Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country. (NIV)
Few biblical figures are as reviled as Pharaoh, yet before we rush to judgment, it may be good to see just how reasonable a person he was. Here was a leader who inherited a situation in which a large group of foreigners was living within his boundaries. It was certainly reasonable to think the Israelites would continue to grow in number. It was also reasonable to think that they might join with Egypt’s enemies. They were not native Egyptians, and in those days, ethnicity meant everything. As a good leader, he knew he had to address the situation before it became a genuine problem.
Do you see the danger in clear, reasonable thinking when someone does not know God? Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding. Whether you are a pharaoh or a president, a CEO or coach of the Little League team, a principal or a parent, our thinking and planning must be rooted in the fear and worship of God, or we risk going badly astray. If we are not in any position of leadership, we must carefully measure what our leaders say and do against this same standard.
This is a presidential election year in the United States. We will hear much about plans for the economy, education, health care, and domestic and foreign policy. It does not matter how reasonable any person’s plans sound in the light of personal preference. The only thing that matters is how they align with faithfulness to God.
Lord, help me to rely solely on You and Your perfect will and not on my own understanding of the things that affect my life. Help me to see as You see, to love as You love, and to serve as You serve. In the name of Jesus Christ, Who saw death on a cross as the ultimate glory, amen.
Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins
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