Opportunities and Warnings

Some people DO pay attention. It has crossed my mind that ten plagues was sort-of overkill. The object was to get the Hebrews out of Egypt, so why not just do a couple of miracles, skip directly to the last plague and then presto, we’re out of here!

I think one of the reasons is hidden in this statement in Exodus 9:20: “Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.” This was plague Number 7. We often forget about the Egyptians in this tug-of war between Moses and the King of Egypt, but not every Egyptian followed Pharaoh’s party line. There were a few who believed—at least to some extent—though it may have taken them seven plagues to do it.

We sometimes wonder why God seems to be so slow to rain judgment down on unbelievers. It’s not that His patience is limitless. No, He will judge sin and sinners. But He is also merciful and here in Exodus we catch a glimpse of that mercy, Yes, He wanted to cement in the minds of the Hebrews that He was God Almighty—they would need to remember that in the future. But He also was concerned for the spiritual journey of the Egyptians. He gave them lots of warning and every possible opportunity.

Second Peter 3:9 (NIV) tells us: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

This promise brings a lot of encouragement to those of us who have loved ones and friends who do not know the Lord as their Saviour. There are no guarantees that those we most care about will respond to the warnings and the opportunities. But what we can be sure of is that God cares about these people even more than we do.