What steps can we take to avoid Pharaoh's dismissive attitude toward God? Setting the Scene “Instead, Pharaoh turned around, went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart.” (Exodus 7:23) God had just turned the Nile to blood—yet Pharaoh shrugged, closed the palace doors, and moved on. To keep our own hearts from drifting into that same careless dismissal, Scripture lays out a clear path. A Heart That Turns Away: Pharaoh's Example • Exodus 5:2—Pharaoh first says, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice?” • Exodus 8:15—When relief comes, he “hardened his heart.” • Romans 1:21–23—The pattern is universal: failure to honor God leads to darkened thinking. Pharaoh’s story warns that repeated indifference calcifies the soul. Step 1: Recognize God’s Voice Early • Hebrews 3:7–8, 13—“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Stay sensitive to conviction; small compromises snowball into stubborn rebellion. Step 2: Cultivate Humble Reverence • Proverbs 3:5–7—“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” • Consciously acknowledge God’s right to rule every area of life—thoughts, finances, schedules. Step 3: Obey Promptly and Wholeheartedly • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” • Quick obedience keeps the heart pliable; delayed obedience nurses doubt. Step 4: Guard Against Repetition of Sin • Exodus 8–10 shows Pharaoh alternating between momentary regret and recurring defiance. • Identify recurring temptations; set practical boundaries, seek accountability (Galatians 6:1–2). Step 5: Engage Scripture Daily • Psalm 119:11—“I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” • Reading, meditating, and memorizing Scripture renews the mind and softens the heart. Step 6: Choose Godly Counsel and Community • Proverbs 13:20—“He who walks with the wise will become wise.” • Pharaoh relied on sorcerers who reinforced unbelief; surround yourself with believers who point you to Christ. Step 7: Worship That Softens the Heart • Psalm 95:6–8 connects worship with a tender heart: “Come, let us bow down… Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Regular, heartfelt worship shifts focus from self to God’s majesty. Step 8: Remember Christ—the Greater Deliverer • Hebrews 12:25—“See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks.” • Fixing our eyes on Jesus, who rescues from a greater bondage than Egypt, fuels gratitude and submission. Summing It Up Rejecting God begins with ignoring His Word and ends in a locked-up heart. By staying sensitive to His voice, practicing humble reverence, obeying promptly, breaking sin cycles, immersing in Scripture, seeking godly community, engaging in authentic worship, and remembering the finished work of Christ, we avoid Pharaoh’s dismissive attitude and live responsive, surrendered lives. |
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