But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.” – Exodus 9:30

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 28, 2010): Exodus 9

We learn it early. The first time that we get into something that our parents do not want us involved in, they introduce us to an alternate reality. As much as we want whatever it is that our behavior has carried us toward, they compete with the pleasure by introducing some sort of pain. Whether it is an old fashioned spanking, or a grounding, or the loss of privileges, the idea is that the negative introduced by mom and dad will be make us want to avoid the behavior – that somehow the negative will have a greater avoidance effect on us than the pleasure will have in its ability to attract us. We learn it early and it dominates us for most of our lives.

So even as adults we follow the same principles. It is the reason why secret sins can be found all through the church. We want what we want, and if we can get it without having to pay a price – then why not? The secret is that we pretend that we act according to our principles, but the truth is actually quite different. We are still kids just trying to get what we want and not pay the price. Our development has become morally stunted.

Right now I am dealing with a local company that wants me back as a customer. And they are making me all of the promises that they can to get me to come back. My problem is that I know it is still just a variation of the childhood routine. The goal is the commission they will get by having me sign on the dotted line. And they will do and say whatever they need to say to make that happen. They are not operating according to any moral principal. It is strictly a matter of maximizing pleasure while avoiding pain.

And maybe that is just the way that it has always been. Moses understands the same principle as he talks with the Pharaoh. The reason that the ruler of Egypt is willing to make concessions and give in to Moses has absolutely nothing to do with a major change of heart. It is strictly because of the pain that he is in. But when the painful stimulus is removed, he will return to his old behavior.

As much as we have been trained according to a pleasure/pain principle, it needs to be relegated to the things of our childhood that we have left behind. Maturity is pressing on toward the formation of principles that will guide our behavior. And when principals guide our behavior, pleasure and pain become irrelevant. When we press on toward maturity, all that will matter to us is whether or not we are being true to ourselves and to our long term goals. It is part of what it means to grow up and enter adulthood.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 10

Personal Note: A very happy birthday to my wife, Nelda.