Happy Thursday! Just one more day until we hit the weekend!! I've joined forces with some blogger friends to bring you a little encouragement before heading into the weekend. I hope you're having a great week so far.
Have you ever wondered what God was saying when He told Moses He would harden Pharaoh's heart?
In Exodus 4:21 God says to Moses.
The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
So, who or what hardened Pharaoh's heart? In layman's terms Pharaoh did it to himself. God knows our hearts. He knows what we're going to do with each little thing that comes our way. God knew that Pharaoh wouldn't let the people of Israel go so He just allowed him to continue to be a bully. You see God's a gentleman. He's not going to plow His way into our lives and force something. With each plague, see below with scripture, Pharaoh gets more and more angry and he takes it out on the Israelite's. Until God turns his evil back on himself and kills all the first born sons of the Egyptians like Pharaoh had done to the Israelite's.
- Blood: Pharaoh’s heart “became hard” (7:22)
- Frogs: Pharaoh “hardened his own heart” (8:15)
- Gnats: Pharaoh’s heart “was hard” (8:19)
- Flies: “Pharaoh hardened his own heart” (8:32)
- Livestock die: Pharaoh’s heart “was hard” (9:7)
- Boils: “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (9:12)
- Hail: Pharaoh “hardened his own heart” (9:34)
- Locusts: God announces that he has “hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (10:1,10:20)
- Darkness: God “hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (10:27)
When I read about Pharaoh's hardened heart I think of my kids. Not that they're bullies or anything like that, because they're far from it. When kids continue to disobey they become desensitized to the behavior so it's like it doesn't matter anymore. In some ways they become invincible. Pharaoh definitely believed he was invincible and God showed him that he wasn't and that He is the One and Only God!
Now, it's your turn . . . what have you been reading in the Bible lately? Let me know in the comments. Then you can visit my friends and see their encouragement posts.
Trisha @ Joy of Reading
Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl
Jacquelyn @ Heavenly Home
Jessica @ A Baker's Perspective
Becca @ The Becca Files
Gina @ Stories by Gina
Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes
Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl
Jacquelyn @ Heavenly Home
Jessica @ A Baker's Perspective
Becca @ The Becca Files
Gina @ Stories by Gina
Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes
3 comments:
So true! It is important for us to remember to listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. The more we disobey, the harder our hearts become and the quieter God's voice until, like Pharoah, we cannot hear Him at all.
Exactly, Jacquelyn! Sometimes it would be nice if God would just push His way in to stop us from being so stubborn but, I’m thankful for His gentlemanly ways.
Great post today! And, great minds. I talked about the hardening of hearts today too. God really placed that on our hearts this week. 😉
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