Title: The Humbling of a Proud Heart/ Topic: Maintaining Repentance

Today’s Reading: Exodus 12; Exodus 13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Scripture: Exodus 12:31-32
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." (Emphasis added)

Observation: In the many times I have read through the Bible, I have never really noticed the phrase at the end of verse 32. Pharaoh has just lost his son and has finally humbled himself enough to tell Moses that the Israelites can leave with no conditions attached. In fact he orders them to leave. Then he makes this amazing request, “And also bless me”. What an incredible change of heart. He has been in a power struggle with the Lord, maintaining his right to set the rules, and now he completely humbles himself and acknowledges his need of receiving a blessing from the Lord through his servant Moses. He displays no anger because of the loss of his son, which indicates to me that he realizes that it is through his own actions and words that this tragedy has come about. He assumes responsibility for the circumstances in which he finds himself. He does display grief and humility. What is tragic is that his change of heart does not last long, as he changes back to thinking he can overrule God just a few days after this incident.

Application: I want to live a life that demonstrates a dependence on God that is noticeable to others, just as Moses did before Pharaoh. I also want to learn a lesson from the life of Pharaoh and realize that repentance is not a one time event; it must be ongoing. I must constantly acknowledge the Lord's right to determine my life's course and remain humble and submissive to him. In this way, I will remain in a place of blessing.

Prayer: Father, I again give you the right to determine my steps and commit myself to your ways. Show me any areas of my life where I am being self-determinative and stubborn. Redeem every aspect of my life; I don't want to hold anything back, because I realize that submission to you is really the path to true fulfillment, happiness, and blessing. And may I be a light to others so that they know that they may ask me to bless them in your name and that my prayer on their behalf will be heard.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.