In last week's post, I mentioned Pharaoh and it made me think of something I have not written about for a while. This week, I want you to reflect on the fact that you may work for two Pharaohs, one who is over you at work and one who is over your heart. If you want to know more about those two and how they impact your life and purpose, you will have to read on.
THE PHARAOH WITHOUT
There are two Egyptian Pharaohs that get attention in the Bible. Joseph was the contemporary of one and Moses the other. I have done some study and writing on the good Pharaoh who ruled over Joseph and that can be found on my website. For now, we want to look at the bad Pharaoh, the one whose stubbornness brought the plagues upon his people and affected his nation's effectiveness for centuries after his rule.
What was this bad Pharaoh like? He was consumed with working and building, along the way amassing wealth and using people to get that wealth. He was a hard taskmaster and drove the people and his overseers, not allowing any off days or seasons of rest. When Moses confronted him, Pharaoh got even more ornery, ordering that the Israelites to make bricks and gather their own straw, the straw having been provided for them previously. He was suspicious of anyone or anything that infringed on his man focus, which was production.
Perhaps you have worked for a Pharaoh like this. There is no joy in working for or with this kind of manager or leader. They see you as a means to production, nothing more, nothing less. It is easy to dislike this kind of leader, but often what can you do? You must work to feed your family and besides, work isn't something really to enjoy. It's often only something to endure, which leads us to our discussion of the Pharaoh within.
THE PHARAOH WITHIN
When you "buy into" Pharaoh's attitude, even if you aren't in leadership, then you are working for a Pharaoh. Your thinking says, "I need to work. It's not something that I should expect to enjoy. I should just do it and look for fulfillment outside of my place of employment." That is what it means to have a Pharaoh within - you are your own Pharaoh-like taskmaster, driving yourself harder and harder, never enjoying your work and pushing yourself through the boredom and drudgery of your current position.
When I coach people one-on-one, I ask them what they would do if they had all the money they needed. Many struggle with the question for a while, not having a ready answer. Then I urge them to ask me. When they do, I respond, "I would do what I'm doing today, except that I'd fly business class more often!" About twelve years ago, I stopped being driven by a false concept that my work is to be endured and not enjoyed. I faced my Pharaoh within and fired him! Now I work for the Lord, who ordered Pharaoh to "let my people go."
If you work for a Pharaoh without, there may not be much you can do as long as you stay where you are. But if you work for a Pharaoh within, then there is something you can do. You can change the way you view work and purpose. It is possible to enjoy what you do; in fact it's the will of God for you! Once you embrace that truth, it will cause you to pursue different things to do, different things than you are doing now. You will give yourself permission to pursue what you enjoy. When you are free from the Pharaoh within, you can be a person of purpose on and off the job. Believe me when I say that it's a great way to live.
If I were you, I would assess how many Pharaohs there are in your life right now. I would suggest that even one is too many! Determine this week to at least face the truth and, if one of those Pharaohs is inside you, to confront and deal with him. Don't let him bully you an longer, but instead, determine to free yourself so that you can pursue the will of the Lord, the will that says you are free. Have a great week!
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