Irvin Wasswa
Tylertown Campus Pastor
Exodus 9:34-35
34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
We find in Exodus 9 the Lord in the process of delivering His people from the land of Egypt. Moses as a mouthpiece of the Lord implored Pharaoh of Egypt numerous times to let the people of Israel go, and multiple times Pharaoh refused. Why? Because of His pride. Pharaoh in his mind had no regard for the Lord or His people. He was the ruler of the strongest nation on earth at the time. Who was going to threaten him? So the Lord sent several plagues in response to his pride. The seventh plague proved to be very costly for Pharaoh and his people as the Lord sent hail to rain down and destroy all the livestock and crops in Egypt. Pharoah had enough and finally released the people of Israel, but as soon as the weather stopped, he had a change of heart and did not let the people go after all.
The scripture says that Pharaoh hardened his heart- a symptom of perhaps the biggest of problems among mankind- pride. Pharaoh was too prideful to see God at work and release the people of Israel. If we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves in the same exact place. Pride can consume us and keep us from following God in obedience when called upon to go. Pride can consume us and keep us from praying for that person, or giving in obedience to the Lord to His church or to that person in need. You and I are easily susceptible to falling into the “pride trap”. Instead of walking in pride, choose to “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord”, and walk in that humility. Don’t be like Pharaoh who allowed for His pride and hardening of heart to lead to a world of trouble for him and the people of Egypt. As Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”. Instead of choosing pride, may we choose to lay it aside and walk in humility today.