INTRODUCTION

The Bible seems to point to Pharaoh most often as an example of someone with a heart hardened through sin and the deceitfulness of power and fame. Pharaoh's hardened heart led him from one rebellious act to the next. He constantly fought against the Lord and the Lord’s man. Even after all of the miracles in Egypt and the abundance of judgments, he chose to pursue the children of Israel as they departed from Egypt. Pharaoh's hardened heart led him to pursue them to the Red Sea. Out of all the troublesome effects of a hard heart, the most troubling aspect is that it refuses to hearken to the words of the Lord. On at least five occasions, the Lord makes this connection (Exodus 7:13And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
See All..., 22; Exodus 8:15But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
See All..., 19; Exodus 9:12And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
See All...). A hard heart closes the ears to the truth and sets the individual up for greater judgment.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): King Zedekiah would not listen to God's word and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord (2 Chronicles 36:11-13 [11] Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. [12] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. [13] And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
  See All...). If he would have listened, Jerusalem would not have been burned, and his sons would not have been slain.
• (For everyone): Is your heart pliable to the word of God? Do you allow your Bible reading to change your thoughts and actions? Do you repent when you find yourself contrary to the word of God?
• Are others able to show you truth from the word of God? Does pride harden your heart when others seek to rebuke you in love from the Bible?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to give you ears to hear what He would say to you.
• Ask the Lord to give you a special love for His word.

HYMN

I Set Myself Against the Lord

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