God's Purpose in Raising up Pharaoh
Have you ever wondered why God raises up some leaders and why He allows others to come to power? All rulers are ordained by God, so He either raises them up or allows them to be in power for a reason. He told Pharaoh why He had raised him up as ruler of Egypt.(Exodus 9:15,16) We would do well to hear what God said to Pharaoh.
God could have set the children of Israel free from their bondage in Egypt by striking the whole country of Egypt with one pestilence. It would have been simple for God. However, He raised up Pharaoh, and He used 10 plagues for a reason. He wanted to show His power and declare His name in all the earth. What better way than to bring the most powerful ruler and country in the world to their knees. It was all in God's plan.
Now, some people think God was unfair, because He hardened Pharaoh's heart in the process of showing His power. The last time I studied this passage God showed me something wonderful about that. God did not force Pharaoh to have a hard heart like some people suppose. He knew Pharaoh's pride and stubborn nature, so when He sent Moses He told Moses to do a series of things that would bring out that pride without coercing Pharaoh to do anything. Did you ever notice that Pharaoh's magicians could reproduce all three of the signs God gave Moses to work before Pharaoh? God knew they could do those things. They were an opportunity for Pharaoh to set Himself against God and have confidence in His chances of defeating Him. Then, the first two plagues were duplicated by the magicians, too. It was not until the plague of the lice that the magicians admitted, "This is the finger of God." By that time Pharaoh would not turn back, so God could carry out all of the plagues and show His power and His name to the whole earth.
I believe God is so wise and so powerful that He can always carry out His purpose without forcing us to do anything. That is a great truth about how God works. If we will just renounce our pride and stubborn hearts at any time, He is ready to change us and make us new. He would have done that for Pharaoh, too, but Pharaoh would not listen.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 11-13.
God could have set the children of Israel free from their bondage in Egypt by striking the whole country of Egypt with one pestilence. It would have been simple for God. However, He raised up Pharaoh, and He used 10 plagues for a reason. He wanted to show His power and declare His name in all the earth. What better way than to bring the most powerful ruler and country in the world to their knees. It was all in God's plan.
Now, some people think God was unfair, because He hardened Pharaoh's heart in the process of showing His power. The last time I studied this passage God showed me something wonderful about that. God did not force Pharaoh to have a hard heart like some people suppose. He knew Pharaoh's pride and stubborn nature, so when He sent Moses He told Moses to do a series of things that would bring out that pride without coercing Pharaoh to do anything. Did you ever notice that Pharaoh's magicians could reproduce all three of the signs God gave Moses to work before Pharaoh? God knew they could do those things. They were an opportunity for Pharaoh to set Himself against God and have confidence in His chances of defeating Him. Then, the first two plagues were duplicated by the magicians, too. It was not until the plague of the lice that the magicians admitted, "This is the finger of God." By that time Pharaoh would not turn back, so God could carry out all of the plagues and show His power and His name to the whole earth.
I believe God is so wise and so powerful that He can always carry out His purpose without forcing us to do anything. That is a great truth about how God works. If we will just renounce our pride and stubborn hearts at any time, He is ready to change us and make us new. He would have done that for Pharaoh, too, but Pharaoh would not listen.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 11-13.