Not Impressed

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1–3, ESV) 
 We liked to be awed. We enjoy brilliant Christmas light displays, loud and flashy Super Bowl halftime shows and toys that are bigger and faster. It seems like people (Americans, really) are shouting: "Is that all you've got? Come on, wow me!"
In a way, it's a lot like the Pharaoh of Moses' day. He held the Israelites in slavery in the land of Egypt. Moses was sent by God to call Pharaoh to set God's people free. Moses demonstrated through miraculous signs that the Creator God was behind the emancipation efforts – he turned water to blood and his staff into a snake and still Pharaoh remained unimpressed. These miraculous deeds were followed by the infamous plagues: frogs, flies, gnats, boils – the list goes on. All of them were started and stopped by a command from Moses. And what’s amazing is they didn’t affect the Israelites in the land, only the hardened Egyptians. Yet despite all the mighty displays of God’s power, Pharaoh’s response remained the same:
Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:13, ESV) 
Pharaoh was unmoved by what he saw. God was at work all around him shouting through a megaphone and yet he remained fixed like a pillar, unwilling to open his eyes to that which as on his doorstep.
But how many of us are the same way. God’s creation speaks forth, his wondrous miracles pass through our lives each day and we give them a blink and a yawn. Yet we want something flashy and bright. We want God to give us a sign – just a little miracle and then maybe, just maybe, we could believe.
But look around. The miracles are everywhere. The dazzling displays of his brilliance and power are as close as the snowflakes falling on your nose. They’re in the laughter of a child, the flash of lightning, and a crimson sunset. Take just a moment today and open your eyes and ears to the voice of God all around you and prepare to be amazed.