When God Gets Personal

Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Pharaoh thought he could negotiate with the Almighty. Another plague? Fine, I’ll compromise a little. The livestock drop dead, and Egypt’s economy crashes while Goshen’s herds graze peacefully in the sunshine. This isn’t random divine wrath, this is targeted precision. God doesn’t just demonstrate power; He reveals character through contrast.

Here’s what makes Exodus 9 unsettling: God hardens Pharaoh’s heart specifically so the world will know who He is. That’s not the sanitized deity we prefer; the cosmic therapist who exists to validate our feelings or personal convictions. This is the God who orchestrates human history to display His glory, even when it gets messy and uncomfortable. He’s not asking Pharaoh’s permission. He’s not asking ours either.

But notice the pattern: judgment falls on Egypt while protection covers Israel. The same God who brings devastation also creates sanctuary. The hail that destroys Egyptian crops never crosses the boundary into Goshen. This isn’t arbitrary favoritism, it’s covenant faithfulness. God remembers His promises even when His people are still stuck in slavery or rebellion; still doubting, still complaining.

Fast forward to the cross. The ultimate Passover. The final plague of death falls on God Himself in human flesh while those covered by His blood walk free. Same pattern; cosmic scale, universal consequence. Judgment and mercy don’t contradict each other, they’re two movements in one symphony.

You can’t tame this God into something manageable. You can only trust Him completely or reject Him entirely. Pharaoh chose his pride over surrender, and it cost him everything. We face the same choice daily, just with more sophisticated rationalizations.

Devotional Prompts:

Where in your life are you trying to negotiate partial obedience with God instead of full surrender?
How does God’s willingness to harden Pharaoh’s heart challenge your understanding of divine sovereignty and human responsibility?
The Israelites experienced protection while still in bondage. What does this reveal about God’s faithfulness even when deliverance feels delayed?
In what ways do you sanitize God’s character to make him more comfortable to your preferences rather than conforming yourself to his revelation?
How does the pattern of judgment and mercy in Exodus point you toward the cross, where both collide in ultimate expression?

Prayer: Holy God, you are not safe, but you are good. Forgive us for trying to domesticate your majesty into something we can control. Give us the courage to trust your sovereignty even when it confounds our understanding, and the wisdom to find refuge in your covenant promises when judgment falls around us. Through Christ, our Passover Lamb. Amen.