Bo "Come"
Exodus 10:1-13:16
Jeremiah 46:13-28
Another Facet
Just what is this guy Pharaoh's problem? Does he not see that everything he has is falling down around him? Why not just let these Hebrews go and get back to life as normal before more tragedy comes upon Egypt? Why does this guy not see what is happening? It comes down to one word, or rather the lack of one word in his life. The word is fear. Until the time of Moses walking into the palace, Pharaoh had never feared anything. He had been feared, but what had he ever feared? He had until this point in his life been god to Egypt, but now had been brought face to face with a God who was not play acting and was much more powerful that himself. Because he had never feared anything, in his small mind he thought that in the end he would be able to beat this God of the Hebrews. He just had no concept of what he was dealing with.
This past week a friend sent me an article she had written on what it means to fear HaShem. She has requested to remain anonymous. As you read the excerpt below, consider how life for Pharaoh might have been different if he had been able to have a copy of this emailed to him some years ago.
"I have had the experience of standing close by a train locomotive when it is "idling". The amount of power represented there is astonishing to me. I can feel the ground shake if I get close enough. I feel very insignificant next to a piece of machinery whose wheels are much taller than I am. I have walked across the track in front of a standing locomotive and it is a frightening experience. It may be that I recognize the power difference between it and me.
"Imagine the fear that is in place when I stand close to the tracks as the locomotive is moving past me. The amount of fear increases with the speed of the locomotive. The power of the locomotive makes the ground shake even more when the train is moving and goes up incrementally with the speed of the train. I would not consider standing in its way. Even if the locomotive is traveling at a very slow speed, I am humbled to know that I am no match for it.
"The locomotive is not vindictive. I have to put myself in a place of complete disregard of it in order to get hurt. I have to disobey the rules that have been put in place for my safety. If I have this amount of fear for a big man-made object, how much more fear should I have for the Creator and King of the Universe. The amount of power represented by Him is astonishing to me. I can feel the pulse of His very presence if I get close enough. I feel very insignificant when I think of everything that He is. I have walked into His Presence and it is a frightening experience. It may be that I recognize the power difference between Him and me."
I cannot imagine the fear that is coming when I will see God moving at full speed in all his glory and power. I would not consider standing in His way. Even on a daily basis at a much slower pace, I am humbled to know that I am no match for Him.
God is not vindictive. I have to put myself in a place of complete disregard of Him in order to get hurt. I would have to disobey the rules He has put in place for my safety.
Now let's forget about Pharaoh for a moment. Did not the Hebrews lack the very same thing when it came to their relationship with their God? Were the plagues also about showing His awesome power and restoring the respect for Him they had lost? With each new plague did they not stand in awe and wonder similar to my friend in the above story with the locomotive? I think their actions in the end would prove this thought correct. It was not relationship that put them in the house behind the blood, but rather a good dose of fear.
What does all this have to do with you and me today? The answer is quite simple. It has everything to do with us. Today, His judgment is like the above locomotive. It is however not parked at the station for us to walk around and admire, but rather moving full steam to destroy every wicked thought and deed that man has devised. The choice for you and me is between two actions. Will we realize its approach, and through obedience to His Word take our place of refuge and protection under the shelter of His redemption? Or will we continue to play on the tracks of the world system, thinking that we will at the last moment jump out of the way?
So, just how is this "Fear of YH VH" working out in our lives today? Do we disregard it totally like Pharaoh did? If you are reading this commentary the answer is probably no. Are we more like the Hebrews? Probably. In fact, maybe alarmingly so. Have we, like them, allowed fear to be watered down to just having a bit of respect? I can give you a clue to where each of us is though. Answer this one question. When is the last time you said or thought these words, "I know what His Word tells me to do, but" The answer can be as deafening as a locomotive!
Shabbat Shalom,
Mike
