A Flip-Flopping Leader
The story of Moses has been adapted many times in entertainment, from plays to movies to cartoons, and because of these numerous retellings, we can become more familiar with them than the actual text of the Scripture. Chapters 7-14 of Exodus record the 10 plagues that God sent upon Egypt because of Pharaoh’s stubbornness. One of the things that we can forget from the Scriptures is that six times Pharaoh told Moses that they could go, but each time he changed his mind. Pharaoh kept flip-flopping on his decision to let the Hebrews go.
“Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, ‘Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ (…) But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.” (Exodus 8:8, 15)
It could have ended right there if Pharaoh had kept his word. But, like the unrepentant person who refuses to obey, as soon as things got better Pharaoh returned to his sin. We see this in our own leaders with decisions being made one month and gone back on the next. While our politicians are mostly driven by poll numbers and donors, Pharaoh conceded that he was being punished because he was not obeying God, but as soon as he was given relief from the punishment he returned to his disobedience. When the plague of flies came, Pharaoh called Moses, and this time, added conditions of his own.
“Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. ‘All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,’ he said. ‘But do it here in this land.’” (Exodus 8:25, emphasis added)
Pharaoh tried to amend the conditions. Instead of obeying God directly, he wanted to obey God on his own terms, in a way that was more comfortable for him. We too can try to amend God’s word or attempt to obey Him on our terms. No sexual immorality among you. But what if the show is really good? No coarse jokes or vulgar humor. But what if it’s really funny? Don’t gossip or tell lies. But what if the truth hurts too much? We have gotten very good at amending God’s Word like Pharaoh tried to do. In Exodus 9, when hail fell from the sky and left Egypt in ruins, Pharoah finally seemed willing to obey.
“Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. ‘This time I have sinned,’ he confessed. ‘The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong. Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.’” (Exodus 9:27-28)
Pharaoh confessed that he had sinned! Many have reached this point in their lives where they too have had enough and confess their sins, and if only God would make things all better, then they would obey. But, as it was with Pharaoh, sometimes when things get better, people go right back to living in disobedience.
“But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn.” (Exodus 9:34)
It is only with the last plague that Pharaoh finally surrendered and allowed the people to leave without adding any conditions. It took the death of his son for Pharaoh to finally listen and obey God. Many people have died in our country and still our leaders seem to not know what to do as the flip-flopping on mandates continues. Even though Pharaoh kept changing his mind, we never see the Hebrews rise up in violence or lash out at those in charge. God was with them no matter what their overlords did. We need to remember that God is always with us, no matter what those in power do. They may change from one day to the next, but our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and He is always with us.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
