January 24 : Exodus 9-11

January 24 : Exodus 9-11

"When we want to be something other than the thing that God wants us to be, we must be wanting what, in fact, will not make us happy...whether we like it or not, God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want. Once more, we are embarrassed by the intolerable compliment, by too much love, not too little."

~ C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

I am amazed at how stubborn and hard-hearted Pharaoh was. He was told by Moses and Aaron to let the Israelites worship in the desert, but he refused. He was warned that there would be consequences for not complying to God's command, but he still refused. So God sent 10 plagues (we have read about 9 so far) to show not only Pharaoh, but all the Egyptians and Hebrews that He is God Almighty. 

It's so easy for me to look at someone else and judge them for their actions. Why did it take so long for Pharaoh to see that he could not win a fight against God? Even when his own magicians were unable to replicate the plagues after the first two, he still endured eight more before he surrendered. How much suffering could have been avoided if he had just done the right thing first? 

Then it hits me: There are times in my life (more than I'd care to admit) where I am just as stubborn and hard-hearted as Pharaoh. How much needless worry and suffering have I put myself through because I was too stubborn to do things God's way? Why does it take me so long to see that I cannot win a fight against God?

I read The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis when I was in high school and I honestly don't remember much of it. But as I was reading today's chapters and reflecting on Pharaoh's stubbornness, I remembered a quote that I had written down in a journal about 13 years ago. "When we want something other than the thing that God wants us to be, we must be wanting what, in fact, will not make us happy." I will go so far as to say that all of us are guilty (at one time or another) of assuming that we are better than God at knowing what is best for us. We wrongly assume that we can make ourselves happy on our own. We are all guilty of being stubborn like Pharaoh. The story of the 10 plagues is not only a demonstration of God's mighty power. It is also a warning to those who do not surrender fully to God's will. God will always know exactly what we need and He will always provide for us. But if we think we know better than God and fight Him for something we think will make us happy (but actually won't), then we are headed for nothing but suffering. 

The good news is it is never too late to surrender to Him. No matter how much suffering we have endured because of our hard hearts, He will always be there to accept us back and to provide us with everything He knows we need. Living in complete surrender to Him will make us happier than we could ever attempt to make ourselves. Because He knows what we need and He wants to be the One to provide it for us.

What are you holding on to that is stopping you from living the happy life that God wants you to have?