Faith and Fake Faith
Exodus 8:8 (ESV) Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”
Pharaoh feins belief here for the sake of relief. He even uses the name of God, "The Lord" and asks Moses to pray to Him on his behalf. He even makes a deal with God, "If God will, then I will..."
It is the sign of a hardened heart that only goes to God when things are not what he/she wants them to be. It is also not the life of faith we are called to embrace. We do not make deals with God or silly promises to God that will only be fulfilled after God has shown up how we want. Pharaoh is case in point that those who put such expectations on God are not at all serving Him, they are serving their own desires. Even after the plague is removed it tells us:
Exodus 8:15 (ESV) But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
There's a lot of people who go through the motions of faith but really only seek their own desires, not the heart and purposes of God.
James says it like this:
James 4:3–4 (ESV) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Exodus 10:26 (ESV) Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.”
Moses doesn't know what lies ahead for the people regarding sacrifices and offerings. We know the requirements of the Levitical system will be very complex and involved because we've read the rest of the story. Moses doesn't. But living by faith rarely has all the information. We step out for God, THEN God shows up and speaks. It's the total opposite of how we normally expect life to work. Because this kind of life humbles oneself before a God who made you and knows you best. He will lead you and guide you for your good and toward His Son.
If God has been knocking on your door of even slapping you upside the head, it's best to give up control, deny yourself and follow Him. He is GOD. You aren't. That should settle it.
It is the sign of a hardened heart that only goes to God when things are not what he/she wants them to be. It is also not the life of faith we are called to embrace. We do not make deals with God or silly promises to God that will only be fulfilled after God has shown up how we want. Pharaoh is case in point that those who put such expectations on God are not at all serving Him, they are serving their own desires. Even after the plague is removed it tells us:
Exodus 8:15 (ESV) But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
There's a lot of people who go through the motions of faith but really only seek their own desires, not the heart and purposes of God.
James says it like this:
James 4:3–4 (ESV) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James makes it clear, there are a lot of people in the Church who act just like Pharaoh, for the book of James is written to believers. God is not in the wish fulfillment business. He is not a genie we carry around for our own desires. He is God and He will not be lowered to our standards or expectations of what we want Him to be.
The difference between the people of faith in the Pentateuch and the people without faith is this one simple resolve: "Will I listen to God's voice and trust Him in the unknown or will I demand He fulfills my expectations?"
Abraham was called to go to a land God would show him later...
Jacob leaves his wealthy home to go toward Laban and then at the height of success leaves it all to face the hatred of Esau all at God's command.
Joseph trusted God when obedience and trust only furthered his own frustration...
Even Moses goes to Pharaoh being upended with expectations upon commencement of God's purposes.
Then a little hint for the people of Israel appears later in the plague narrative. During the ninth plague Pharaoh is in heavy negotiations with Moses about what will go and what will not. He's tried to keep the children only to be rejected. Now he tries to keep the livestock. Note Moses' answer:
Exodus 10:26 (ESV) Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.”
Moses doesn't know what lies ahead for the people regarding sacrifices and offerings. We know the requirements of the Levitical system will be very complex and involved because we've read the rest of the story. Moses doesn't. But living by faith rarely has all the information. We step out for God, THEN God shows up and speaks. It's the total opposite of how we normally expect life to work. Because this kind of life humbles oneself before a God who made you and knows you best. He will lead you and guide you for your good and toward His Son.
If God has been knocking on your door of even slapping you upside the head, it's best to give up control, deny yourself and follow Him. He is GOD. You aren't. That should settle it.
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