Confession

 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me."
Exodus 10:17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.10.17.ESV

Asking for forgiveness isn't the same as repentance. Repentance is a genuine change of mind and 180 degree turn from one way to another. Asking for forgiveness could potentially be just lip service, as with Pharoah here.

It's not enough for us to say the right things. It's not even enough to admit our guilt. Just as Pharoah should have let God's people go willingly, so we should happily renounce all our misery inducing sin.

When bad things happen, it sometimes prompts even bad people to say the right things, and to ask for God to stay His hand of judgement. Yet Pharoah was only bothered about the consequences of his sin. He didn't really care that he was sinning, only that God punished him.

Fear of God sending us to hell is a good motivator to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet it is not enough. Fear might be the beginning of wisdom, but love is the culmination of the quest for wisdom.

'Lord our God, we're genuinely sorry for our sins. Please help us to truly repent and trust in Christ for our salvation, in whose name we pray, amen'

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