Compare Pharaoh's resistance in Exodus 3:19 with other biblical examples of hardened hearts. Desperate Defiance: Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart (Exodus 3:19) “ ‘But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.’ ” • Already, before Moses ever steps into the throne room, God declares Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal. • The Hebrew verb carries the sense of a fixed, determined resistance—Pharaoh’s will is set against God’s. • This is not a momentary lapse; it becomes a saga of ten plagues, each met with the same obstinate heart (Exodus 7:13; 8:15, 32; 9:34). Echoes Across Scripture: Other Hardened Hearts • Sihon king of Heshbon – “The LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate” (Deuteronomy 2:30). • The Wilderness Generation – “Do not harden your hearts, as you did at Meribah” (Psalm 95:8; cf. Exodus 17:1-7). • Saul – Persistent disobedience culminates in “the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14; see 15:23-26). • Nebuchadnezzar – “When his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed” (Daniel 5:20). • Religious leaders confronting Jesus – “He was deeply grieved at their hardness of heart” (Mark 3:5). • Unbelieving crowds – “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts” (John 12:40, echoing Isaiah 6:9-10). Common Threads in Heart-Hardening • Pride—setting oneself above God’s authority (Exodus 5:2; Daniel 5:20). • Idolatry—clinging to false gods or self-made plans (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 14:3-5). • Repeated Rejection—each refusal makes the next one easier (Exodus 8:15, 32; Hebrews 3:13). • Divine Judicial Action—God eventually confirms people in the hardness they choose (Exodus 10:1; Romans 1:24-28). Why God Allows Hardness • To display His power and proclaim His name (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17). • To execute righteous judgment (Deuteronomy 2:30-31). • To warn future generations (1 Samuel 6:6; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Keeping a Tender Heart Today • Respond quickly to conviction (Hebrews 3:15). • Humble yourself under God’s Word (Proverbs 28:14; James 1:21-22). • Invite the Spirit to search and soften you (Psalm 139:23-24; Ezekiel 36:26). |
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