Hard Hearts (#167 of 365+)

I wonder if it’s possible that someone hasn’t heard the Exodus story by now. Any person who wasn’t raised in or around the Judeo-Christian tradition surely has seen the Oscar-winning 1956
film The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Rameses II. And if by the slim chance they haven’t seen it then perhaps the more recent 1998 DreamWorks animated film The Prince of Egypt, or its Academy Award-winning soundtrack, would ring a bell.

In this well-known historical account from the Old Testament, the Israelites had suffered as Egyptian slaves for many, many generations. Moses, an Israelite, was born at a time when Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of all male Israelite children under a certain age. By God’s providential care, his life was spared and he was even raised by the royal family. There could not have been a more perfect advocate to ask Pharaoh for Israel’s release.

“But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go” (Exodus 8:32)

“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go” (Exodus 10:20)

In one verse the Bible says Pharaoh hardened his heart but in the other verse it said the Lord was the one who hardened Pharaoh’s heart. What might seem to be contradictory actually isn’t contradictory at all. Also, what might seem to indicate that God makes people sin isn’t saying that at all either. It’s all really easy to understand with this one fact in mind: Pharaoh tried to resist and defy the God of the Israelites but he was actually playing right into the Lord’s plans all along.

The Lord wasn’t in any way hardening a soft heart. Pharaoh worshipped the gods of Egypt; his heart was as hard and stubborn against the Israelites’ God as it could possibly be. So the Lord simply allowed Pharaoh’s attitude to continue unchecked. It was as if he was almost helping it along. He even gave Moses the heads up before it all went down:

“I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it” (Exodus 7:35)

As Joni pointed out, God is sovereign and he “is constantly staving off evil”. Yet on occasion he will inexplicably allow “evil men” to have their way. Why? Because they’re walking right into his trap, that’s why! They have no idea what they’re about to get into! When God is finished with his work untold numbers will give him glory and honor. The entire angelic host will break out in a frenzy of praise songs. Like they say in show biz, God’s going to bring down the house!

Lord, all your works—both great and small—are mighty. Your wisdom is infinite, far beyond the reaches of my comprehension. Thank you for watching over my life. May I always trust you with a soft and yielding heart. Amen.