The Soul Anchor [Hebrews 6:19] - March 1, 2023
Reading through the book of Exodus there is always one part of the story that confounds me.
Exodus 8:8-10 (NIV) Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD." 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile." “Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God.
The nation of Israel was enslaved in Egypt. God had sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set Israel free and let them leave Egypt. Pharaoh had refused and God began to send plagues upon the land of Egypt as a means of changing Pharaoh's mind. The second plague was frogs and they were everywhere. Think about the problems the plague of frogs brought to Egypt. Frogs in bed, frogs in the kitchen, frogs in the den, frogs in the oven, frogs in the yard! Finally, Pharaoh could stand it no longer. He called for Moses, the Servant of God. Pharaoh knew that God was the answer and Yahweh gives Pharaoh the option to choose whenever he would like the frogs to be gone. and here is Pharaoh's unbelievable answer. Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow!" His answer seems unbelievable Frogs in his food, frogs in his bed, frogs in his clothes, frogs everywhere and God was ready to remove the frogs instantly. The decision was up to Pharaoh. And he said, "Tomorrow!" It was as though he was saying "Give me one more night with the frogs." In light of the circumstances how could Pharaoh possibly chosen one more night of the unpleasantness of slimy frogs everywhere? How could he possibly have chosen one more night with those frogs? It was a strange decision on Pharaoh's part. However, before we pass judgment on Pharaoh and conclude that he was out of his mind it is important to ask, “What about the frog situation in my life, or your life? You know, the things like:
Pride
Covetousness
Lust
Anger
Gluttony
Envy
Sloth
Things we may hate in our life but aren’t necessarily too eager to get rid of. They are as ugly as frogs! All of them! Frogs that cause difficulty and grief regularly for us and keep us from living God’s best. They plague us morning, noon and night. They can weigh us down hour by hour and day by day. Still somehow we have a strange attachment to them.
Moses was sent by God to deal with the frog problem in Egypt. Jesus was sent by God the Father to deal with the frog situation in our lives. God was standing by. He was ready to remove the frogs that troubled the Egyptians; whenever, they were willing to ask. Likewise, the Lord is standing by ready and willing and able to help us deal with the troublesome frogs (habits, sins, addictions…) of our life whenever we are willing to ask Him to intervene.
When Pharaoh was asked when, he replied, "Tomorrow is soon enough." Essentially, he was saying, "Give me one more night with the frogs. "God is asking us this same question. When do you want me to take care of your frogs?
Don’t spend one more night with the frogs. Paul wrote, in 2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.” Whatever your need, His grace is sufficient and He is ready to start now.
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