The ‘Pharaoh’ Kind of King

ROMANS 9:17 (Amp.) 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying My power in [dealing with] you, so that My name may be proclaimed the whole world over.

Pharaoh was a wicked king and an enemy to God’s people but the Word says that God raised him up. He employed Pharaoh to demonstrate His power. We may think that we need to pray against these types of kings. There is no indication in the New Testament that we should pray against any kings. If we pray for them, God does interesting things with our prayers.
“The same sun that softens wax, hardens clay.”

Even so, Pharaoh actually accomplished a great purpose in the plan of God. He kicked the children of Israel out of Egypt in only a few days’ time. This hardening process had the effect of speeding things up.

It is very important when God gives you something to pray about that you don’t draw back because it doesn’t fit in your mind. This kind of king needs our prayers just as much as any other kind, and our prayers have great effect in bringing God’s plan into being.

The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled and combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah). For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom YOU CONSECRATED BY ANOINTING, BOTH HEROD AND PONTIUS PILATE WITH THE GENTILES AND PEOPLES OF ISRAEL,TO CARRY OUT ALL THAT YOUR HAND AND YOUR WILL AND PURPOSE HAD PREDESTINED (PREDETERMINED)SHOULD OCCUR. And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus.
(Acts 4:26-30 AMP)

Look closely at verse 27. It says that Herod, Pontius Pilate, and Gentiles, and the people of Israel came together. And why? Verse 28 tells us. It was to carry out all that GOD’S hand and His will and purpose had predestined should occur!

We know that people prayed and prophets prophesied, but the one who actually facilitated God’s plan coming to pass was Cyrus.

Remember when Pontius Pilate said to Jesus, “Why don’t You say something? I can have You released! I have the power to say that You are innocent and get You off this charge”?

Jesus replied, “You don’t have any power except what God gave you” (John 19:11).

So was God confused or slack regarding who He allowed to be put in office at that time in history? No! It all worked into His plan and purpose.

Some prayers will remove leaders from office who will not submit to God’s plan. Some prayers will put others into office to accomplish a particular divine assignment. There are some people who will not leave their office until they accomplish what is destined of them.

You can pray for these people, even compassionately, but if they continue to resist God they become more cruel and irrational. Even with this category of wicked kings, prayer is to be persistently made. In this case, we are not called to change a king, but to prepare a way for our King!

Ultimately, even wicked kings cannot hold back the effects of persistent, Spirit-directed prayers. That is why He who sits in the heavens laughs even when kings are plotting against Him. Pharaoh, Herod, and Pontius Pilate didn’t help prepare the way of the Lord by their goodness, but their roles actually became a part of the road. Let us not draw back from praying for any kind of king or ruler. It is God who sets kings in place, and with our prayers each one will fulfill God’s plan and purpose as we prepare the way of the Lord (Dan. 2:20–22, Rom. 13:1–5).

Source: For Such A Time As This by Patsy Cameneti 
Excerpt permission granted by Blaze Publishing House