Exodus 9: God is gracious

OK, in reply to the 30,000 emails, I'm still here, reading my Bible every day, but I've drifted off from being online so apologies for that!

Exodus 9 sees Pharaoh still at odds with God and his messengers, Moses and Aaron. In verses 15-17 we see God say 'For by now I could have streched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth'. What I love here is how God is merciful and patient, and gives Pharaoh lots of chances. We serve a God who is merciful and will give us chances and more chances!

Later in the chapter, God warns people to avoid his wrath by getting their animals out of the way. In verse 20 we see that 'those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside'. Here we see God giving the bad guys a chance to avoid punishment, showing he is not out to get us, but just wants us to learn his lesson. He is gracious and gives us chances!

Finally, in verse 34 we read how 'when Paraoh saw that the rain and hail had stopped, he sinned again'. This verse warns us not to fall into sin when we are not in a disaster. Don't go luke warm when nothing bad is happening, but stay faithful to God throughout.