One more night with the frogs…

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.  -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I was on facebook today, talking to a college student about his upcoming semester grades. He made the comment that he wished he was more motivated. That he had prepared more in high school. I told him I thought most people could relate to that and maybe he should send himself a reminder for the fall, when classes start up again, so he could remember what he said today.

Exodus 8:10  Tomorrow, Pharaoh said.

The conversation reminded me of my daily reading from The Upper Room today. When God sent a plague of frogs on Egypt,  Moses made the following offer to Pharaoh: I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.

To which Pharaoh replied…Tomorrow.

WHAT??? Frogs everywhere…in the streets…on the floors of the homes…in the beds. What a mess! And yet…tomorrow!

Imagine being surrounded by frogs…the smell…the sound…gross.

Why tomorrow? Well, lets look at what we know.

-Pharaoh refused to submit to God and release the Israelites.
-God sent plagues upon Egypt
-Pharaoh agreed to release God’s people, but changed his mind
-the plagues continued

Does this sound familiar to anyone but me?

Tomorrow…I will eat right. Tomorrow…I will exercise and get into shape. Tomorrow…I will stop lying to my spouse. Tomorrow…I will not steal anything from work. Tomorrow…

What’s wrong with tomorrow? Let’s look at Pharaoh again.

-he wouldn’t submit to God’s will
-he was surrounded by the result of his sin
-he said he would change, hoping that God would simply turn his attention elsewhere
-he continued to suffer even though relief was offered to him

There are so many times that I know I need to stop, confess my sin to God and pray for forgiveness. I know that if I am sincere, God will forgive me. I also know the peace that comes with it. And yet…

I know that sometimes what is known (our sin) is more comfortable to us than the unknown (forgiveness and healing). As strange as it sounds…sometimes it’s easier to stay where we are, unmotivated to change, even though something better is waiting for us. Why is that?

Perhaps Pharaoh didn’t trust that God would keep his word. Maybe, because of his experiences with his “gods”, Pharaoh expected things to get worse if he submitted control over to Moses’ God.

Do we trust that God will keep his promise to us? That if we confess our sin, that He truly will forgive us? What past experiences are we basing our trust on? A bad relationship…an abusive situatioin…unfulfilled promises?

We tend to base our ability to trust God on our ability to trust others. Others who have lied…cheated…taken advantage…hurt us.

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?  –Numbers 23:19

Why spend one more night with the frogs that plague you? Why not ask God to get rid of them now? Kick the frogs out of your bed and sleep peacefully…surrounded by the grace of God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.     -Philippians 4:7