One more night with the frogs

And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Acts 24:24-25

Last time we began thinking about putting things off until tomorrow that really need to be dealt with today. Our response to Christ and the gospel is no doubt the most important item in this category!

Felix’s spiritual procrastination reminds me of a similar event in Exodus. The plagues had begun and Pharaoh was stubbornly refusing to surrender to the God he could in no way defeat. Then came the plague of frogs (Exodus 8). Pharaoh didn’t want his land to be overrun by frogs so he told Moses to get rid of them and that he would let the Israelites go (Exodus 8:8). Moses asked the Egyptian king when he wanted to rid the land of the frogs, and when God’s people could depart from Egypt.

Pharaoh’s response is classic. “Tomorrow.” (8:10)

Pharaoh wanted the frogs go and he was willing to let the Israelites go—well, he was ‘kinda’ willing to let the Israelites go. But he was willing to endure one more night with the frogs.

We read that and think, “What’s wrong with you, Pharaoh?” But how often are nonbelievers willing to endure the frogs a little longer so repentance and belief in Christ can be postponed?

And what about we who are in Christ? How often do we delay repentance of some sins until “tomorrow?”

The extra day with the frogs resulted in Pharaoh reneging on his promise to let the Israelites go. And our delayed repentance often becomes no repentance at all!