EXODUS 12:30-32

So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry

in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he called for Moses and

Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of

Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you

have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

There’s an old story about a man who bought a mule from a farmer. A few days later he brought

it back and said, “I can’t get this beast to do a thing.” “That’s strange,” the farmer replied, “I never

had any problems with him. Let’s see if he will obey me.”

The farmer then walked over, picked up a two by four and hit the mule over the head “What did

you do that for?” the man exclaimed. “Well,” said the farmer, “the first thing you have to do is

get his attention.”

That’s apparently what it took for Pharaoh. Nine times God used quieter and gentler means to get

his attention, but to no avail. Only the extreme experience of losing his firstborn child pierced

this arrogant ruler’s hardened heart and got him to do what he should have done in the first place.

God doesn’t like to deal in extremes. His first choice is always the “still, small voice.” Only when

forced by the wickedness and stubbornness of an unrepentant heart will He resort to drastic

measures.

Yet that in itself is a sign of His love. Where others give up, God loves us so much that He is

even willing to hurt us if that’s what it takes to reach us. Are you putting God in a position where

he has to use drastic measures to get you to listen? There’s a better way. Hear His still, small

voice and you won’t ever have to feel His “two by four.”

IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO GOD’S WHISPER, YOU’LL SURELY HEAR HIS SHOUT.

WOODROW KROLL

www.backtothebible.in