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the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them…”

There comes a point when you’ve heard the gospel so much you become numb to it, that’s a dangerous place to be. So many have the mistaken impression of “cheap grace” where they are under the mistaken view that they can live however they want and then at the list minute, on their “death bed,” they can repent and ask for forgiveness and all will be will. It just doesn’t work like that. Oh, sure. Any cry of repentance, even from a death bed, will be heard and accepted by the Lord… but that assumes you’ll get that opportunity. The longer you reject the Jesus the harder your heart gets. Living your life in rebellion to God gives you a rebellious heart. A rebellious heart is the kind that would not allow you to repent at the end, you could be your worst enemy, you could cost yourself eternity. Besides, if you go into sin thinking you’ll repent later, you don’t really have a repentant heart, and God doesn’t forgive the unrepentant. There are no “loop holes.” Follow Jesus.

Let my people go, that they may serve me.

There was a second plague. I don’t know about you, but I would have been convinced after the Nile, all of life for Egypt, was turned to blood. Not so for Pharaoh, his heart was hard. You cannot convince those who do not wish to be convinced, so don’t try. I’m not saying “don’t be convincing” I’m just saying that we need not feel the weight of having to change someone’s mind. It’s only our job to clearly communicate the gospel, it’s up to them to receive it. I can’t make someone believe, but I surely will do all I can and leave the rest up to Jesus.

Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

“But what if they don’t believe me?” They probably won’t, but even if they don’t, that doesn’t mean we don’t speak the truth. The people of Israel were not able to receive the words of Moses because they were caught-up in their own struggles. It’s the same today. People have a tough time with life. They are not always, perhaps not usually, ready to accept the gospel the first time they come in contact with him. Keep telling the story. It will get through, besides, we don’t proclaim the gospel just to those who will receive it, we tell it to everyone… that’s what the Great Commission tells us to do… right? Let’s do it!

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”

The thing that most often holds us back from telling other people about Jesus is ourselves. We talk ourselves out of telling the good news. “They don’t want to hear that…” “They’ll think I’m weird…” “They wouldn’t come to my church…” so? What does it hurt to give an invitation? Why not let your light shine? Isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do? Then, let’s do it. 

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

Politics change as leaders come and go. Just because you had favor in the past isn’t a reason to give-up when you are opposed. In fact, we should expect to be opposed, that’s the norm. We get comfortable living in a place of religious freedom, and as a Southern Baptist, Religious Freedom is part of who I am, yet it’s not the end-all-be-all. We need to focus on how to effectively carry out God’s will in the midst of persecution, and not wait, hoping, one day, we will get a leader who will let us do what we want. God’s people have always gone back to their core in the midst of hardship… make sure when trials come, you run to the King, not just pray for a new leader.