Hardened Hearts

Hardened Hearts

        Did any of us think we would be living in a time like this? The world has been locked down and it feels like a plague has overtaken the land. Similar event happened during the time the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt. Egypt held the Hebrews captive for 400 years. Moses was chosen as the deliverer by God and God demanded his people to be set free. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not heed the will of God. God sent the 10 plagues to convince Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free and allow them to worship God. Watching America now I wonder if many people are like the Pharaoh who continues to ignore/harden their hearts toward God. Convincing themselves that this is not really happening and that their false idols were more powerful than the true living God.

        The first plague was turning Water into Blood. The Nile was a large part of people’s lives and gave nourishment for the people/livestock/agriculture. “This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water (Exodus 7: 17-18).” Imagine living as a regular person and seeing the Nile River turned into blood. This punishment by God did not weaken Pharaoh’s decision to let the Hebrews leave. “Pharaoh’s heart became hard (Exodus 7:22).”

The second plague happened 7 days after and God released Frogs throughout the land. “If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials (Exodus 8:2-4).” To have this plague broken Pharaoh promised Moses that the Hebrews could go to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Once the plagues were removed, “he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses (Exodus 8:15).’’

        The third plague is of Gnats. We can see the power of God and the magicians of Egypt tried to replicate this act but could not. Again we see “But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen (Exodus 8:19).” The fourth plague is Flies. In this plague Moses tells Pharaoh that God has decided to only attack Egypt’s people with flies and no flies would attack his people. “But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow (Exodus 8:22-23).” To break this plague Pharaoh allowed the Hebrew’s to journey to the wilderness to sacrifice to God. “But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go (Exodus 8:32).” Remember four plagues have occurred and still Pharaoh’s heart has not softened or relinquished his hold on the people. The people of Egypt were tortured because one man did not surrender to the power of God and believed his gods and faith were more powerful. His so called gods are no match for the one true living God.

        The fifth plague was on the Livestock. Again due to Pharaoh’s hardened heart, God killed all the Livestock (horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goat) of ONLY the Egyptians. The livestock of the Hebrews was not touched. Now the Egyptians have lost all livestock and I wonder how many lost belief in their idols and wanted Pharaoh to free God’s people. Water supply turned to blood, frogs/gnats and flies causing havoc to the country. “Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go (Exodus 9:7).”

        With the sixth plague Moses took soot and tossed it in the air and caused festering Boils and the magicians could not even stand in front of Moses due to the pain. If the insects weren’t enough to bother you now you have painful boils causing unmeasurable pain. Still Pharaoh’s heart would not listen to Moses. The one difference noted between the first five plagues and the sixth plague is that the Bible states “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12).” The previous five plagues it was the Pharaoh who hardened his own heart. We will discuss why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and the purpose behind it.

        The seventh plague God tells through Moses that if Pharaoh does not let his people go he will send the “full force of plagues against you and against your officials and your people so you may know there is no one like me in all the earth. (Exodus 9:14).” He sent the worse hail storm that ever fell Egypt and again Israel was protected. Many Egyptians pretty much sheltered at home and saved the lives of their livestock and slaves by bringing them inside. “The Lord send thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground … it was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt (Exodus 9:23-24).” Finally, Pharaoh admitted he sinned and says the Lord is right. He agrees to let the people go until Moses prays and the hail stopped. He sinned again, “So Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go (Exodus 9:35).”

        The eight plague God sent was locusts. Africa currently is having issues with Locusts and can destroy crops and damage an already unstable system. “They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in the fields. They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians (Exodus 10:5-6).” The next few verses were the first time we see the officials of Pharaoh were murmuring against Pharaoh and how he can continue to let his people suffer. Pharaoh again asks for forgiveness and as soon as God removes the plague we see in this instance “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 10:20).”

        The ninth plague brought Darkness over the land of Egypt. Total darkness was over the land of Egypt for 3 days. It was so dark that you could not see your hand in front of your face. The Israelites continued to have light due to God’s protection. Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses but he would not listen to God’s demands. “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was still not willing to let them go. Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.” “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again (Exodus 10:27-29).” We see again in plague number six, eight and nine God hardens Pharaoh’s heart.

        The tenth and finally plague was the death of every firstborn son in Egypt. It was the final plague due to the hardened heart of Pharaoh. “The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you-so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” Moses and Aaron performed all these wonder before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country (Exodus 11:9-10).” God instructed Moses with the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread in Chapter 12. “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgement on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sing for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you (Exodus 12:12-13).” Finally, Pharaoh’s hardened heart was defeated and let the people of Israel leave Egypt and to go serve the one true God. If we continue to read all the way to Chapter 14, God was not done with Pharaoh. In Chapter 14, God tells Moses to encamp near Pi Hahiroth, to make it seem to Pharaoh that Israel was confused and stuck in the desert. “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord (Exodus 14:3-4).” We all know Pharaoh failed to harm the Israelites and Moses divided the Red Sea. The army of Egypt was destroyed and God’s people were free.

        What I want to focus on is why in the other plagues did God decide to harden Pharaoh’s heart. In Exodus 7:3-5 God tells Moses, I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it. Exodus 9:15-16 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the face of the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. Exodus 10:1-2 Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.

        I know this story and watched the movie during Easter every year. I did not notice the hardening of the heart until I began reading more closely. A Pharaoh usually was not a godly man or innocent by any means. They are usually brutal dictators that enslave an entire nation and in the case of Israel over 400years. In Exodus 1:16 the Pharaoh decreed that all male Israelite babies be killed at birth. They worship idols and desecrate the name of the Living God. God had a purpose for a man like Pharaoh who probably at this time was the most powerful man on earth and some may consider them gods. In Romans 9:17-18 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I have raised you up for this very purpose that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore, God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. God can steer evil towards his purpose and this does not mean he engineered it. Pharaoh is responsible for his own evil in his heart, just as Judas was when he betrayed Jesus. God wants to prove that there is no force of human evil that can resist God’s purpose to bring salvation and blessings to his loving children.

        During this Pandemic many people are like Pharaoh. He refused to change, was narcissistic and continued to become arrogant in his heart. He lacked any self-criticism and always believed he was right. He believed he was a god and that nothing can bring him down from his pedestal. He was self-destructive and because of this his people/first born of Egypt and his army died. He recognized God’s existence yet would not bow even till the end. He did not care for his people, the sick, the elderly or children. His economy/livestock and property was destroyed by God. He was defeated and yet could not accept defeat to the Most High. He was selfish and prideful. He put faith in his gods, magicians and only lied to himself thinking he was still in control. When human evil goes unchecked, bad things happen and good people can end up in the crossfire.

        Is God currently send this plague of COVID-19 and Locusts in Africa as a warning to his people? Is America the new Egypt? God had a purpose to his plagues and it was known that he was the one behind it. We currently do not know what God’s plan or purpose is as of yet. God is love, justice, mercy and salvation. He may be sending us a lesson to remind the people that he is still ever so much in control. If we continue to harden our hearts and go away from the Lord, we may be in for a very long Pandemic. God called Pharaoh to humble himself and acknowledge that God is his authority and that he can’t redefine good and evil on Egyptian terms. Do NOT harden your heart and Do NOT be like Pharaoh. Evil is sneaking into the heart of this country and is only going to create more strife. We are in a war for our souls since the day Jesus died for us on the cross. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle, not against the flesh and blood, but again principalities, against powers, against rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6: 11-18).”