“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart… he will not listen to you” (Exodus 7:3a, 4a NIV).
Why God???
God sent Moses to Pharaoh with a clear message. “Let my people go!” Then He hardened Pharaoh’s heart so he would NOT let them go! Why order him to release the people and then make sure that he doesn’t? Does that seem odd? Why would God do something that seemed so contradictory? I could list some seemingly inexplicable things that God has allowed to happen in my life. I am sure you could also. Why did he allow my wife and me to adopt the son we so desired and then allow him to have multiple special needs?
But God always has a purpose and a plan for what He does. It is never a random happenstance. In the case of Moses, He shared His plan and purpose upfront. He told Moses He would harden Pharaoh’s heart then added, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:4, 5a NKJV). Pharaoh, who had ordered the deaths of all male Hebrew babies, was naturally hard-hearted. The Egyptians had to suffer the consequences of their evil treatment of the Children of Israel, and they had to know that there was only one true and living God. With the ten plagues, God took down their fake deities one-by-one!
He doesn’t always reveal His plan and purpose to us at the outset like He did with Moses. But rest assured, God has a plan and purpose for everything He allows in your life and mine. We have learned so much through raising a son with disabilities. The non-profit we are launching, CTASO (Alton & Betty Sumner’s Children’s Trauma Awareness and Support Organization) is in some ways an outgrowth of our experience in being entrusted by God with a special needs son. What you and I are going through at this moment is a part of God’s amazing plan for us. It’s okay to ask, “Why God?” But then, just “Trust in, lean on, be confident in the LORD. And do not rely on your own insights” (Proverbs 3:5 AMPC).
Focus Quote: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
–Romans 8:28 (NLT)
