We are in chapter eight of Exodus with our word for today. רְוָחָה break, respite, clearing, relief, relaxation. It is used 2 times in the Old Testament. The root of our word is רָוָה drink one’s fill, be refreshed, be satisfied with drink, drench, give drink abundantly or water thoroughly. It is used 14 times in the Old Testament. A good example of the root word is seen when God is predicting brining back his people from captivity. Jeremiah 31:25 I will הִרְוֵ֖יתִי refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
The two times our word is used in the Old Testament we find it in the sense of the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced. Both times we see prayer being answered with the result of our word. Lamentations 3:55-57 I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for לְרַוְחָתִ֖י relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” Jeremiah acknowledges God and responds favorably toward him for answering his prayer but in our chapter today we don’t see this same response from Pharaoh. Exodus 8:13-15 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was a הָֽרְוָחָ֔ה respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
What is going on inside of Pharaoh’s heart reminds me of what God said to the Corinthians Christians through Paul. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. This is where Pharaoh was at. He wanted relief from the frogs. He was not interested in doing God’s will. Another good example of this is the rich young ruler that Jesus talked to. Matthew 19:20-22 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus knew that what was keeping him from God was that he loved money more than God which is why he was sad because he was unwilling to do what God was asking him to do. The purpose of the challenge is to stop and refocus our relationship with God. God loves us so much that he wants us to turn around away from anything and everything that would keep us away from him. So he allows and causes all kinds of difficulty so that we will come back to him and grow closer to him. This is why James tells us in chapter 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I’ll close with this great reminder of God’s desire to grow us up and closer to himself. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
