Exodus 9, Luke 6

Friday, February 15, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker

"God's still in control, even when it doesn't go our way"

(Exodus 9)

I’m in awe of Pharaoh’s persistent arrogance and resistance to God. Chapter after chapter it continues. I find myself short on fresh words today. How many ways can you say, “Wow, can you believe this guy?” So instead, I thought I’d share the thoughts of Matthew Henry on Exodus 9:8-12:

God will have Israel released, Pharaoh opposes it, and the trial is, whose word shall stand. The hand of the Lord at once is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, die by a sort of murrain. This was greatly to the loss of the owners; they had made Israel poor, and now God would make them poor. The hand of God is to be seen, even in the sickness and death of cattle; for a sparrow falls not to the ground without our Father. None of the Israelites' cattle should die; the Lord shall sever. The cattle died. The Egyptians worshipped their cattle. What we make an idol of, it is just with God to remove from us. This proud tyrant and cruel oppressor deserved to be made an example by the just Judge of the universe. None who are punished according to what they deserve, can have any just cause to complain. Hardness of heart denotes that state of mind upon which neither threatenings nor promise, neither judgements nor mercies, make any abiding impression. The conscience being stupified, and the heart filled with pride and presumption, they persist in unbelief and disobedience. This state of mind is also called the stony heart. Very different is the heart of flesh, the broken and contrite heart.

Good stuff.

(Luke 6)

Vs. 12-16 “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, understood the value of prayer prior to making decisions. Jesus spent the entire night in prayer to God, then that next morning, he chose his twelve disciples. I would imagine a major theme of his prayers was to hear God’s leading for who should be the twelve. It’s interesting that Luke reminds us that among those selected was, Judas, who became a traitor.

So was it a mistake that Jesus made in choosing Judas? Certainly not, it was completely in line with God’s will. We cannot measure God’s leading by whether or not things go exactly as our human minds (or hearts) might think it should. God is still in control.

Father, help us to value and trust prayer more and more each day. Help us follow you as you lead through those moments of listening. May we be faithful to respond to you as you lead.