20 - "Never Assign Tomorrow What You Face Today" Exodus 8-10

#20 To live for this life bows our head to the temporal not the eternal. Exodus 9:3. You cannot live every day for one gold medal. Submit not knowing the outcome. The finger of God writes your story. Exodus 8:19.  But the Pharaoh still didn’t feel the wrongs in his “person.” 

                                                                And the whole river turned to blood.  And little Barrett stirred a pot in a party kitchen at a brand new friend's home---the kid was Eric, I remember.  "What are you cooking?"  And the toddler replied: "Blood."  And this momma was forlorned. What am I teaching my kid?  Barrett's reference was actually Exodus 7:20.  Barrett thought what God did was so cool.  Moses and Aaron obeyed God.  In the sight of Pharaoh, Aaron lifted his rod, smote the waters, and the whole river turned to blood. 

"See the mutability of all things under the sun, and what changes we may meet with in them.  

That which is water today, may be blood tomorrow." M. Henry. 

It is the rampage of evil that leads to turning our waters into blood.  

May we all live to obey because of the overall Ruler, not because of any Rule.

Behold, the Hand of the Lord was even on the cattle.  And all the mean cattle of the Israelites lived, while the mean cattle of Egypt died.  Providence cared.  Pharaoh hardened his heart. And Providence hardened it furthermore.  To live for this life only bows our heads to the temporal not the eternal.  Two of you kids are professional athletes. They will tell you—-you can't live your life every day for one gold medal.  Live to give. My oldest son said: You can't always be first but you can live your best. God's Hand is over all we are. Will we submit not knowing the outcome.  

Pharaoh didn't feel the plagues in his person. Now, he must feel them in his heart. Exo 9:15. All he can reply to so gracious a God is "tomorrow." I'll put this off so I'm not obligated to you today. But ...

Set your eyes on this day to live! Most people live for when they graduate, or when they marry, or when they buy a house, or have a kid. Don't wait for that day. Live today.  

This is the Finger of God. Exodus 9:19 

PHOTO:  Barrett in his element.  All grown up now.  Clouds hovering over him.  

Dear Children, Never assign tomorrow what you face today. “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. Exodus 8:10. Tomorrow, you can pray for me.  Tomorrow, you can set me free.  Tomorrow, you can send the plagues back heavenly.  But not tonight.  And I wonder why.  So puzzling.  So troubling.  So disturbing.  Yet, all we can deal with is our own things that plague us.  Call upon the name of the Lord, Today!