The word “heart” is an important word any time it is used in the Bible. And it is especially important when it is used regarding our spiritual condition. When I have a hardened heart toward God, I am distant and cold toward the Lord and am not in a relationship with Him. A hardened heart is usually a stubborn heart and does not want to be molded by God. A hardened heart is a resistant heart to the good things the Lord wants to do in our lives. The Pharaoh in the story of Moses is repeatedly called a person whose heart is hardened toward God. His hard heart affects the whole nation of Egypt and the Hebrew people. In the worst case, a hardened heart paves the way for a person to reject the salvation won by Jesus on the cross.
Exodus 14:4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So, the Israelites camped there as they were told. [1]
The main reason for a hard and unbelieving heart is not God. The cause of a hard heart is an unbelieving (depraved) heart that pushes back against the Lord. The unbeliever hates and so suppresses the truth that the Lord is trying to bring forward. Pharaoh refused to humble himself, even after seeing miracles from God. God’s creation is on display every day, yet there are people who hardened their hearts toward what God is showing them.
Romans 1:20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. [2]
The good news is that we don’t have to have a hardened heart. We can choose not to. David writes in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” [3]
We also learn about the Apostle Paul’s heart in Romans 1:9, “God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son.[4] Paul yearned to serve God and this is reflected in his heart.
In the book of Acts, we learn about a woman who wanted a relationship with God and the Lord opened her heart. Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized.[5]
What about you as you read this? What is the Lord revealing about your heart? Take time to ask the Lord to mold your heart as it says in Isaiah 64:8. And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.[6] Our ministry loves to connect with our readers. If you have a prayer request or a comment, please let us know. Also, if this devotional helped you, please share it with others. To hear more about the story of Pharaoh and Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/following-god-in-difficult-times
[1,2,3,4,5,6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Great post!