Hardness of Heart

St. Paul says, Egypt’s material prosperity or the children of Israel’s poverty is not a direct reflection of what God thinks of them as his children (Romans 9:14-18). Why did God allow the unrighteousness of Pharaoh to flourish? Why did God bless Jacob and curse Esau? Is grace of Jesus Christ retroactive for someone like Esau? St. Paul says that it is not for us to ask why to God. It is Gods discretion as to whether He should show mercy or compassion. It is impossible for us to understand God (Romans 11:33-36). Can we even compare all the wisdom of all the most intelligent people in the world against the wisdom of God? Can the pot ask the potter why he was created to be used for menial work and not as a decorative piece? We should never judge a person by their outward appearance. It is the state of a person’s heart that really matters. Can we really say for sure what the condition of a person's heart? Only God knows and understands. St. Paul says that God looks for radical change in a person’s heart that is transformed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29).

God allowed Egypt as a Nation to Flourish. A great natural disaster of monstrous proportions that could have wiped out the whole nation of Egypt was averted by the wisdom and prophesies of Joseph. The Children of Israel were initially treated well by Pharaoh. Later the Pharaohs forgot all about the protection that was given them by Gods servant Joseph. Pharaohs’ wealth, greed and power made their hearts hard to those that were subject to their laws. They viewed Israel as a threat. Slowly they started to persecute them by subjecting them to merciless slavery and other inhuman acts. The evil they commenced, gradually accumulated over the years.

Then it was a question of when God was going to act. He filled the children of Israel with hope that He would send them a savior. But they didn’t know who and when. He continued to make Egypt a powerful nation. He continued to bless them with more than they really needed. When the time came for the redemption of the children of Israel, the sons of Pharaoh had become extremely proud. Pharaoh had forgotten about the power of the Living God. Do we find ourselves forgetting all that God has done in the past for us? When Moses came to the Pharaoh did he see him as a shepherd with some kind of magical powers? Pharaoh couldn’t believe that Moses would take him down with the help of the living God.

Every time Moses came up with a miracle God would allow Pharaohs heart to be hardened. Pharaoh came to see it as a personal vendetta with Moses’ God. He decided in his heart that he was not going to let the people of Israel go. Was this a case of the super power of Egypt attempting to go up against the divine power of God?

Are there things in your life that you can’t let go? Are there people or places that mean more to you than the living God? Have you hardened your heart to certain areas or issues in your life that you have accepted as impossible to overcome? Do you remember King David when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan of his sin, he admitted his sin with repentance? We must with King David beseech the Lord that the Holy Spirit will create in us a pure heart, and renew a right spirit in us. That God will not cast us away from His presence. We must pray that the Holy Spirit will show us the log in our own eyes before we search for the speck in our neighbors eyes. Do you remember Miriam who thought highly of herself and criticized her brother Moses, but was struck with leprosy?

Can we hear the words of Jesus beckoning us to come to Him when we are weak and heavy laden, and He will give us rest? We must come with the expectation to reform, renew and redirect our hearts to the Living God. We must plead for compassion and mercy for our hardness of heart that comes about knowingly or unknowingly, and for the need to restore our hearts by the help of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to show mercy and compassion just as our Heavenly Father has shown it to us. Finally we must realize that it not by any action of ours that we are saved, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. So let us confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).