Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave." Exodus 11:1
Throughout our study of Scripture in these daily devotions, we have often been reminded that all sin has devastating consequences. The separation from God is the most devastating consequence, certainly, but we will also face other heartbreaking consequences on earth for our sin as well. The Egyptians in the book of Exodus who enslaved the people of Israel, certainly learned that when their sinful actions caught up with them.
We learn in the book of Exodus that when Moses went to Pharaoh, urging him to free the people of Israel from slavery. Despite Moses' urging, Pharaoh refused to free them. Because of this, God caused plagues to happen among the people of Egypt. This ranged from an outpouring of frogs, water turning into blood, lice, and many more horrific plagues that fell on the Egyptians. Still, Pharaoh refused. Finally, God said to Moses, "I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave" (Exodus 11:1). This final plague was the death of every first-born son of all Egyptian families. Can you imagine the heartbreak throughout Egypt when this happened? They could have avoided such pain if Pharaoh had only obeyed God's command through Moses. In the same way, we can avoid consequences from sin if we listen to God and obey Him.
Have you been giving in to sin, believing that you can give in to that sin without facing any consequences? Sin will always have heartbreaking consequences. It is time to walk away from that sin, with the help of God and others around you, including professionals, if you need extra help. Turn away from your sin and turn back to Him. It is never too late.
Pharaoh could have avoided much pain if only he had obeyed the command from God to let the Hebrew people free from slavery. Instead, he faced plague after plague. Let's not take our cue from Pharaoh; we can do better. Take a few moments and ask yourself what God is calling you to do. Is there something you have been putting off? Is there a sin in your life that you are not taking seriously? It's time right now to take steps toward obedience today.
Read Exodus 11:1-10 (NLT)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave. Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” (Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)
Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.
Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave the country.
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