Who Is Your Pharaoh?

Who rules your heart?

We are slaves to whatever or whoever rules our hearts. Just as Pharaoh ruled over Egypt with a heavy hand, sin often rules over our lives, enslaving our thoughts, our decisions, and our desires.

“You are slaves of the one you obey whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.”
— Romans 6:16

God sent ten plagues to Egypt, ten opportunities for Pharaoh to soften his heart. Yet, time and again, Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let God’s people go. In the same way, how many times has God reached out to us, through conviction, through His Word, through others and how many times have we hardened our hearts, refusing to let go of the sin that enslaves us?

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah.”
— Psalm 95:7-8

The journey from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land, should have taken only 11 days. But because of disobedience, unbelief, and clinging to the past, it took the Israelites 40 years. None of the original generation, except for Joshua and Caleb, entered the Promised Land.

“Because of your unbelief… you shall not enter the land which I have given them.”
— Numbers 14:22-23 (paraphrased)

Egypt represents the environment of sin that we’ve grown accustomed to. When we are saved, when we begin our walk with God, the path to the life He promises is clear and often short. But if we carry our old habits, our idols, and our disbelief with us, we risk wandering in spiritual wilderness.

We build golden calves when the promise seems too far, too slow, or too hard. We search for quick fixes, just like the Israelites did, and in doing so, we may miss the full experience of God’s salvation.

“They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.”
— Psalm 106:20

If we refuse to surrender, the next generation, those born in transformation, may be the ones to enter into what God had originally intended for us.

Remember, 40 years can represent a long, difficult period, and 11 days can represent a short, direct path. It all depends on the condition of your heart and your willingness to obey.

And even when you do reach the gates of your Promised Land, you will face trials. You will face giants. But take heart, there is a promise.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.”
— Isaiah 43:2

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
— Exodus 14:14

The Good News is this.

We now have the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus, and Christ as our Redeemer and King.

In your “Pharaoh moments,” turn to the Holy Spirit. Open the Bible and begin reading from anywhere, God will guide you. By the blood of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Your journey of salvation can start today.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9

Even if you fall, even if you stumble seven times, God will lift you up again.

“Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.”
— Proverbs 24:16

The Promised Land is not just a destination, it is the Will of God for your life.

It is the peace, purpose, and presence of God in you and around you. Your journey may take 11 days, 40 years, or it may happen in an instant, but let your heart be ruled by Christ, not by Pharaoh.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
— Galatians 5:1