayer: Father, today’s reading reminds me of the days when I too sought Your forgiveness, only to start the week off just like I had so many weeks before. You honor a sincere, repentant heart with forgiveness and mercy which endures. Thank You for Your longsuffering, patient, merciful ways. Amen.
Reading: Exodus 10 key: vs. 16-17
16 Then Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against Adonai your God and against you. 17 Now forgive my sin, only this once, please! So pray to Adonai your God—just so He would take this death away from me!”
Attention: In my inaugural ministry position, I served in a church which had a man who served as a deacon and as the treasurer. He was also a businessman who owned his own construction company. I was still attending college nearly full time and I had been hired, knowing that schooling was still to be completed. I’m not sure what changed in his life or what was going on in his life, but one day about one year into our affiliation, this man approached the deacon board about installing a time clock, primarily for me as the only hired staff.
The pastor could see where this was headed. He was receiving reports of this man inviting members of the church to Sunday lunch after worship and bending their ear about my not spending 40 hours a week on the job. I should add, he also lived directly across the street so he could easily monitor my comings and goings.
It was a short while after the start of his campaign against me that he suffered a medical condition and needed heart surgery. He and his family were all concerned about his health and of course called upon the Senior Pastor and associate (me) to visit him in the hospital and pray for him. All was well during his recovery and for a while afterward, but soon he was back to his old ways.
He reminds me of Pharoah, who a couple times now, begged for forgiveness, admitting his sin (vs. 16) but as soon as the emergency is past, he returns to the same unrelenting, hardness of heart.
My question to you, is the character study of Pharaoh, an example of your own heart story of relationship with Adonai? Do you run to Adonai or your pastor, crying and sorry, but not really repentant? Like Pharoah, you feel you are past the crisis and no longer in fear or danger for your life?
I might remind you that the very next crisis in Pharaoh’s life is death. He is soon to discover that Adonai is not playing with him any longer. Adonai is longsuffering. He has given Pharoah nine opportunities to relent and repent. How many opportunities to repent does Adonai need to give you?
Action: I will repent today and live my life in earnest unto the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Yield: I recognized Adonai as the sovereign King.
Engage: I engage with the Holy Spirit as He mentors me.
Relationship: I pray daily that Adonai order my steps and bring God-planned appointments.
Prayer: Father, may my heart always be soft and workable in Your hands. Make me and mold me, transform me to Your will. Amen.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 64:7
7 But now, Adonai, You are our Father.
We are the clay and You are our potter,
We are all the work of Your hand.
Music Video: Casting Crowns—God of All My Days https://youtu.be/nVN070kSruE
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”