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Do You Believe in Destiny?
Reflecting on Exodus Nine
“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” – Exodus 9:16
Out of context, this verse could be mistaken for God’s words to Moses. But in reality, God was speaking to Pharaoh. The guy who was on the receiving end of a beat down of biblical proportions.
God hardened Pharaoh’s heart- repeatedly. Because of this, Pharaoh would not free God’s people. But Pharaoh was still held responsible for it and God smacked him upside the head with all kinds of freaky plagues from his mighty hand.
The condition of Pharaoh’s heart was determined by God. We can’t explore the Exodus story without pausing to deal with this fact. In doing so, we’ll discover the truth about destiny and the sovereignty of God.
How do you feel about the fact that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart yet held him responsible for it? Was it fair to Pharaoh? Was it fair to Egypt? Is God unjust?
Here’s what Paul, the writer of a good chunk of the New Testament wrote about this:
From Romans 9:14-21:
“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”
When we say that God is sovereign we are saying that he is the Potter and we are the clay; that he is the Author and we are the novel; that he is the Savior and we are the saved.
We love to say that we have a destiny- but do we truly believe it? Everyone should wrestle with this. It’s not easy- but it’s necessary.
A belief in destiny requires ultimate trust in God.
Here’s what the great theologian, The Tick, says about destiny:
“Destiny’s powerful hand has made the bed of my future, and it’s up to me to lie in it…And you don’t fight destiny. No sir. And, you don’t eat crackers in the bed of your future, or you get all… scratchy.” ~ The Tick
Pharaoh’s destiny was determined by God yet he was still responsible for his actions. The same is true of our lives. God has written our stories in eternity yet we still are held accountable for how we live it out. This coordination of God’s sovereignty and our will is a profound mystery that I can’t fully comprehend. But I trust God.
I believe the Bible:
I believe that while I plan the course of my life it’s God who determines my steps. I believe God has plans for me. Plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans that give me hope and a future. I believe that God is the Potter and I am the clay. I believe I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do.
I believe in destiny.
What about you? What do you believe?
Even more- who do you believe in?
That may be the most significant [and most difficult] question you will ever ask.
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