Exodus 8 Devotional

Relief Is Not Repentance

“When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.”Exodus 8:15 (BSB)

Frogs cover Egypt, even its beds and ovens (8:3). Pharaoh begs Moses to pray and promises to let the people go. Moses prays, God answers, and the frogs die in heaps. But as soon as Pharaoh sees relief, he hardens his heart (8:15). The same thing happens with the flies (8:28-32). Even the magicians, unable to copy the gnats, admit that God's own hand is at work (8:18-19), and still Pharaoh will not listen.

Notice how patient God is in this chapter. He answers Moses' prayers on behalf of a man who keeps breaking his word, removing the flies until not one remains (8:29-31). He also draws a clear line around Goshen, where his people live, so that Pharaoh will know the LORD is present in the land (8:22-23). Paul warns that God's kindness is meant to lead people to repentance (Romans 2:4), not to give them room to forget. When God lifts a burden from you, the fitting response is more than relief. It is turning toward the one who lifted it.

To think about: When God has eased something hard in your life, how have you responded, and what would turning toward him look like now?