STEPS OF DISOBEDIENCE

“When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”  Exodus 7:5 (NLT)

“Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had said.”
Exodus 7:13 (NLT)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, and he still refuses to let the people go.
So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there.  Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake.  Then announce to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.”  Until now, you have refused to listen to him. So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.”  Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood.  The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”  Seven days passed from the time the Lord struck the Nile.
Exodus 7:14-18, 25 (NLT)

“Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.
Pharaoh returned to his palace and put the whole thing out of his mind.”
Exodus 7:22-23 (NLT)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.  If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land.  The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed!  They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls.  Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”
Exodus 8:1-4 (NLT)

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people.  I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.”  “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people.  Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”  “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.  “All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God.  The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.”  So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh.  And the Lord did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died.
The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land.
Exodus 8:8-14 (NLT)

“But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.”
Exodus 8:15 (NIV)

So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’”  So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals.  All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats.  Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.
Exodus 8:16-18 (NLT)

“This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh.
Exodus 8:19 (NLT)

“But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had said.”
Exodus 8:19 (NLT)

EVERY STEP OF DISOBEDIENCE YOU TAKE IS A STEP CLOSER TO A HARDENED HEART.

WE RATIONALIZE OUTCOMES IN
ORDER TO JUSTIFY SINFUL CHOICES.

OUR STEPS REVEAL OUR HEART.