16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you,” he confessed. 17 “Forgive my sin, just this once, and plead with the Lord your God to take away this death from me.” - Exodus 10:16-17 (NLT)
After suffering the Lord's judgment in the plague of locusts Pharaoh pleaded with Moses and Aaron to ask God to make the plague stop. He admits his sin, and for a moment it seems as though his hard heart is softening. But Pharaoh is not truly repentant. His confession was motivated by his desire to escape the consequences of his sin. Pharaoh still had no interest in obeying God's command to let the Israelites free.
Our hearts often respond the same way. Once we've made a mess of our lives we ask for God to forgive our sins and remove the painful consequences of our decisions without any real intention of following him in full surrender. We would be better served to suffer the full consequences of our sins if they led us to true repentance. God forgives us of our sins so that our relationship with him can be restored. We insult him and make a mockery of his mercy when we seek forgiveness and then continue to live for ourselves, ignoring his will for our lives.
Father, I confess that I am guilty of seeking your forgiveness out of a selfish and unrepentant heart. Be patient with me and forgive me as I learn to trust you. Lead me to love you more fully today.
Seeking after Him,
Matt
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Good Morning Matt, I am behind a little on First Light but I wanted to say thank you for the wonderful warning about taking God's mercy for granted. I pray that I will always have a healthy fear and reverence for God. I thank God that most times He will allow His children to suffer for their own good. What a wise all knowing Father we have. LOve in Christ Francie
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