As pigheaded as Pharaoh

Posted on October 16, 2005 by waynem

I have been continuing with my journey through the Book of Exodus, the second book in the Bible. I’m in the section with all the plagues, you know, snakes, bloody water, frogs, flys, gnats, boils (eeeeewwwww), locusts, the whole thing. As I go through this section of scripture, I get thoughts like man this Pharaoh must be a real jerk and a complete idiot. It is so easy to put ourselves on the side of the good guys and be heroes like Moses. But the reality sets in.

While it is true that throughout this whole section of scripture you keep hearing the phrase

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them 2 that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD."

So God was working supernaturally on Pharaoh here in a way that frankly I can not understand. By the way if you run across anyone that says they have this interaction with God and Pharaoh all figured out, run away!!! This person is probably in a cute. But, I digress. God has done something to make Pharaoh act against God.

But In chapter eight and other places we also see v32 “But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.” So Pharaoh was also an actor in the hardening of his own heart. Pharaoh wanted to act against God. He was prideful and he desired power and control for his Kingdom.

But the reality that sets in is that I am just like Pharaoh. My heart is hard like Pharaoh’s in so many ways. I want to be in control of my world. I want to be the master of my own universe. I want to be god.

The reality of the situation shakes me to my core. I am not the hero like Moses I am the villain. I am as pigheaded as Pharaoh. I deserve everything that Pharaoh and Egypt received.

Then Ephesians 1:7 comes to me, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."

This is indeed my only hope.

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About waynem

As a Minnesota based photographer and artist I have been greatly influenced by the Upper Midwest. I focus my skills and energies on portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, architectural and fine art work. My best work comes from images first painted in my mind. I mull over a prospective image for weeks or months, seeing it from different angles and perspectives, then finally deciding what to capture. The result is images that deeply touch people's emotions and powerfully evoke memories and dreams. My images are used commercially by companies and organizations ranging from Financial Services firms, mom and pop Ice Cream shops and The Basilica of St Mary to communicate their shared vision and values. Book and magazine publishers have featured my images on their covers. My photographs also grace and enhance the decor of many fine homes.
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3 Responses to As pigheaded as Pharaoh

  1. unclebenjamin says:
    October 16, 2005 at 9:18 am

    Almost everyone in the Bible hardens their heart against God’s will. I read Jonah last night. After getting a second chance his heart gets hard again in just a few days. Peter’s heart got hard from fear in a few hours. We are lucky for God’s blood and his grace.

  2. Natalie Jost says:
    October 16, 2005 at 8:30 pm

    That’s a great post, Wayne! It’s amazing, but I wrote about the very same thing. What some miss I think is that the hardening is so different from the hardening of many other hearts because GOD hardened his heart purposefully.
    I did a trackback for my post, but in case it doesn’t work…
    http://10ft2ft.com/?p=62

  3. Lyn says:
    October 17, 2005 at 10:57 am

    I think Typepad is having trouble with pings, so my ping didn’t get through, but I did mention you in my inaugural open trackback buffet. Thanks for your thoughts and candor on Pharoah. lgp

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