Human Response 121: False Repentance

Exodus 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

God’s word of Law and work of judgment had done its proper work upon the Pharaoh. The Plague of Hail brought him to confess he is a sinner and the Lord is righteous. In this he was right and spoke the truth. This was God’s intention, and what he should have done, in the first place. Judgment is rendered for the purpose of Salvation. Witness the judgment of the Cross.

However, this foxhole repentance was insincere and short-lived. Moses went and caused the hail to stop, but he said,”Ye will not yet fear the Lord.” Sure enough, the hail ceased and Pharaoh sinned again and hardened his heart. When things are bad we repent and turn to the Lord; when things are good we harden the heart. This is the repeating cycle of the people in the book of Judges; and the cycle of our own lives as well. For this reason, we need to be in constant and instant touch with God. Once a week is not really enough. We need daily repentance.

Repentance and confession is shallow when we are in trouble. We just want to get out of the immediate problem, and then, like Pharaoh, we revert to character. Genuine repentance is a work of God, the Spirit, through the Word. A penitent heart is a gift of God. Ask Him for it.

Pharaoh did not respond by seeking the Lord, just seeking temporary relief. He admitted sin to get out of trouble, not to establish or restore a relationship with the living God. How do we respond to the plagues of life?