Friday, February 27, 2009

The Heart of a Pharisee/The Heart of Pharoah

While reading in both Ex 10.27 and Luke 13.14 this morning, I was struck by the similarities between the heart of the ruler of the synagogue and the heart of Pharoah. Both men see God's power demonstrated in as mighty acts as he ever demonstrates on earth. In the ruler's case a woman who has been in slavery to a disabling spirit for 18 years is freed. In Pharoah's case, he has seen God use nature in a supernatural way to destroy his country. Pharoah still won't let the people go even after 9 plagues. The ruler of the synagogue still won't recognize the hand of God in Christ's miracle, choosing rather to focus on the fact that Christ healed on the Sabbath!

Two very different men, and yet two hearts that are the same, closed off to God even when they see his power demonstrated in mighty ways. May we purpose not to miss God's power because he doesn't act like we assume he should act (the ruler of the synagogue) or because we do not believe in him (Pharoah).

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