…OR DOES HE??
Sometimes we would think He doesn’t see or care about the oppression the wicked bring. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 73:
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!
They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. (Vs. 1-14, NLT)
And that is how the Hebrews would have felt in Egypt under their taskmasters. And Pharaoh kept making life even tougher for them, putting them under even heavier labour. So didn’t God see? When would justice come and the wicked be punished?
Yes!! He did see, and He had a plan. But His judgment was awaiting the perfect timing. He knew the stubbornness in the heart of Pharaoh, and He knew that eventually, after much dealings, Pharaoh willing let them go. In fact he would be glad to see the end of them.
See Exodus 3:19-20; 5:1-2; 6:1; 7:14, 23-25; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 34-35; 10:27-29; 11:1-10. (Read the whole story.)
It says that Pharaoh hardened his heart, and other times it says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. What does it all mean?
And also how God uses evil people for His purpose!
Well, I’ll tackle those in the next entry…..
Tags: calamity, childlike, distress, endures, evil, fear, God hears, greed, hard hearted, hard work, hardness, knowledgeable people, known only to him, maths, miracle, oppression, psalm 37, punishing the wicked, punishment, riverbank, simpleminded, slipping, steps, stubbornness, weapons, wicked, wickedness
