The Worst of the plagues of Exodus

Exodus 9:13 And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Exodus 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

By far, the worst of the plagues of the plagues of Egypt was not the visual or physical torment. The worst was the plague upon the hearts of Pharoah and the people. When the heart is hardened and blind, it cannot see the superiority of the magnificent God, whose mercy we live under day by day. Lack of thankfulness for His past blessings is blinding. Lack of consideration that we are borrowers of His air and land and life is truly hardening. It seems that in childbirth there is a moment where that is the case. No matter the prayer that is offered, there is a blinder that comes upon the soul where you can see no way out. We call this transition, it means that the baby is just about to be born. In childbirth classes, we prepare the mother for that one moment in time that is the trial of her faith that she will be able to be delivered. Shame on us, who have received the mercies of God in Christ, to be blind to the God of the mercies. Shame on us, to the extent that we have withheld praise and worship to the God who has given us all things richly to enjoy. Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered. God, we pray for softened hearts and open eyes to see Your goodness and mercy, even in the clouds of difficulty that occasionally rise in our lives. The sweet mercy of a softened and contrite heart is a blessing. The hardness of heart and the blindness of eye that keeps the knee from bending and the voice from giving praise is the worst plague. Bless us, Lord to know You and see You in the graces and in the mercies and in the pains. Amen You inhabit the praises of Your people.