Think of Others

"But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, "Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them,'"'... Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. " -Exodus 8.32-9.2, 7

Pharaoh continues to keep the people in slavery, and so the plagues continue. But now God is beginning to make distinctions. The plagues now begin to affect only the Egyptians. The flies only swarm on the people of Egypt. Only the cattle of the Egyptians die. Pharaoh's stubbornness is now causing his own people to suffer.

Men, we are notoriously stubborn, maybe stereotypically, but let's face it, all of us are stubborn to a point. The question is, what is that point? Does our stubbornness end up resulting in others being harmed? As we make decisions do we take others into account? Do we think about how our actions will impact those around us?

Sometimes it's good to be stubborn. There are times we need to stand our ground and die on the hill. But those are the times that we stand against evil and injustice and work to improve the lives around us. But when we stand our ground at the expense of others we've missed the point of leadership.

Pharaoh brought chaos and destruction upon his people because he hardened his heart. His own advisors approached him about letting the people go, but he refuses, and his people suffer.

Let us lead to better their lives, not pass our own agendas. As we lead let us think of others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor