Sreedhar's Journey

Ever faced a leader, a teacher, or a parent that would not step down from an ill informed decision? They are both egocentric and arrogant. It may make them look bad, or worse, not fit to occupy the position. This behavior is recorded all through history. Pharaoh was one of them. Exodus 9:7, Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go. As a parent I have to be ready to admit and seek forgiveness for wrong words, actions and attitudes. I am not perfect. God is still working on me. Only God is perfect and it is okay to seek forgiveness when you do wrong as a leader. What is the worse thing that can happen? You lose your position. Of course as a parent you continuously work on being right with God and doing the right things. We also cannot be changing our minds all the time. Pharaoh did this multiple times as faced Egypt faced catastrophe after catastrophe. Make a decision...

Have you lived or worked in a farm? It is quite interesting to be surrounded by animals of all kinds, depending on the diversity of the plants and animals in the farm. But with all that comes the smell and associated flies and other things that tend to grow and flourish in a farm setting. Pharaoh had no idea what hit him. He is far from a farm, but he got frogs, lice and flies in this chapter. Exodus 8:18-19, Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said. Up to this point the magicians of Egypt could replicate the "tricks" of Moses. But they had to admit that, when it came to the lice, this was the finger of God. With the flies, God went one step further. He made flies come everywhere except Goshen. This is incredible. Goshen is where the ani...

Are you deaf? There are many who have lost their sense of hearing, but go about their daily lives with great normalcy because they become sharper in their sight and, more powerfully, in their heart. They hear with their heart. I have the great pleasure of working with such a person. What a joy. She may stammer a little bit in her speech but I understand her. She hears you in her heart. Pharaoh could learn from her. Exodus 7:3, And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh saw the rod of God swallowing the other rods. He saw the rod of God change the waters to blood. But, his heart was not listening. God knew this would happen and He uses this to declare what He can do. The idol worshiping Egyptians have to take note. But, it took a long time for them to understand this reality. Are you thinking the same way? Father, may many realize the power of God and the deliverance that He wants to give all of mankind. Let them hear wit...

Open your mouth and speak! Heard that before? Perhaps it was when you were having stage fright and you froze and did not remember your lines. It can be quite embarrassing to face an audience and wonder how you are going to start, or let alone finish. Moses was facing the same predicament. Exodus 6:30, But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?” The people of Israel were not listening and here was being urged to speak to Pharaoh after the first rejection. In fact because of his audience with Pharaoh the trouble for the people was increased. God reassured Moses and showed that he was special in God. Exodus 6:3, I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them. The promises of God was revealed to his forefathers, but the name of the Lord was revealed to Moses. The battle of the heart and mind for Moses is great and he needed to overcome this. Open your mouth a...

Have you made a wrong turn in your life? I made one wrong turn in Chicago. We were supposed to go visit a factory many years ago with 3 others in my car (guess who was driving), and I took the wrong exit. Don't blame Garmin or Google Maps, because we did not have either. We entered a strange and dark neighborhood where everybody looked at us funny. I quickly turned around and got out of there. Moses must have felt the same way after meeting Pharaoh. Exodus 5:22, So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? You have to read the whole chapter to feel what Moses felt. If you were Moses you would have cried out and said this is a big mistake. Have you felt this way before. Wrong job, wrong ministry, wrong house and, maybe even wrong family? Exodus 5:23, For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” Moses felt very ba...

Have you ever been quoted as a spokesperson of an organization for a newspaper or other media organization? I have been in many occasions, and I used to run a number of media organizations. But the first time I was ever quoted was the most memorable. My first job was with a management consulting firm that I joined at the age of 23. A cold call came in asking for our opinion on some information technology matter. The operator passed the call to me and the next day my name and my quote was in the papers. I became the talk of the firm. There is another man who was not so ready to talk. Exodus 4:15, Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. Moses had two great objections. Speech and authority. God promised him words and Aaron. The very words of God will fill his mouth. Nothing missed and full of power. God decided to call Aaron to come to the wilderness to meet Moses and bless him ...

Does anyone listen when you talk? Perhaps people don't like what you say. Or, they think of you as being a little queer. When no one is listening you tend to cry out to get attention. The people of Israel cried out and God heard them. Exodus 3:7, And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. God speaks to Moses after he has been in exile for 40 years. He is picked at age 80 for this daunting task of getting Pharoah to release the people of Israel out of Egypt. But Moses questions his call. Exodus 3:11, But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” What is your call in life? We always feel that the job is better done by somebody else. We cannot move out of our comfort zone. Moses was happy tending sheep and growing his family. But God has a bigger plan for his life. And y...