S - Exodus 9:27-30, 33-35 (NRSV): "Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the Lord! Enough of God's thunder and hail! I will let you go; you need stay no longer." Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord's. But as for you and your officials, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God."…"So Moses left Pharaoh, went out of the city, and stretched out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned once more and hardened his heart, he and his officials. So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses."
O - This exchange between Pharaoh and Moses happens as a result of the plague of hail. Barnes notes: "With the plague of hail begins the last series of plagues, which differ from the former both in their severity and their effects. Each produced a temporary, but real, change in Pharaoh’s feelings." And this is exactly the point. The fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom, the fear of the Lord which is actually life giving, life sustaining and vibrantly effective in and through human beings is NOT emotion or circumstantially based, though it can inspire very strong emotion. The fear of the Lord is based upon the Lord; the Lord who never changes, who is almighty and all merciful, who is awesomely brilliant, powerful and good. Emotions change; circumstances change; but he does not and neither does this requirement. The failure of Pharaoh is the failure of many people from the poorest of the poor to the rich and powerful; the human heart is headed toward hardness all on its own and will inspire the tragic misperceptions that leave lives in ruin … the presence of this essential quality (the fear of the Lord) is the only cure and preventative. My Working Definition of the fear of the Lord: the wholesome dread of displeasing the One I love.
A - The most painful condition for us humans is a broken heart, but it is not the most serious. The hardened heart is the most serious and this is one which only has one cure. The cure is not reserved for "bouts" of hardness but must be a consistent element if one is to gain and maintain a healthy heart. The fear of the Lord (not emotionally based), the humbling of self (not circumstantially based on good or bad events) will soften a hard heart and keep a healthy heart soft. Like most things in the Kingdom of Jesus, the truth is straightforward and the challenge is in the application. I need to choose and the Holy Spirit needs to empower my choice … it's all by grace but not without choice … I choose.
P - Lord who fashions and shepherds the heart,
I do choose to engage the wholesome dread of displeasing the One I love because you have loved me first, most and have refused to change your mind. I ask that you will put the Holy Spirit on me, in me and cause Him to flow through me unto real life, refreshing, vibrant and resilient. As I continue to follow you into the unknown and uncharted ways of this new assignment I need my heart healthy and in-tune with you and your purposes to me and through me. I need to humble myself under your mighty hand and not allow circumstances to drive me but your greatness, brilliance, goodness and power to lead me. There is so much I do not know and many new circumstances which are coming my way. Lord you know how I am made and the way I will naturally default to … even trying to do it as you would have me to. Let me be one with a soft heart, a vibrant heart, a heart where you feel at home -- regardless of my current emotional status. I ask again for open doors and open heavens; for you to do wonderful things, things far beyond me. I welcome your promises from afar today while it’s called today and embrace the unchanging truth that you are purposeful in everything you cause and in everything you allow. Thank you for letting me love you back and letting it mean something to you:).
Steve
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