How can we ensure our hearts are not hardened like Pharaoh's in Exodus 9:30? Setting the scene “ ‘But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the LORD God.’ ” (Exodus 9:30) Moses had just foretold the devastating hail. Pharaoh’s temporary confession (“I have sinned this time,” v. 27) crumbled once relief came, proving his heart remained hard. Scripture records this episode so we will take warning and cultivate a soft, God-fearing heart. Recognizing the symptoms of a hard heart • Selective repentance — sorrow when consequences hurt, indifference when they lift (Exodus 9:27–35) • Dullness to God’s past works (Psalm 106:7) • Resistance to God’s Word and His messengers (Hebrews 3:15) • Pride that refuses surrender (Exodus 5:2) Guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) • Regular, honest exposure to Scripture – “The word of God is living and active… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) • Immediate obedience to what God reveals – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) • Ongoing reverence for the LORD – “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11) • Daily encouragement from fellow believers – “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13) Cultivating a responsive heart 1. Confession that produces change • True repentance bears fruit (Luke 3:8). 2. Humility under God’s mighty hand • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) 3. Prayerful dependence on the Spirit • “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26) 4. Remembrance of God’s works • Rehearse answered prayers and past deliverances (Psalm 77:11–12). 5. Regular worship that magnifies His holiness • Worship aligns our affections with truth and melts resistance (Isaiah 6:1–5). Key takeaways • A hard heart isn’t cured by circumstances easing; it is softened by fearing the LORD. • Continual, humble exposure to God’s Word keeps us responsive. • Community, accountability, and Spirit-empowered obedience safeguard us from Pharaoh’s fate. |
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