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Ex. 7
“But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened” (Ex. 7:22a). How many hearts grow hard because they see something that looks like the work of God but isn’t? We need to remember that Satan is the Great Deceiver; the Father of Lies. He is a master of disguise and a truth twister. That’s why it is so important for us to practice listening to God’s Holy Spirit, that we might train our senses to discern good and evil. (See Heb. 5:14).
Luke 10
Since I’ve been thinking about the mysteries of God lately, let me continue with that theme. When Jesus rejoiced after the return of the seventy, He said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.” (Lk. 10:21b). I mentioned the other day that God’s mysteries are beyond our understanding without the light of His Spirit revealing them to us. Thus, I see a similarity in this statement to when He said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Lk. 5:32). Since none are righteous, what He meant was that salvation is for those who recognize their need for repentance. Likewise, none of us are wise and intelligent; we only think we are. Understanding, then, is for those who know they don’t know.
Job 24
Job knows the wicked will come to nothing in the end. Yet He asserts that God doesn’t pay attention to what they do while they live. I have to agree, that certainly seems to be the case more often than not. But I still say that Job’s observations lack the eternal perspective we gain through Jesus Christ. In speaking of the wicked, Job said, “…but no one has assurance of life.” (Job 24:22b). The wicked certainly don’t, and their end does come to nothing. Worse than nothing, actually. But that isn’t true because it is everybody’s fate. It’s true because God does pay attention. And regardless of what the wicked do now, those who put their trust in God alone absolutely do have assurance of life.