Hardships to Trust

"But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst." -Exodus 7.3-5

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and the work of the people was increased. Moses is wondering why God even sent him at this point because things have only gotten worse. And as he seeks God's direction, signs are promised. God says He is about to act. Here we find one of those verses that has given many people trouble over the years. God tells Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I think people have trouble because they don't read the rest of the verse. Why is God going to harden Pharaoh's heart? So that He can multiply His signs and wonders. God is going to harden Pharaoh's heart so that He can display His power.

Israel hasn't known God for centuries. They have heard stories of Him passed down, but He is always referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And if you think about it that's how He was always referred to. He has been the God of one man at a time, never a nation. And for four hundred years they have been slaves, which God told Abraham would happen, but they haven't heard from Him or learned about Him in that time. They don't know who He is, or what He is capable of. How are they to trust Him? God is going to make it easy, He's going to show them His power.

Men, sometimes God does things that don't make complete sense to us in order to show us what He is capable of doing. Sometimes God allows hard times to take place so that we can learn to trust Him more. And sometimes He allows us to experience hardships so that we come to know Him. He said that the Egyptians, a polytheistic pagan culture, would know He was the Lord. Sometimes it's only at the bottom that we can clearly see Him.

What are you going through right now? What hardships or struggles are you facing? What is God trying to teach you? Financial issues? God could be teaching you to have faith in Him to provide for your needs. Family issues? God could be allowing them to help you mend relationships, or maybe sever them. Trouble at work? God could be preparing you for something else, something that excites your heart. What is it in your life?

God is trustworthy. Not everything He does will make sense to us, but everything He does has a point, and ultimately that point is to show us that we can trust Him.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Don't Forget God

"Now before the year of famine came,two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.   Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, 'For,' he said, 'God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.'. He named the second Ephraim, 'For,' he said, 'God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.'"  -Genesis 41.50-52

Joseph has done well.  He went from prison to the palace; from a slave to second in command of Egypt.  He is now one of the most powerful men in the world.  His plans are being implemented throughout the land, and he's even started a family.  He has a wife who has given him two sons.

As he looks back over the past few years, and at all that he has been able to accomplish, he could have taken the credit for it.  He could have looked at it all with a sense if entitlement, something that was deserved for all that he had been put through.  But this isn't the attitude we find.  There is no smug arrogance, but rather grateful humility.

Joseph names his first son Manasseh, declaring that God has made him forget about what his brothers did to him.  He has set the past aside, and is grateful for the blessings God has given him, not because he deserves them, but because God is good and loves to give good things to His children.

Joseph is blessed with a second son and names him Ephraim.  He announces that God has blessed him in the land where he was a slave and a prisoner.  God brought him through the hard times, and was with him.  Now God has blessed him beyond the suffering and affliction.

Men, when we make it and become successful do we forget about God?  How many turn to God at the low points, but as soon as things turn around look at Him and say, "I've got things from here"?  They never thank God for His provision, or His blessings.  God is forgotten.

May this never be true of us.  May we never forget God.  Let us draw near to Him in the low points and trust in Him to provide.  And let us draw nearer to Him on the mountain tops and praise Him for all that He has done.

God can bless you to the point of forgetting your hardships, and He can make you fruitful in the place of your affliction.  When he does, don't forget to thank and praise Him.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor