Of all the times I’ve read Exodus 7-12 and the drama of Pharaoh and the plagues, I have never noticed this. Look at Pharaoh’s response to plague #2 The Frogs:

“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.” Exodus 8:8-11

Tomorrow?! Really? Why in the world not right now? Why not end the suffering and difficulty right now? This is surely a crazy response.

And yet, have you ever been struggling and asking God to make changes in your life? And when He points out the one thing you need to do in order to bring your life back to a place of peace and security – you balk. You are just not ready to give that one thing up. You remain stubbornly independent and unwilling to take a knee before God. Your quality of life is terrible, and there is a way out of the misery – but you just think “maybe I’ll do that hard thing tomorrow”.

Why do we hang on to the sins and habits in our lives that continue to make us miserable? Life does not have to be that way. Take heart. Have courage. Obey the LORD. He wants to bless you with an abundant life – do not chose to spend one more night with the frogs!

Here’s the gospel song that got me thinking:
They’re gonna give it up tomorrow, but want one more night with the frogs.
One more night with the stinking frogs, one more night in sin
Had a terrible time with them last night, I just gotta do it again…
He coulda had sleep, rest and peace, but chose one more night with the frogs.

[I’m currently teaching through Exodus. You can sign up for the reading plan or join our discussion on Facebook by visiting this page: https://mylhumc.net/grow-in-christ/]