Exodus 5:1-2

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”2 And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord,that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

Devotional

The Authority of Almighty God, of His Name and of His Word in generations past used to be inherently received. And if not believed, at least acknowledged as having indisputable authority to set moral standards that would govern the affairs of mankind. But now in this morally complacent generation, where it seems nothing is off limits, even when God’s Word is boldly and rightly proclaimed, there are those who just shrug their shoulders and go on with whatever they are doing and pursuing. Some act as if they have heard nothing. While others scoff or laugh at Christ's command to repent and believe in Him, and still others drown or shut it out by whatever means possible anything regarding true knowledge of God. And so there is a generation that is increasingly devoid of any reverence for God, nor regard for His Word. Not even the Lord Jesus Christ’s Words that compel all people to be reconciled to God by faith in His Person, and thus become Jesus' disciple by keeping His Word. And so Pharaoh here is a prototypical unbeliever whose life is lived independent of God, and only governed by his own desires. As he says to Moses: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

And so like Pharoah there are those in every generation who likewise in hardness of heart say, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice". Which is only a very foolish response to God’s Word and the Lord Jesus Christ's Gospel. For though men and women try to shut God and His Words out of their hearts and lives, God still is God. Who is neither restricted, nor hindered, nor harmed by anyone's disobedience or unbelief. And so it is God's Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). For it is He whom we must all give an account of ourselves too. And so we all have two options before us, too either continue on in sin, rebellion and unbelief, which will reap it's own harvest in it's own time (consider Prov 11:31; 26:10). Or to repent of those things and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, and be made righteous by Him (2 Cor 5:21). For the Lord Jesus gives some very ominous warnings about sin and enticements to it (Matt 18:7). As well as those who refuse to have Him to rule over them (Luke 19:27). Therefore rather than continuing on in that which will only harm you, why not turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and let Him both forgive you and change you. For that is why Jesus was crucified and shed His blood unto death, not only for the remitting of ever sinners sins, who trusts in His death on the cross, to save them from the coming wrath of God (John 3:16). But also by His Resurrection from the dead, Jesus imparts new and everlasting life by His Spirit into all who believe in Him. Now Jesus Christ's own Resurrection from dead is also evidential proof of a universal resurrection from dead, when He will sit on God's Judgment Seat and will judge all people, from every generation. And so as Jesus says people will rise and come forth either to the resurrection of life, or to the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:24-30). And so for those who believe and receive Him there will be everlasting salvation and Joy. But for those do not believe His Words, there will be a very sorrowful end, as Jesus says, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Scripture Citations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982