Today in our old testament reading Pharaoh’s heart is still hardened. He has seen the miracles of God on numerous occasions. Maybe the duplication of  some of the plagues by his own magicians contributed to his arrogance and pride against God. (Side- note: Why did the magicians duplicate the plagues? (snakes, water into blood, frogs) doesn’t that only add to the problem?) But the acts of God began to be even too powerful for these select mean as well, scripture says that the magicians tried, but could not. Ex.8:18.  God brings plague after plague upon the people of Egypt and on Pharaoh, but Pharaoh, just as God said did not release the people. What is amazing to see and should not be missed is that through all of these plagues (water into blood, frogs, gnats, flies, deceased livestock, boils, hail, locust and darkness) God constantly preserves His people. Pharaoh up to this point has tried a few negotiations but has not yet given God the honor He is due. We will see how this turns out as the story continues to unfold.

This brings us to our new testament reading. Jesus teaches the disciples a lesson on humility. The disciples ask Jesus: “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus gives them an answer I personally don’t think they were ready for. I say this because if they were they would not have asked such a question. Jesus tells them that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself as a child. My question to day is: How are you looking in this area? Are you still persuing greatness by man’s standard, by constantly trying to do more than you did yesterday, or more than you neighbor or have you humbled youself as a child before the Father, knowing that He controls all and supplies all according to His will, realizing that it was He and not our good deeds that called us out of darkness into the marvelous light of His son Jesus Christ 1Peter 2:9? I don’t know how you will answer this question but ask yourself,be honest with yourself, take a minute and ponder on it.

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