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Daily Devotion: Exodus 9:28-30 and 33-35

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Exodus 9:28-30    "Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God." 

Exodus 9:33-35    "And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses."

As Pharaoh was in the midst of this terrible storm, he was ready to admit that the LORD was righteous. While the storm was going on, he feared (revered) the LORD. Pharaoh asked Moses to pray to the LORD on his behalf for the thunder and the hail to cease. While he was in the midst of the storm, Pharaoh declared that it was enough: he was ready to obey God’s command.

Moses told Pharaoh he would pray as soon as he was outside of the city. In this, Moses displayed to Pharaoh that those who obeyed the LORD did not need to fear the storm. He was confident in God’s ability to keep him safe. He was sure that God would hear his prayer and that the thunder and the hail would cease. Moses purpose in this was not to show how great he was in God’s eyes, but rather to demonstrate to Pharaoh that the earth belonged to God.

Moses had come to understand that the LORD intended to bring the Egyptians low. God’s judgement upon those who had evilly entreated His people was going to completely break the bondage Israel had been under for so long. Just as the LORD had told Moses, as soon as the storm ceased Pharaoh did and about face. He did not yet truly fear God. Instead, he only feared the consequence of rebelling. 

Dear ones, there is a significant difference between truly fearing God and being afraid of God. When we are in the midst of trouble, we may show a type of reverence to God because we are afraid of what He could do TO us. However, the true fear (reverence) of the LORD is born out of love and gratitude for what He has done FOR us. Rejoice today that,  through Jesus Christ, our LORD has broken our bondage to sin!

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