In what ways can we ensure our hearts are not hardened like Pharaoh's? Setting the Scene “So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.”’” (Exodus 10:3) Pharaoh’s stubbornness was not an isolated flaw; Scripture presents it as a sober warning. God still calls His people to guard against the same danger. What a Hardened Heart Looks Like • Pride that resists God’s clear commands (Exodus 5:2; James 4:6) • Repeated disobedience despite mounting warnings (Exodus 7 – 10) • Dullness toward God’s mighty works (Mark 6:52) • A refusal to repent when confronted (Romans 2:5) Practical Guards Against Hardness 1. Cultivate Humility • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). • Begin each day acknowledging dependence on the Lord and His Word. 2. Respond Quickly to Scripture • Delayed obedience fueled Pharaoh’s ruin; immediate obedience keeps the heart tender (Psalm 119:60). • Write down specific actions to take as you read. 3. Practice Ongoing Repentance • “Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble” (Proverbs 28:14). • Confess sin promptly, turning from it rather than excusing it. 4. Remember God’s Works • Recount answered prayers and past deliverances (Psalm 77:11–12). • Share testimonies with family and church to keep gratitude alive. 5. Maintain Reverent Fear of the Lord • Exodus 10:3 frames hardness as refusing to humble oneself. • Regularly meditate on God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:1–5). 6. Stay Soft through Worship • Engage heart, mind, and voice in praising God (Psalm 95:1–8). • Worship recalibrates focus from self-rule to God’s rule. 7. Seek Community Accountability • “Encourage one another daily…so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). • Invite trusted believers to ask hard questions about obedience. 8. Welcome the Spirit’s Renewal • “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). • Ask the Spirit to expose hidden resistance and to soften attitudes. Warning Signs to Watch • Diminishing sensitivity to conviction • Growing irritation with biblical correction • Rationalizing habitual sin • Neglect of corporate worship or Scripture intake Encouragement from Scripture • Psalm 51:17 — “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” • Psalm 139:23–24 — “Search me, O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” • Hebrews 4:7 — “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” As we consistently humble ourselves, obey promptly, repent sincerely, and lean on the Spirit, our hearts remain supple—ready to serve the Lord rather than resist Him. |
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