Why Would God Choose To Make Things Worse?

When we read about God working in mysterious ways, or everything working out for His good, what comes to mind? Can you give an example of this in your life? In someone else’s? Here’s an example of this process taking place. God tells Moses to go tell Pharaoh (through his brothers Aaron) to let His people go. God proceeds to tell Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart. Doesn’t this seem to make matters worse? Why would God choose to “make things worse”? The simple answer is to multiply the number of miraculous signs and wonders. Why? So that more people will witness them, and thus know God. Think about that. God uses a pagan king, an unbeliever, by making him even harder than he is in order to give people more evidence to know Who He is. I think that exemplifies the above point, don’t you? In the end, God will get the glory. Even if it seems like He’s going about it in a way that doesn’t make sense to us. As Joseph stated at the end of Genesis, “what you meant for evil, God meant for good”. Does this give you a better glimpse into the heart of our Creator?

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. 2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. 3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply My miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down My fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue My forces–My people, the Israelites–from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5 When I raise My powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” Exodus 7:1-5