But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said.   Exodus 8:15 NKJV

This particular plague in the beginning of chapter 8 was the frogs. Moses warned Pharaoh of this plague, but Pharaoh wouldn’t agree to let the people go. So, God sent the frogs. Pharaoh then told Moses if he would ask God to remove the frogs, he would then let the people go. Once the frogs were removed and Pharaoh and the land were relieved of the plague, Pharaoh hardened his heart and relented.

The plagues would get worse from there. I can honestly say there have been times I have done the same thing Pharaoh did. I would find myself in a dire situation and pray to God to deliver me. God would deliver me and then I would go back to my old sinful ways. It was a vicious cycle.

I used God as my 911. I asked Him to remove my problem. At times I even promised to give up my sinful behavior, go to church more, read my Bible more and pray more. And I would, for a little while. But as soon as things returned to normal and the crisis was averted, I went back to my old ways.

We will see this over and over in the book of Exodus. Spoiler alert-this doesn’t fare well for Pharaoh. It never fared well for me either. My roller coaster Christianity didn’t work. My 911 calls to God were like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.

God doesn’t want us to lie to Him and make promises we never intend to keep. He wants a change of heart. He wants us to go all in with Him and trust in Him. Pharaoh said early on that he didn’t know God and didn’t know why he should listen to God. God was showing Him who He was and why He should pay attention to Him. He will do the same with us.

Are you riding the roller coaster with God? Do you cry out to Him as you feel yourself dropping? Do you allow Him to pull you back up that hill to obedience, but only until you top the hill? Do you get up top and think you can take it from there?

Oddly enough, once God pulled me up, I would become prideful. I would think I could go it on my own. I was wrong. I realized this was pride and God hates pride. We are told in Proverbs 16:18 that pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. And boy would I fall.

Pharaoh would lie and claim he was going to release the Israelites but once he got relief from whatever plague they were facing he would change his mind. His heart would be hardened. And the plagues kept coming, getting worse each time.

Is your heart hardened against God? Do you cry out for relief, promising to do better, only to return to your old ways?

I’ve tried living that way and I can tell you it’s no way to live. Remaining in the constant shelter God provides (Psalm 91:1-2) is the only way to go.

If we continue to disobey God, He will continue to get our attention. What will it take for you to surrender to Him?

I believe our time is getting very short my friend, I beg of you to give your heart over to Him and trust Him to take good care of you before it’s too late.

The hits are going to keep coming. The only way to survive them is to trust in Him and reside constantly in His shelter.

Have a great day!