Trusting God Through the Plagues
The same circumstances that reveal God’s power to an open heart will harden a closed one. What changes everything is not what happens to us—but how we respond to God in it.
This year, I decided to read through the Bible. I got a Bible that is set up for each day. It gives me a portion of the Old Testament, a portion of the New Testament, and a little from Psalms and Proverbs. I am really enjoying it.
As I was in the book of Exodus I was reading about Moses coming to Pharaoh to ask him to let the Children of Israel go. When Pharaoh said, “No,” God sent a plague. The first three fell on both the Children of Israel and the Egyptians, but after that, they fell only on the Egyptians.
As I was reading, I started to think about it and came to the conclusion that the plagues were not just to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go, but they were also for the Children of Israel.
For Israel, the plagues showed the power of God—His ability to bring them through judgment and to protect them from it. For Pharaoh, the plagues were meant to teach him the power of God and to show him that God deeply cared for His people.
I also realized that Israel’s heart was open to God’s power, and with each revelation, they grew in hope of deliverance. Pharaoh, however, did not have an open heart. With each revelation of God’s power, he only grew angrier. He appeared to repent, but it was a repentance of the consequences, not a true change of heart.
The Bible tells us, “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go” (Exodus 8:32, KJV).
Then I began to think about my own life. I believe that nothing comes to me unless it first passes through the hands of God. The book of Job is a powerful example of this truth. Yes, Satan brought suffering into Job’s life, but only because God allowed it. Scripture says, “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand” (Job 1:12, KJV).
As a follower of Christ, I believe God allows or disallows what comes into my life. And I can respond in one of two ways: with an open, repentant, trusting heart, or with a rebellious heart like Pharaoh.
Just like Pharaoh, there are times when I bring consequences upon myself because of my own choices. But if I am truly repentant, I can be drawn closer to God through those experiences. If I choose instead to harden my heart against Him, those consequences eventually lead to separation from God. Scripture is clear: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23, KJV).
This leads me to ask myself an important question: How worried do I really need to be about the things happening around me—in the church and in the world? My conclusion is this: I don’t need to be worried. God is still in control. Even when bad things are happening, I can allow them to draw me closer to Him.
I can allow these things to push me deeper into the Word of God, into more prayer, and into loving the hurting—drawing them closer to Jesus. God has got this. I don’t need to fret; I just need to trust Him.
I have a hope that burns within me—the hope of the coming of the Lord. In what way is He going to accomplish all things? I don’t know exactly. But what I do know is this: I can trust Him. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1, KJV).
Some difficult things—or “plagues”—may fall on me, and some may not. But whatever happens, I can still rejoice in the Hope, the greatest Hope. And it all starts today, with trusting God in the little things of life. They may seem big in the moment, but in the scope of eternity, they are very small.
How we respond to the things happening around us will be a witness to those watching our lives. Do we truly believe that He is the most powerful God of the universe? If I am honest, many times my answer is no. What reveals our true belief is not our words, but our actions. And far too often, I show by my actions that I don’t fully trust in His power. How about you?
I want to commit to staying more connected to God, so that His indwelling Spirit can lead me into a deeper, truer belief in His power—and that His power would be revealed in my life. I don’t want to control or manipulate situations into how I think they should go. I want to trust Him and be led by Him.
Dear Father In Heaven,
I come before You acknowledging that You are sovereign, powerful, and good. Forgive me for the times I have hardened my heart or tried to take control instead of trusting You. I choose today to open my heart fully to You. Teach me to trust You in both the little and the big things. Let Your Holy Spirit guide my thoughts, my decisions, and my responses. May my life be a reflection of Your power and faithfulness. I surrender my will to Yours, and I place my hope firmly in You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Action Steps
Daily Surrender – Begin each day by consciously placing your plans and concerns into God’s hands through prayer.
Stay in the Word – Commit to daily Bible reading, even when life feels overwhelming.
Examine Your Heart – Ask God to reveal areas where your heart may be hard or resistant to His leading.
Respond with Trust – When difficulties arise, choose trust over fear and prayer over panic.
Be a Witness – Let your response to trials reflect your confidence in God’s power and faithfulness.
God is still at work. He is still powerful. And He is still trustworthy. Whether we face deliverance or difficulty, our hope remains secure in Him. Today is another opportunity to choose trust—and to let our lives declare that He truly is the God who reigns over all.
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