Cause I Gotta Have Faith...

And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:21-22

I love great dinner conversations. I had dinner with a buddy of mine tonight and we were talking about things of a spiritual nature. It's always great for me to listen and to be able to chime in with things that the Lord is doing in my life. The question always seems to arise, "How is your family?" For those that don't know, I come from a family of non-believers. It's kind of a long story, but I come from a family semi-rooted in the traditions of Catholicism. I've spoken openly to my mom about my faith and it just seems that those roots keep her from coming to understand the goodness of our God. We don't need to perform any sort of rituals or say any certain prayers, but it just takes faith. When I say "semi-rooted" I mean it's all my family has ever known. We don't go to church every week and I'm not even sure the last time my family went to church, but it's where most of what they know about God comes from. Oh yeah, and reality tv! 

Anyhow, as I fill my buddy in on the continuing telenovela that is my family, I begin to wonder about their salvation. I've prayed about it. I've asked God to bring them closer to Himself. My heart breaks for it, but do I think He'll do it? I'm not sure. He tells me that if I ask in prayer, believing, that I will receive. I guess my struggle is the believing. Do I think He can? Of course! I'm just not sure that He will.  How can I fix that?! Is it even something that I need to fix? 

Adding to my confusion, I read from Exodus last night. God is sending Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and asking him to let God's people go. Pharaoh continues to deny the requests despite the plagues the Lord is sending down upon Egypt. Here's my question: Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? I thought I had an answer when I read further, but it lead to more confusion. Let me explain...

"For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth..." -Exodus 9:14

So this is why God did what He did: He wanted to prove His power so that they would all know there is no one on the earth like Him. But here's where I get confused...

"Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go." -9:17

How has Pharaoh exalted himself?! What has he done wrong? Yes, he didn't let them out of Egypt, but isn't God the one who continually hardens Pharaoh's heart towards letting them go in the first place? Ultimately the Lord's power was shown through all of this and eventually Pharaoh did let God's people go, so it all worked it. It always does. But I just don't understand why God does the things He does the way He does. I guess it's not for me to understand. 

Regardless, my prayers deepen for the salvation of my family members, and I ask that you join me in praying for them as well. Please. May His grace and mercy open their eyes to His wonder and majesty. May their lives be a testament to His power and glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen!