How can we guard against hardening our hearts like Pharaoh in Exodus 7:22? Setting the Scene • Exodus 7:22: “But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them—just as the LORD had said.” • The plague of blood was an unmistakable act of God, yet Pharaoh chose resistance over repentance. His pattern teaches how quickly repeated refusal can calcify a heart. Recognize the Warning Signs • Indifference to God’s word (James 1:22). • Excusing or minimizing sin (Hebrews 3:13). • Trusting human resources or “secret arts” over divine revelation (Psalm 20:7). • Repeated resistance to conviction until disobedience feels normal (Matthew 13:15). Respond Quickly to God’s Word • Psalm 95:7-8 urges immediate surrender: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Swift obedience prevents layers of resistance from forming. Cultivate Humble Reverence • Proverbs 28:14: “Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” • Isaiah 66:2 calls for a spirit that “trembles at My word.” Practical steps: – Begin each day acknowledging God’s authority. – Invite Scripture to search motives (Psalm 139:23-24). – Speak and act with the awareness that God observes every detail (Hebrews 4:13). Stay Sensitive through Continual Repentance • Confess sin promptly; lingering guilt dulls spiritual hearing. • Ezekiel 36:26 promises a “heart of flesh” to those who turn to the Lord. • Regular repentance keeps conscience tender and receptive. Remember and Retell God’s Works • Forgetfulness fed Pharaoh’s stubbornness; each plague was treated as an isolated event. • Rehearse God’s faithfulness: journal answers to prayer, share testimonies, celebrate communion meaningfully (Psalm 103:2). • Gratitude keeps the heart soft. Seek Community Accountability • Hebrews 3:12-13: “Exhort one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” • Invite trusted believers to speak truth when attitude or behavior drifts. • Small groups, mentoring, and corporate worship reinforce sensitivity. Choose Obedience over Spectacle • Pharaoh loved displays of power yet refused to submit. • Guard against seeking experiences while neglecting the commands those experiences confirm (1 Samuel 15:22). • Measure spiritual life by surrendered obedience, not emotional highs. Guard Daily with Scripture and Prayer • Saturate mind and heart with God’s word; it “is alive and active… judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). • Prayer keeps relationship dynamic—listening as much as speaking (Colossians 4:2). • Combine both disciplines morning and evening to bookend the day with responsiveness. Living It Out • Engage God immediately when conviction comes. • Nurture a trembling, teachable spirit. • Keep repentance, gratitude, community, and daily disciplines in constant rotation. By these practices, the heart stays pliable, avoiding the tragic pattern that left Pharaoh unmoved even as God’s hand was unmistakably at work. |
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