"The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart." Exodus 11:10.
Moses records not only that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, (Ex 4:21, 10:20) but that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (8:15, 32.) Nowhere are we told that God forced Pharaoh contrary to his own free choices. Rather, it seems that God sent circumstances into Pharaoh's life which caused him to harden his own heart, and reject the claims of God. Hard heartedness always separates us from God.
Ironically, the circumstances that harden some people's hearts, can be the same circumstances that soften other people's hearts towards God.
As one Christian wrote:
"Motions of grace--hardneess of heart--external circumstances."
What has been your experience?
love that quote ("Hardness of heart, motions of grace") Colin. Who wrote it?
ReplyDeleteOne time I did a study on the plagues and Pharaoh's responses and God's responses to his responses and it seems that the LORD watched Pharaoh exercise his free will in refusing just so many times (I figured, but could be wrong, that it was about 2/3rds of the way through the total number of plagues), and then He hardened it which underscores the verse in Genesis chapter three where God says "my spirit will not always strive with men forever". We all need to be careful as our hearts can harden themselves to that point. For further reference, see Jeremiah 17:9 but thank God for verse ten as well! Blessings....
Blaise Pascal in his Pensées, or Thoughts (VII.507). The human heart is indeed full of mystery. One of my favorite beginnings to prayer is "Master of hearts, ..."
ReplyDeleteBlaise Pascal in his Pensées, or Thoughts (VII.507). The human heart is indeed full of mystery. One of my favorite beginnings to prayer is "Master of hearts, ..."
ReplyDelete