Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pay close
attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your
brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. Tell Aaron everything I command you, and
Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. But I
will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs
and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to
you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my
forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of
judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the
Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So Moses and Aaron did just as
the LORD had commanded them. Exodus 7:1-6
Pay close attention. God is promising…I will. He is giving Moses and Aaron
power, hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and again promising to rescue the Hebrew
people from the slavery they are under in Egypt. That God would deliberately “harden”
a person’s heart is hard to understand—not once, but five times. That is
heartless.
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and
just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen. Exodus 9:12
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart again,
so he refused to let the people go. Exodus 10:20
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once
more, and he would not let them go. Exodus 10:27.
Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in
Pharaoh's presence, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let
the Israelites leave the country. Exodus 11:10
The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the
king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists
raised in defiance. Exodus 14:8
 |
The Gates of Hell - Caesarea Philippi, Israel
Is your heart hardened? Don't despair.
Believe in the Lord-- the Son of the living God and in His goodness and mercy.
|
Has your heart ever been hardened by God?
Or were you just having a bad attitude? That could have been your choice, not
God imposing His heart hardening power on you.
Here’s a promise to claim, if you feel your
heart has been hardened…
The LORD your God will change your heart and
the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love Him with all your
heart and soul and so you may live! Deuteronomy 30:6.
This verse from Deuteronomy is a promise
that was given to the Israelites that will be fulfilled at the second coming of
Christ. Read that chapter of Deuteronomy which includes the regathering of Israel—which
has begun to occur since before the end of World War II. It is an exciting time
for the nation of Israel—the restoration and prosperity of the land, and a work
of grace in the people’s hearts. Change my heart, Lord.
Prayer
~ Lord, Allow my heart not to be hardened like Pharaoh’s, but may my heart be
softened with Your grace and love flowing through me. As David wrote…Declare me
innocent for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in You without
wavering. Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my
heart. Psalm 26:1-2.
Daily
Bible Reading: February 7- Exodus 25-27
© 2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
Biblical
search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading
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