Even This

Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. Exodus 7:23 (NIV) 

Are we in danger of having built ourselves an impenetrable palace? A palace of problematic fear; a palace of pride; a palace of past mistakes; a palace of people pleasing facades; a palace void of any real peace?! Exodus reveals the extreme effort God made to get a message of His Sovereignty through to the Pharaoh of Egypt and time and again the Pharaoh hardened his heart. 

When Pharaoh is first confronted his initial question is, “Who is the LORD…?” (Ex. 5:2) After this all his questions stem from “Why?” When we don’t know Who our Sovereign Lord is the “Why’s?” of this broken world will build its own impenetrable palace around our hearts. The attempt to numb the pain of all the unanswerable questions only leads to death inside the palace just as Pharaoh eventually experiences (Ex. 12). 

Even those who know our Sovereign Lord can be derailed by this world’s brokenness and unanswerable “why’s?” if they allow their focus to drift from His precious promises to their own palace of problems. Exodus 5:9 (NIV) records the enemy saying, Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies. However what the enemy was calling “lies” was really the Truth! Unfortunately his plan worked and Exodus 6 records God reminding the people of His Truth; His faithfulness throughout the generations, His mighty hand to save, His attention to their heartache, His good plan for their future and His promise to save and yet… even this could not penetrate the peoples despair. Why? Exodus 6:9 (NIV) …but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. 

Dear one, do not let the unanswerable “why’s?” of this world distract you from Who you know is Sovereign and good; Who holds all the answers to the “why’s?” in your heart for the day we will be able to comprehend the answers AND even thank Him for the way He worked all things together for our good (Romans 8:28)! That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) 

“Is God’s comfort too little for you? Is his gentle word not enough? What has taken away your reason? What has weakened your vision, Job 15:11-12 (NLT) 

Tuck this invitation in your heart’s pocket dear one…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV) 

…and even this…

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) 

Don’t let your “palace” keep you from His peace; …he himself is our peace… (Eph. 2:14)