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...