Response to Frogs – Hard Heart

 

Response to Frogs – Hard Heart

Exodus 8: ⁸ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”

 

⁹ And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”

 

¹⁰ So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. ¹¹ And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

 

¹² Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. ¹³ So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. ¹⁴ They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. ¹⁵ But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

 

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Frogs were everywhere. Pharaoh begged Moses to pray to the LORD to remove the frogs. He said he would let the people go if the frogs went away. Moses prayed to the LORD and GOD did what Moses said.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was in trouble and said whatever it would take to get out of trouble.
• Pharaoh did not ask his magicians to get rid of the frogs.
• GOD revealed HE listened to Moses.

 

Seeing his land become overrun with frogs, Pharaoh lied to get his way. We have done the same thing when we told GOD “I will never do that again.” Moses prayed to the LORD and may have even specifically said, “Leave the frogs in the house and let them die there.” GOD listened to Moses’s prayer and killed the frogs.

 

Pharaoh, who made additional work for the Hebrews, now had to clean up frogs. The Egyptian people had to have seen the futility in praying to the frog god. They also had just spent an entire week digging for water that had turned to blood. They were tired and their houses and land stank with dead frog smell. Pharaoh’s response was a hard heart, which meant he did not care that his people were tired, nor would he let the Hebrews go.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to the frog plague?
• Have you ever promised something to GOD and took back your promise when you got relief?
• Can you see the value in keeping your promises to the LORD?

Filled Words

Filled Words

James 5: ¹² Above all, my friends, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Say only “Yes” when you mean yes, and “No” when you mean no, and then you will not come under God's judgment.

 

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“I’ll call you” were my empty words I used when I was moving too fast. I had all the intention of following up, but simply forgot. The same happened when I said I would pray for a person, or pass on the message of hello.

 

• I found that I used empty words more than I thought.
• I had the best intentions, but I did not take into account becoming overwhelmed.
• I was not malicious in using empty words, but they were still empty, nonetheless.

 

James attempts to address one aspect of character, namely avoiding making promises that may or may not be kept. He implies that promises go before GOD and each one will be held accountable. He then suggests, to provide an answer without making empty promises.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to make promises to HIM, but only the ones I will keep.
• Promises should be made sparingly, otherwise I will be held accountable for something I may or may not do.
• Saying “I may not be able to do this” is better than trying to make someone feel good by empty words.

 

Using empty promises to make a person feel good is a problem. I mean, saying “I will pray” or “I will call” as examples, only raises the recipients hopes up. But when I don’t follow through, the problem then falls on me for not having done so. GOD wants me to change my empty words.

 

HE wants me to say “Yes” or “No” and let the person who asked for something, know that I will or will not fulfill the request. This part of character is called reliability. I am glad GOD is always reliable in what HE says and does.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about making an oath?
• Have you ever made a small promise to do something, but simply forgot to do it?
• Have you ever wanted other people to do something and he or she forgot?
• Will you fill your words up with a solid “yes” or “no” so people can see your reliability for the purpose of understanding how serious GOD takes promises today?

Reason for Promise

 

Reason for Promise

Hebrews 6: ¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, he made a vow to do what he had promised. Since there was no one greater than himself, he used his own name when he made his vow. ¹⁴ He said, “I promise you that I will bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ Abraham was patient, and so he received what God had promised. 

 

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“I will pick you up at 7” were the words I depended on. But when 7 rolled around, I was not picked up. “Oh my goodness, I forgot” was the real, but hurtful statement.

 

• I felt let down.
• I was a little frustrated.
• I wanted to say something, but had nothing to say.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, mentions a promise made to Abraham. He also provides assurance that GOD’s promises are so great, that nothing can stop it. Abraham received GOD’s blessing, only because GOD was faithful.

 

My Observations:

• When I need assurance, GOD gives me HIS promises.
• When I feel lost and alone, GOD promises to be with me.
• When I need encouragement, GOD is there to promise HIS delivery.

 

GOD has nothing to prove. I mean, HE is the most powerful, all knowing being who lives everywhere. I believe the reason HE promises so much, is to give us assurance that HE will remain with us even when we don’t believe it.

 

HIS love is powerful and HIS grace sufficient. HE can and will do HIS plan , and nothing, now anyone can stop it. I am glad GOD promises to love me and there is nothing that can change it!

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer mention Abraham’s promise?
• Have you ever been disappointed when someone promised you something but did not keep the promise?
• Have you ever broken your promise?
• Will you consider that GOD’s plan for you is great and unwavering, so you can have assurance today?

Times of Plenty

Jeremiah 34: ⁹ Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage. ¹⁰ So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. ¹¹ But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.

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“LORD, I will never do that again” were my words of fear. I had come through a trial and did not want to go back through another one like it. I decided I would not sin at all, not even the littlest sin. I mean, if JESUS could spend HIS whole life without committing a single sin, I certainly could for the rest of my life. After dropping off old habits things seemed to be going well for me. “You should stop sinning” were my immature words of judgement as I tried to get others to have what “I” had.

• It is sinful to think I can be sinless.
• It is sinful to think others need to clean up their act.
• It is sinful to think my righteousness keeps GOD’s wrath at bay.

I traded one sin for another, namely blindness. I had declared myself righteous and had not stopped to ask GOD what pleases HIM. When I realized what I had done, I returned to old sins. Now I was confused. BUT GOD straightened me out.

• GOD said to me “While your righteousness is like filthy rags, MY righteousness is pure.”
• GOD said to me “Turn from your sins without turning to yourself.”
• GOD said to me “Live your life a living sacrifice that all may go well with you.”

I soon realized that I was trying to manipulate GOD instead of serving HIM. GOD wants me to deny sinful indulgences “for” HIM, not to protect myself “from” HIM. When the trial is over I have to be on my guard even more. I should be hypersensitive to being susceptible to sins of puffing myself up and a judgmental attitude. And when I sin, I should keep my promises to GOD even though I feel sorry for myself. GOD is there to forgive and it is up to me to have the right attitude that pleases HIM.

• Are you experiencing GOD’s wonderful time of peace in your life?
• Do you feel you earned HIS peace?
• Will you take off your blinders and realize you are a sinner and GOD’s mercy is a gift?
• Will you stop trying to earn GOD’s love and accept HIS wonderful gift of freedom from sin?
• Will you keep your promises with HIM so all will go well with you?