Repentance, Not Remorse
TEXT: EXODUS 8:1-15
Key verse: “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart,
and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said” (Exodus 8:15).
God is too just to overlook sin and take remorse for repentance. In His
justice, He warns before bringing judgment. The only response He expects from
man is repentance, which is total turning away from sin. In His righteous
judgment, He shows mercy to the truly penitent.
Pharaoh was warned to expect the epidemic of frogs if he refused to let Israel
go and serve the Lord. On Pharaoh’s wilful refusal, Moses and Aaron, with outstretched
rod, performed the miracle of judgment. It was a plague of frogs, that came
from the streams, the rivers and the ponds throughout the land of Egypt. Frogs
invaded the houses, the ovens, the kneading troughs of both the king and his
subjects. Pharaoh’s magicians, in their folly, conjured more frogs with their
enchantments. At this stage, Pharaoh could not bear it and, therefore turned to
Moses for prayers. He now seemed to have confidence in God. Moses, having a
right standing with God, prayed at Pharaoh’s request. Moses did everything
according to the word of God and the Lord in turn, honoured his words. God
honours those who honour Him. The frogs all died. You would have thought that
Pharaoh had permanently learnt his lesson after going through series of
torments. But he remained obstinate.
How many people provoke God and invite His judgment by rejecting His word and
slighting His servants? How many people resort to physicians of no value who,
instead of alleviating their problems, add more burden to their clients? For
the careless believers, how soon do they forget their commitment and promise to
serve God. Let us fear, lest we be found to be hypocrites like Pharaoh, who in
times of discipline, walked soberly, prayerfully and carefully, promising to
serve God, but failed to follow through after receiving a respite.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Mere remorse is hypocrisy.
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