Response to Locusts – Hard Heart

 

Response to Locusts – Hard Heart

Exodus 10: ¹⁶ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. ¹⁷ Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that He may take away from me this death only.” ¹⁸ So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. ¹⁹ And the Lord turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt. ²⁰ But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

 

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For the eighth time, Pharaoh and the land of Egypt was in trouble. Everything green was being eaten and locusts were everywhere. Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and begged them to beg GOD to remove the locusts. GOD sent a strong “west wind” which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh proved he would say anything to get out of trouble, so he lied again about letting the people go.
• GOD sent an opposing wind that blew the locusts away.
• GOD chose to blow the locusts into the Red Sea, a place of significance.

 

As usual, when every locust was gone, Pharaoh believed he was still a god. The one and only true GOD allowed Pharaoh to believe he was a god, which hardened his heart further. In other words, GOD did not try to correct Pharaoh, because Pharaoh was not one of HIS. GOD gently corrects you and me because we listen to HIM. BUT GOD will not correct those who oppose HIM.

 

It is cleat who is in control, namely GOD. Down to the last locus, GOD used wind to rid the nation of the plague. Pharaoh, thinking he was a god, had to ask someone to ask GOD for help. Pharaoh could not say, “Ask my GOD,” because he refused to believe in something more powerful than himself.  GOD was dismantling unhealthy pride in self.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to removing the locusts?
• Is there a part of you that fights GOD and that keeps you from growing into CHRIST?
• When you get your way, are you closer to or further from acting like CHRIST?

Protected while Chastened

Ezekiel 26: ² “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ ³ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.

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Timid in my mannerisms I observed a few people acting silly during class. I had enough of being teased and wanted some positive peer press. When I acted like the disrupters, the teacher quickly got ahold of me and sent me to the principal’s office. When I returned, I faced even more ridicule. The teacher stepped in and said “Next one who laughs gets sent.”

• There were times I received discipline in front of everyone.
• There were times I received discipline at the most embarrassing moment.
• There were times I received discipline when everyone was looking and it seemed like my world was going to crumble.

How come everyone else can do stuff and I have to be the “goody two shoes?” I asked. The explanation actually surprised me. “You can be special if you act special.” The teacher was rescuing me from myself, at the same time she held off those who would pummel me on the playground.

• GOD says to me “MY rod and MY staff will comfort you” meaning HE will chasten me but only so much.
• GOD says to me “Spare the rod, spoil the child” meaning HE will not hesitate to discipline HIS own children but only so much.
• GOD says to me “I gave my only SON to be murdered on your behalf” meaning those who oppose the SON and who think they can take over are dead wrong!

GOD did not spare HIS one and only SON so I know HE will not hesitate to discipline me for some of the stupid things I do. BUT GOD does not crush me to the point of extinction. HE still has a purpose for me so HE dusts me off and picks me back up to continue. HE also does something marvelous. Those who try to kick me when I am down are not only blocked, BUT GOD goes after them with a vengeance.

HE raises HIS hand and says “NO” to those who desire to do harm to me, then HE takes them down in the process in hopes they will turn back to HIM as well. GOD only wants me to act like the special person HE created. Be holy because I AM holy.

• Are you acting out?
• Are you pouting and want some attention?
• Can you let GOD change your heart so you can act like the special person HE created?

Return from Exile as Good

Jeremiah 24: ² One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

³ Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁵ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. ⁶ My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. ⁷ I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

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Doing wrong seemed a bit harder this time. I had rededicated my life to CHRIST and I wanted to follow HIS ways further. I studied more and took the words to heart. But every once in a while I just wanted to act like a child and get “my” way. I would do a “little” sin. As soon as I would do something, it seemed like punishment would happen right away. “Wait a minute GOD, Didn’t I serve you last year and didn’t I do x y z?”

• There are times when GOD chastens me.
• There are times when GOD allows me to have consequences of my actions.
• There are times when GOD lets me have wounds from the things I do.

When going into “exile” I act as if I do not deserve consequence. I pout and try to justify my sinful actions as if to say, “Give me a break, don’t YOU realize I am good?” to GOD. HE wants me to have the same attitude when I enter exile as the one when I return.

• GOD wants me to praise HIM for HIS guidance even when it means I have to experience HIS chastening.
• GOD wants me to be excited that HE is willing to correct me and not leave me in my old ways.
• GOD wants me to see that HE “is” watching over me even when I have been exiled.

Instead of saying “GOD are YOU here?” I should say “Thank YOU for watching over me!” I should know HE is building me up not tearing me down. GOD is giving me a heart to know HIM and I know HE loves me!

• Do you feel distant from GOD?
• Do you feel like GOD is punishing you?
• Can you take the dry season and allow GOD wo remold you into HIS own image?
• Will you praise GOD no matter what circumstance you are in?