In what ways can we avoid stubbornness like Pharaoh's in our lives? Setting the Scene “Pharaoh’s servants said to him, ‘How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is destroyed?’” (Exodus 10:7) Pharaoh’s advisers could see what he refused to see. His hardened heart had dragged the nation into devastation. Scripture records this to warn us: stubbornness against God injures everyone in its wake. How do we steer clear of that path? Recognize the Warning Signs of Stubbornness • Frequent excuses when God’s Word confronts a habit or decision • Dismissing godly counsel because it threatens comfort, pride, or control • Resisting repentance even when consequences mount • Blaming others (or circumstances) instead of examining the heart “Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” (Proverbs 28:14) Respond Quickly to God’s Voice • Daily time in Scripture keeps the conscience tender. • Immediate obedience prevents callouses from forming. • Delayed obedience is often disguised rebellion. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7-8) Cultivate Soft Hearts Through Spiritual Practices • Confession: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…” (1 John 1:9) • Worship: genuine adoration dethrones self and enthrones the Lord. • Gratitude: thanking God trains the soul to see His hand instead of resenting His demands. • Scripture memorization: truth stored up melts resistance. “I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26) Seek Accountability and Wise Counsel • Invite trusted believers to speak honestly into life choices. • Give permission to ask, “Are you listening to the Lord in this?” • Remember: Pharaoh’s servants tried to warn him; ignoring them multiplied pain. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Remember the Consequences of Resistance • Pharaoh lost his heir, his army, and his nation’s security. • Stubbornness can drain finances, fracture relationships, and dull spiritual senses. • God’s mercy allows warnings; judgment comes when warnings are scorned. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.” (Galatians 6:7) Walk in Humility and Surrender • Celebrate the Lord’s rightful rule; submit plans, goals, and timelines to Him. • Practice saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” • Humility invites grace. Pride attracts resistance—from God Himself (James 4:6). “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) Concluding Encouragement God does not delight in crushing the stubborn; He delights in transforming them. Pharaoh stands as a sobering mirror, yet every believer is offered a different legacy: tender-hearted responsiveness that brings life to self and blessing to others. Let the Spirit prompt swift, wholehearted obedience today, and the hard places will grow soft under His faithful hand. |
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