When God Hardens Their Hearts!

July 16, 2007

Have you ever been in a situation where every step you took forward seemed to end in your taking two steps back? A job, relationship, financial situation, your physical fitness program or some other situation in your life appeared to be making some progress and then bam, it seemed to go in reverse.

Things were getting better in your finances.
You were beginning to drop some weight.
Your eating habits were getting better and you were drinking your water.

BAM! Then something happened. It didn’t have to be anything bad. It was just something. Often times we think these things are from the devil when in actuality some of the things we are going through are because of God. Some of these things are of His doing. The devil had nothing to do with it.

If you do not believe me check out the story of Moses found in Exodus chapter 5-12, where he has been sent by God to Pharaoh to have the Israelites set free. Exodus 4:21: 21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. The devil did not harden Pharaoh’s heart, God did and he even told Moses that was what was going to happen before He sent Moses out.

Moses was sent to free the people from bondage, to free them from slavery in Egypt, to free them from the things that were holding them back. God has purposed each one of us to do a work for Him as well. It appears that something is coming up against you. Something is trying to stop you from accomplishing what God has given you to do.

Is it possible that the opposition that you are experiencing has been sent by God and not by the devil?

Is it possible that during this time God is trying to teach you something?

Is it possible that He is trying to prepare you for what is to come, so that you will be strong enough not to quit?

Is it possible that God is trying to ensure that you will have enough faith to stand on the promise that God made to you?

Is it possible that the assignment God has for you is to like Moses work to set His people free?

Remember that God is the one that hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Moses saw some progress as we have in the things that God has given us to do, restoring our relationships, becoming physically and spiritually fit, being His ambassadors and doing the things He has called us to do. Then like Moses we find ourselves back in the same place we started with people doubting what God told us, asking if it was really God speaking?

Do you think the people questioned Moses? The bible assures us that they did, over and over and over again. Can you imagine how disappointing and discouraging it was for Moses? How discouraging and difficult to see things actually get worse for the people before they got better and to know that many of the people blamed him. How disappointing and discouraging would that have been for us? Would you like Moses have had the courage to continue to go back to Pharaoh time after time?

What was God trying to teach Moses, the Israelites, Pharaoh and even us by allowing us to push against the same mountain, the same hardened heart over and over and over again appearing to all that are looking as though you have been defeated and mislead? What is He showing those around us that we didn’t hear from the Lord, we came up with this on our own? What is He saying to those who have come up against us and think that they have won?

Could He be teaching us to trust Him?

Could He be increasing our faith?

Could He be growing us in obedience?

Could He be teaching us patience to wait on His perfect timing?

Could He be strengthening our muscles for the next fight?

Could He be setting up our enemies to become over confident only to find out that He is still in control and has had it under control from the beginning?

Could He be setting the whole thing up to show us and our enemies His supernatural strength and power, so that He gets all the glory?

Could it be that He wants everyone to know He did it?

God knows better than we do why He does what He does and why He allows what He allows. Like Moses we are going to have to trust Him. To trust His timing, to understand that while we are going through whatever we are going through He is building our character and causing us to depend on Him as never before. He is showing us and everyone else that He is in control. We are going to have to continue to allow Him to build our character through the adversity, understanding that there is a lesson in everything we go through. He is teaching something to us and the world around us.

He didn’t leave Moses and He won’t leave us. Listen to Him and be obedient. That is what Moses did and because of the obedience of one man God brought about the greatest deliverance we have ever seen. Your obedience could result in the deliverance of your family, church, city, state or nation.

Your obedience could bring about the deliverance of the homeless, those suffering from cancer or HIV AIDS. Your obedience could bring about the restoration of marriages and families. Remember that your life is not about you/ Don’t make the mistake of focusing on yourself and your comfort, when God has called you to bring about the deliverance of the kingdom through your obedience.

Yes, God did and will harden Pharaoh’s heart. In your case that might be the president (pray for him), it could be your boss (pray for them), it could be your husband or wife (pray for them), it could be your children. Whoever it is that God is going to use in your life, whoever He is going to send you to, GO! Go in boldness, go in prayer, praying for yourself the other person and the situation, go with His direction. Don’t give up because somebody tells you no, because somebody’s deliverance is depending on your obedience.

Whose heart has God hardened in your life? Even if God hardens their heart keep going. Keep pushing. Someone’s deliverance is depending on you!

Weekly Scripture:

Exodus 4:21: 21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

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