Scripture

But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn.

Observation

The plagues continue, with all livestock dying, except that belonging to the Israelites. A plague of festering boils follows, and then the worst storm in history destroys the crops of flax and barley.

Pharaoh sees the destruction and pretends to repent. He pleads with Moses to stop the rain and hail. Moses agrees, but says, “I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord.”

Moses lifts his hands to the Lord, and the storm ends. Pharaoh again becomes stubborn, and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

Application

At the height of the storm, Pharaoh confesses that he has sinned against God and promises to let the Israelites go. But when the storm is over, so is Pharaoh’s repentance.

Many people have gone through the motions of repentance during testing times, only to walk away from the Lord when the trial is over.. They treat confession of sin as a bargaining chip to buy God’s favour.

When God’s anger seems to be overcome, they think that they can return to their normal life of self-centred pleasure.

Like Pharaoh, their repentance is not genuine, and so it does not last.

Real repentance is not about confessing our sins in order to get God off our case. No, it is an honest recognition that we have made ourselves god of our own life, and this has not worked.

To repent means to invite God to be on the throne of my life- and to let Him stay there.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please take the throne of my life, and rule over my thoughts and feelings. I relinquish everything to you. Amen.