13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now.19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”
20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:13-21)
God’s patience and grace should lead us to true repentance. But why do we often resist God’s gentle rebuke? Should we wait until calamity strikes before we reconsider our ways and repent? Sadly, many of us still harden our hearts in spite of God’s mercy upon us. God can easily allow us to be destroyed but instead He keeps us alive in spite of our stubbornness or rebellion. When will we learn? God in His mercy will tell us the consequences of our continuous sin, so that we may reconsider our ways. He may give us more time to think about it. Others may even show us the way, just to give us encouragement. Models can be powerful motivators, if we’re willing to take notice of it. But how do we respond? Often we persist in our ways. The purpose of salvation is to bring complete healing into our lives. There is so much to heal and repair in our lives. Our hearts in particular are set toward pride and rebellion. But God’s grace is more powerful, if we will just humble ourselves and repent. When sin abounds, His grace much more abounds. How can we resist such gentle love? Today, if you realize that God has been patient with you all along, as you look back at the circumstances of your life, then make that courageous decision to repent. Turn from your wicked ways, and turn to God. God will save you, if you really ask Him with humility and faith. Do it today. Remember, take notice of God’s patience.
