For what it's worth

Most of us are familiar with the story of how God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses, the burning bush, plagues, splitting the sea. There's a lot there. A lot to learn. And as I was recently reading in Exodus 8, something jumped out at me. ​It was following the curse of the frogs:
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   Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”
    Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.”
   “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.
   But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.
(Exodus 8:8-10a, 15)

​WHOA. 

​So ​Pharaoh refuses to obey God.

God sends consequences – painful, irritating, frustrating, and annoying consequences.

God offers relief – “obey.”
 
Pharaoh gives in. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
 
When?
 
“Tomorrow.”
 
God brings relief.
 
Pharaoh says, “Eh, never mind. That wasn’t so bad.”

It wasn't until Pharaoh and all of Egypt suffered the most personal loss of all that he finally surrendered. 
​

Isn't that just like us?

​People change when the pain of staying the way they are becomes greater than the pain of change.

​The problem is that we suffer frequently from memory loss.
 
We sin. We suffer. God offers freedom. We hesitate. Is it worth it? Maybe. Tomorrow. 

Sometimes tomorrow doesn't come until next week. Or next month. Or next year.

But eventually, the time comes. It's too much. We agree. We'll do anything. Just help. 
 
So God relieves the pressure and the pain.
 ​

And then we forget.

​We forget how painful the consequences are. We forget how much we suffered. How overwhelmed we were. And, instead, we overwhelm ourselves with the “what ifs” of the change we promised God – of the obedience we promised God.
​

What if I’m alone forever?

What if I never get healed?

What if they never make it right?

​What if, what if, what if…

​And just like that, we decide that the pain of change is worse than the pain of staying the same.

Just like that, we reject God.
 
And God begins the process over again. Consequences, pain, suffering. 
​

“Can you hear Me now?"

"Do you believe Me now?"

"Will you seek Me now?”

And because He loves us, He does this until we finally see His goodness, His patience, and His mercy and find the motivation necessary to follow through. To believe Him. To trust Him.

Enough to overcome the fear.

To overcome the what ifs.

And to start saying, “even if.”  

Even if I’m alone, 
it’s worth it.
 
Even if I never find healing, 
it’s worth it.

Even if they never say they’re sorry, 
it’s worth it.
 
Even if.

​It’s worth it.

​Disobedience, on the other hand, is never worth it. It brings pain, bondage, anger, despair. 

But obedience? Obedience is always worth it. 
​

Let's choose to obey God 
for what it's worth - 
Peace. Hope. Joy. Freedom.