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

“Lord just get me through this situation and I promise to follow you forever. Amen.”

We’ve all prayed that prayer of desperation before, then reneged on our promise.

Hardened hearts find no place in God’s mercy and empty promises on repeat only take us further and further from redemption.

There’s a little Pharaoh in all of us that cries out to God for relief and rescue—exchanging nothing in return in the end.

It’s a dangerous game, and Pharaoh was masterful at it up until the point he was not.

It’s better to never make a vow than to make one and not keep it.

God is patient and long suffering not for his own sake but for ours. He is always focused on his end game, our salvation and redemption.

And he always wins.

Let that sink in.

This matter of eternity is no game.