Good Morning.
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.’ ” 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.” (Exodus 5:1-2)
Pharaoh’s response, “Who is the LORD?” seems to be an expression of contempt. It is important to remember that, not only were the Egyptians a polytheistic culture, but Pharaoh was also considered to be a god among the Egyptians. Essentially, he considered himself to be as a god and places his authority above God.
This has always been the mindset of tyrants and despots — they don’t consider themselves to be subject to any law other than their own because they are, in fact, lawless. When writing about the coming Antichrist, Paul calls him the “son of perdition” and says that he, “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” It would seem that the heart of those who ask the question, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice,” is filled with the spirit of Antichrist.
I have longed believed that, rather than the Antichrist producing a lawless environment in the world, a lawless environment would produce the Antichrist. When the hearts of people are such that they would say, “Who is the LORD that I should obey Him,” then the stage is set for the “lawless one” to step in. Frankly, who can deny that the world has reached such a state? When we openly and obstinately defy the boundaries and laws the Creator has established, are we not corporately expressing the same contempt that Pharaoh displayed? When a U.S. congressman implies that God’s will is no concern of the US Congress, are we not denying His sovereignty over all His creation?
Those who know the Almighty are challenged to love Him with all of their being — heart, mind and strength. It is important that we remain steadfast in our devotion to God and to His instructions, remembering that Messiah said:
“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
Lawlessness is pervasive in our culture and is quickly attaining the status of being “good” while devotion to God’s standards is now regarded as “evil.” Nevertheless, we must uphold His standards in the face of such contempt and keep our hearts tender and sensitive to His Voice. We mustn’t let our love for Him wane, no matter the circumstances. Hold fast to your first love and proclaim His Name in the earth that those in darkness may come to know the LORD and obey Him.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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