What lessons can we learn about obedience from Pharaoh's response in Exodus 10:5? Setting the Scene Exodus 10:5: “They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen, and they will devour the remainder left that escaped the hail—everything growing in the fields—and they will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians.” The Warning in God’s Words • God spells out the exact cost of Pharaoh’s refusal before the plague arrives. • The threat is thorough: land, crops, homes, officials—nothing will be spared. • This is the eighth plague; repeated mercy has already been extended (Exodus 7–9). Lessons on Obedience • Clear commands demand immediate obedience. God’s “Let My people go” (Exodus 9:1) is not negotiable. • Hearing is not the same as heeding (James 1:22). Pharaoh heard every warning yet remained unmoved. • Delayed obedience becomes disobedience. Each pause widened the fallout. Consequences of Stubborn Disobedience • Disobedience invites escalating judgment (Leviticus 26:18). Hail destroyed what grew above the ground; locusts target what survived below. • Sin spreads. Pharaoh’s choice drags the whole nation into loss—illustrating Romans 5:12’s principle that sin affects more than the sinner. • God’s warnings are acts of grace; ignoring them forfeits protection (Proverbs 29:1). Partial Obedience Is Still Disobedience • Earlier, Pharaoh offered compromises—“Only the men may go” (Exodus 10:11). Such half-measures satisfied him, not God. • 1 Samuel 15:22 reminds us: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God seeks full surrender, not negotiated terms. The Heart Factor • Scripture repeatedly notes Pharaoh’s hardened heart (Exodus 10:1). Obedience begins at the heart level (Proverbs 4:23). • A hard heart blinds a person to mounting evidence of God’s power (Hebrews 3:13). • Genuine obedience flows from humility; pride perpetuates rebellion (James 4:6-7). Obedience Preserves; Disobedience Devours • Obedience would have spared Egypt’s crops, economy, and families. • God’s people in Goshen remained protected during earlier plagues (Exodus 9:26), showcasing the shelter found in submission. • Deuteronomy 28 portrays the same pattern: blessing follows obedience; curses follow rebellion. Putting It Into Today’s Walk • Treat every biblical command as urgent—not optional. • Recognize God’s warnings as expressions of His mercy. • Reject partial compliance; surrender fully. • Guard the heart from pride, quickly repent when confronted, and enjoy the preservation obedience brings. |
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