Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” Exodus 9:27-30 NASB
There are moments of clarity in life that come about when we are rescued from certain disaster. I know God has intervened to save me more often than I realize. When I am aware, I become keenly aware of my frailty, sinfulness, His righteousness and His mercy. Pharaoh had that moment. When the hail had destroyed nearly everything in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh realized three truths: 1) I am a sinner 2) The Lord alone is righteous 3) My people are wicked. This is the type of recognition that leads one closer to the heart of our loving God. Unfortunately, for Pharaoh, this moment of clarity was just that… a moment. If only he had continued in repentance, much heartache could have been avoided. America is at a watershed moment. We need clarity about our own sin, need for a righteous God and collective wickedness.
When have I had these important moments? How long has the resulting repentance lasted? What tends to cloud my mind, cool my fire for serving God, or distracts me from His divine purposes?
God, as this Saturday begins- its going to be a ‘hot’ one. Please protect our elderly and remind their families to check in on them. As I consider our nation, I pray the night time rioting (so called protesting) will come to an end. Give people a moment of clarity as they look more at their own sin, than the mistakes of others. Help people trust our justice system and one another. I pray for peace, but I am not optimistic Lord. So, begin in me.
