“And the children of Israel …asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians.” Exodus 12:35-36
Man’s will yields to the will of God – whether man wants it to or not. God can move man’s will, like that of a robot, to accomplish His purpose. While God inflicted plague after plague on Egypt, the Bible reminds us, “…the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”[1]
When it was time for Israel to depart Egypt on the Exodus, God laid it on the hearts of the Egyptians to surrender their wealth to these former slaves. It does not require sanctified imagination to conclude that this act of generosity was not naturally motivated by goodness of these pagan hearts.
God holds man responsible for submitting his will to Him, and God judges man when he stubbornly refuses to yield. Although these two appear contradictory, both are true. On the one hand, God will have His way, with or without your cooperation. At the same time, God grants you the freedom to bend your will to His, or rebel and reap the consequences. As His obedient servant, purpose in your heart to keep your will in complete surrender to His will.
[1] Exodus 10:27
Recent Comments