One of the differences between the hail and the other plagues inflicted on Egypt so far is the fact that the end of the hailstorm is much more perceptible than the cessation of the other plagues. This is significant because here, for the first time, Pharaoh expresses a willingness to repent. He says to Moses: “This time I have sinned…the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.” This was not ultimately genuine, but God’s response is a clear indication of his willingness to respond to repentance. After Moses prayed the storm stopped. Imagine the deafening noise and atmospheric turbulence suddenly halting and the sense of calm that followed! This serves as a dramatic picture of how quickly God will relent from judgement if we will only repent. If this is the case with Pharaoh’s insincere gesture of repentance, how much more when we genuinely express regret to God and ask forgiveness for our sins. We are assured, even from this story alone, that God is a God who is quick to turn away judgement in response to the least expression of regret and supplication. You don’t need to get your life together for God to forgive you. All it takes is a simple gesture of repentance and God will rush in to forgive and restore you. That is how eager God is to forgive us. He paid an unfathomably great price in Jesus’ sacrifice to purchase our forgiveness, and he is eager now to get what he paid for. It isn’t hard to be saved. You must simply be willing to entrust yourself to Christ.
Ask God to forgive your failings and entrust yourself to Christ again today.
Read Exodus 9:13-35
