How can we trust God's plan when facing hardened hearts today? Setting the Scene: Exodus 7:3 in Context “ ‘But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt…’ ” • This statement comes just before Moses confronts Pharaoh. • God forewarns Moses that resistance will come, yet His signs and wonders will keep unfolding. • The verse anchors our confidence: God is never surprised by stubborn opposition; He weaves it into His larger plan. Why God Allows Hard Hearts • To display His power and glory – Romans 9:17-18: “I raised you up…that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” • To accomplish deliverance for His people – Israel’s freedom required Pharaoh’s repeated refusals so each plague could magnify the Lord’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods. • To expose counterfeit security – Hardened hearts reveal where people place trust apart from God, prompting true believers to cling to Him alone. • To advance redemptive history – Every act in Exodus foreshadows the ultimate deliverance in Christ (Luke 9:31). Lessons for Us When We Encounter Resistance • Expect that Gospel proclamation will meet pushback (Acts 28:26-27). • Remember that God governs even the will of kings (Proverbs 21:1). • Do not misinterpret delay or rejection as divine absence; it may be the stage on which He plans to act next. • Keep obeying—Moses’ task didn’t change because Pharaoh refused; neither should ours when hearts are closed. Trust Anchors: Promises That Hold Us Steady • God’s plan cannot be thwarted—Job 42:2. • All things, even opposition, work for good for those who love Him—Romans 8:28. • The Lord can replace stone hearts with flesh—Ezekiel 36:26. • Christ has authority to open blinded eyes—2 Corinthians 4:4 compared with Acts 26:18. Practical Ways to Rest in God’s Plan Today 1. Stay rooted in Scripture – Regularly revisit narratives like Exodus to see how God turns resistance into rescue. 2. Pray for perseverance rather than ease – Hard soil often takes time before seeds break through. 3. Celebrate small evidences of God’s sovereignty – A conversation, a softened response, or an unexpected opportunity testify that the Lord is at work. 4. Keep the mission central – Moses’ purpose was deliverance; ours is making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Opposition does not redefine that calling. 5. Look beyond the present moment – Just as Israel eventually walked out of Egypt, God’s people today await a greater exodus into the new creation, where no heart will resist Him. When hearts around us seem immovable, Exodus 7:3 reminds us that God’s plan is not hindered—it is highlighted. |
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