A Teachable heart

As I progress through my Bible reading plan this year, I've reached the book of Exodus, which I've always cherished for its powerful account of Yahweh's mighty deliverance of the Israelites after 430 years of slavery under the Egyptian Pharaoh. Each plague demonstrates God's supreme power, revealing to both the Egyptians and the Israelites that the King of the universe reigns over all of creation, unlike the false gods of Egypt.

Each plague specifically confronted an Egyptian deity, showcasing God's dominion. Some examples that quickly come to mind: 

• When the Nile turned to blood, it directly challenged Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile.
• The plague of frogs confronted Heket, the fertility goddess, who was depicted as a frog.
• The plague of lice, which arose from the dust of the earth, defied Geb, the Egyptian god of the planet.
• The plague of flies opposed Khepri, the god of rebirth, often associated with swarms of insects.
• And one of the most well-known plagues—the plague of darkness—stood against Ra, the Egyptian sun god.

Through these plagues, the Lord demonstrated His sovereignty over all created things. But more than that, He extended His mercy to His people, freeing them physically and spiritually and working to remove Egypt's culture from their hearts so they would know and worship Him alone. He understood that after centuries of slavery, the Israelites' hearts were weak and prone to returning to what was familiar rather than trusting Him despite these mighty signs. 

At its core, worship is a heart issue. Throughout Exodus, we read how God hardened Pharaoh's heart after each plague—a phrase that can sometimes be misunderstood. It's not that God manipulated Pharaoh in a devious display of power, for God is good, He is light, and He grants His creation the ability to choose. A helpful way to understand this is through the analogy of the sun's rays: the same heat that melts ice also hardens clay.

When confronted with undeniable demonstrations of God's power, Pharaoh would momentarily relent, asking for the plagues to be lifted—yet his heart remained unchanged. He refused to acknowledge God's authority, choosing instead to act in defiance of God's command. This is a powerful reminder that a hardened heart is not simply an accident but the result of persistent resistance to God's truth.

May we examine our hearts, remaining teachable, tender, and open to God's voice rather than hardened by deception, offense, or unforgiveness.

Shalom & Blessings, 

Dr. Sam Kurien