Exodus Chapter 7: verses 6-13 (NIV-UK)
Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘When Pharaoh says to you, “Perform a miracle,” then say to Aaron, “Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,” and it will become a snake.’
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned the wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
Exodus Chapter 8: verse 35 (NIV-UK)
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.’
God told Moses and Aaron what to do, and He told them exactly what was going to happen. Even although Moses was still a bit reluctant, he was very careful to do everything God told Him to. And everything God told him beforehand happened just as He had said. God’s word can be trusted.
Even in the face of signs and wonders Pharaoh wasn’t interested, and even in the face of hardship he only offered compromise, instead of doing what God said.
We need to be sure that like Moses, we do exactly what God requires of us, and not try and compromise. People will not always respond to God, even in the face of signs and wonders. It can be tempting sometimes to compromise, but that is a dangerous thing to do. Better to be obedient with our knees knocking and our speech faltering than to compromise. Pharaoh learned too late that he was dealing with a mighty God.
Dear God,
Help me to be like Moses and do everything You ask of me. May I never be like Pharaoh and offer a compromise. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.