April 24, 2026 WEST

This powerful session takes us through the plagues of Egypt in Exodus 8, challenging us to examine our own hearts for areas where we might be resisting God's voice. Rather than always seeing ourselves as Moses in the story, we're invited to honestly consider: where are we being Pharaoh? Where have we hardened our hearts despite witnessing God's power and demonstrations of His strength? The reading reveals a sobering pattern—Pharaoh repeatedly experiences relief from judgment, only to harden his heart again. This mirrors our own tendency to cry out to God in crisis but return to stubbornness once the pressure lifts. We're reminded that God doesn't delay in addressing resistance; Moses is told to rise early and confront Pharaoh at the river. This speaks to the importance of not putting too much time between conflict and confrontation in our own lives. The session also highlights God's attentiveness to the cries of His people, a theme that continues into 1 Samuel 9 where we see God raising up Saul as a deliverer. Throughout these passages, we discover that annoying circumstances—like Saul's lost donkeys—are often divine appointments leading us exactly where God wants us. The message is clear: God hears our cries, responds to our needs, and is always working behind the scenes, even when we can't see it.