[Exodus 10-11]

H – Exodus 10:3, “So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?…….”

E – Where is the distinction? (11:7)

There should be a clear distinction between those that claim to be in Christ and those who are not. Pharaoh didn’t know the God of the Hebrew’s when he encountered Moses (5:2). He was living his distinction. He lived in his own power. However, after seeing sign after sign, his magicians giving up, and his people having enough, he still didn’t care enough to humble himself before God and kept hardening his heart. 

Through every, “Thus says the LORD,” moment Pharaoh couldn’t humble himself to surrender and tried to overcome those moments by playing hardball and exalting himself. Yet, after his own servants started having enough, he would emotionally respond to the LORD’s signs and wonders by claiming to be a sinner, in the wrong, and asking God for forgiveness and to take away the plague (9:27, 10:16-17). But, it never stuck and he kept hardening his heart. 

This morning this just hit me different. This is big. Christians should be distinctly different than others; living lives of humbleness, repentance, and obedience. Yet, when you look in the church you see a lot of the opposite. You see Pharaoh’s! Hardhearted people, who refuse to humble themselves, repent, and be obedient. Rather, you see many individuals who seek to power broker preferences and other people in the church. [Now, I’m not claiming this is every church and all people. I’m just claiming that there is not a huge distinction between the people that dawn the doors of the church and people who are living in the world]. Let me explain!

I see people in the church just like Pharaoh. They will cry out to God when things are going bad and make a spectacle. But, as soon as their plague has ended they’re back off into their own little world, hardening their heart to the things of God. 

I see people in the church just like Pharaoh. They will see the hand of God all around them, but refuse to humble themselves and let His Spirit take control. In other words there is a lack of surrender. I would allude it to many who want Christ as Savior, but have never made Him LORD. 

I see people in the church just like Pharaoh. They will make a little compromises that leads to bigger compromises (8:25, 10:11, 10:24) on who and how the Lord should be worshipped. In other words there is stipulations to who worships, where they worship, and how long they can be in worship. Just give me a day (preferably one that meets my schedule), one hour (no more, but can certainly be less), at this place (because it’s trendy), and that’s enough (I will feel good about myself). I’m good! 

I see people in the church just like Pharaoh. They will push back against the drawing of God’s Spirit and conviction; white knuckling a pew, justifying why they won’t surrender, make every excuse why they’re ok with themselves, and eventually push away (get away – 10:28).

“Thus says the LORD, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?”

A – Be distinctively different by believing in God, humbling myself daily through repentance, walking obediently before Him, and living a life of surrendered worship. 

R – Lord God, Oh Lord, I pray I would not allow my heart to become hard hearted. May there be a clear distinction in me. I pray people would see the light of Christ in my life. I pray that there would be no hesitation to conviction. I pray I would daily humble myself, seeing your hand all around me, and being able to proclaim “there is no God like the LORD God (8:10). 

Lord, I pray against the spirit of Pharaoh that plagues our churches. Lord, I pray you would open hearts, eyes, and minds to this deceptive spirit. Lord, send a revival that couldn’t be manipulated. Send a revival that all people will know that you are God and you have made a clear distinction (11:7). 

In Jesus Name!