"Pharaoh's servants said to him, 'How long...? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?" - Exodus 10:7
Pharaoh's servants ask this to Pharaoh in the midst of a time when God was pouring out wrath on Egypt for their idolatry, pride, and refusal to let God's people go. The servants of Pharaoh want to know why Pharaoh is refusing to repent of his rebellion, which had brought terrible consequences to himself and his people. This question strikes me in two ways.
First, I believe it's a question we might from time to time need to ask ourselves. Are we tolerating any sin in our lives, bringing us down spiritually, as well as sometimes bringing physical, emotional and relational consequences? In I Peter 2, Peter tells believers, 'Abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.' Sin is often appealing and brings momentary pleasure - but Peter wants us to realize that sinful desires are truly like little terrorists out to sabotage us, warring against us! Unfortunately, Pharaoh didn't take the advice of his servants and I now believe he would agree with a statement I once heard, 'People on earth hate to hear the word repent, those in hell wish they could hear it once more.'
Secondly, like Pharaoh's servants, we should desire to gently lead others out of sin that either is or will destroy them. For example, I have friends who while addicted to alcohol or other substances have faced terrible consequences, yet (like Pharaoh) refuse to repent. However, that's where I get to come alongside them, to pray for them, and to ask and encourage them saying, 'How long? See where your choices have brought you. Please turn to Christ while there is yet hope in His grace and forgiveness.'
Where are you at today? Are you walking in sinful desires that war against your soul? If so, listen to Pharaoh's servants, don't wait any longer to get right with God through Jesus Christ. Or if you are right with God through Christ, who can you be one of 'Pharaoh's Servants' to? Who in your life do you presently know without Christ whom you can boldly and gently be a witness to?
Pharaoh's servants ask this to Pharaoh in the midst of a time when God was pouring out wrath on Egypt for their idolatry, pride, and refusal to let God's people go. The servants of Pharaoh want to know why Pharaoh is refusing to repent of his rebellion, which had brought terrible consequences to himself and his people. This question strikes me in two ways.
First, I believe it's a question we might from time to time need to ask ourselves. Are we tolerating any sin in our lives, bringing us down spiritually, as well as sometimes bringing physical, emotional and relational consequences? In I Peter 2, Peter tells believers, 'Abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.' Sin is often appealing and brings momentary pleasure - but Peter wants us to realize that sinful desires are truly like little terrorists out to sabotage us, warring against us! Unfortunately, Pharaoh didn't take the advice of his servants and I now believe he would agree with a statement I once heard, 'People on earth hate to hear the word repent, those in hell wish they could hear it once more.'
Secondly, like Pharaoh's servants, we should desire to gently lead others out of sin that either is or will destroy them. For example, I have friends who while addicted to alcohol or other substances have faced terrible consequences, yet (like Pharaoh) refuse to repent. However, that's where I get to come alongside them, to pray for them, and to ask and encourage them saying, 'How long? See where your choices have brought you. Please turn to Christ while there is yet hope in His grace and forgiveness.'
Where are you at today? Are you walking in sinful desires that war against your soul? If so, listen to Pharaoh's servants, don't wait any longer to get right with God through Jesus Christ. Or if you are right with God through Christ, who can you be one of 'Pharaoh's Servants' to? Who in your life do you presently know without Christ whom you can boldly and gently be a witness to?