Harden Not Your Hearts Exodus 4 21 23

“Harden Not Your Hearts” Exodus 4: 21 -23

Hardening & Softening • Some folks believe that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh directly by violating Pharaoh’s free will. – What would that say about how God works today? • Could God take away our free will? – He could… – But what does the Bible say about that?

The Word “Harden” chazaq (Heb. ) Exodus 4: 21; 7: 13, 22; 8: 19; 9: 12, 35; 10: 20, 27; 11: 10; 14: 4, 8, 17 A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand. –Strong’s

The Word “Harden” qashah (Heb. ) Exodus 7: 3 A primitive root; properly to be dense, that is, tough or severe (in various applications): - be cruel, be fiercer, make grievous, be ([ask a], be in, have, seem, would) hard (-en, [labour], ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff (-en, [necked]). – Strong’s

The Word “Harden” kabed (Heb. ) Exodus 7: 14; 8: 15; 8: 32; 9: 7, 34; 10: 1 From H 3513; heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid) : - (so) great, grievous, hard (-ened), (too) heavy (-ier), laden, much, slow, sore, thick. - Strong’s

Pharaoh’s heart was “hardened” • Pharaoh's heart was made strong, stiff, and stubborn. • He had a stubborn heart! – Whose fault was that? – Did Pharaoh harden his own heart to go against God’s command? – Or was it God’s fault that Pharaoh was made to be stubborn?

Pharaoh hardened his own heart… • Exodus 7: 13, 7: 14, 7: 22, 8: 15, 8: 19, 8: 32, 9: 7, 9: 34, 9: 35 – The different Hebrew words are used interchangeably throughout these various texts. – In six out of the first seven plagues, we read plainly in our English versions of the Bible, that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart… • Exodus 7: 3, 9: 12, 10: 1, 10: 20, 10: 27, 11: 10, 14: 4, 14: 8, 14: 17

Pharaoh’s heart was stubborn! • Exodus 9: 33 -35 – James 1: 13 -14 • Look to Exodus 3: 19 – God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by putting forth His demand, knowing that Pharaoh was going to refuse.

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” • Exodus 7: 3 -5 • “And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them” (Ex 7: 3 -5 KJV)

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” • “And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. (Ex 7: 3 -5 ASV)

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” • “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them. ” Ex 7: 3 -5 (ESV)

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” • The main thought within the verse does not point to the purpose for Pharaoh’s heart being hardened. But rather… God’s response and the outcome of His mighty works! • “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them. ” Ex 7: 3 -5 (ESV)

Other relevant passages… • Deuteronomy 7: 8, 18 – The result of God’s mighty power displayed in Egypt • 1 Samuel 6: 6 • Nehemiah 9: 9 -10

Other relevant passages… • Romans 9: 17, 18 – Just reading these two verses out of their context can cause confusion… – But Romans 9 is not about personal salvation! It is about Israel’s rejection and the mercy that had been shown to the Gentiles. – Verses 20 -22 • To understand this, we need to go back to the original context – Jeremiah 18: 1, 18: 8, 18: 10 • Another good example to help us understand this is found in Isaiah 10: 5 -7 – Assyria was God’s instrument of wrath upon rebellious Israel – Assyria made war for their own benefit, not God’s

Did God violate anyone’s free will? • Some think that God violated Judas’ freewill, but consider… • John 17: 12 – Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, “That the scripture might be fulfilled”. – John 6: 64, 70 – Jesus chose Judas knowing what he would do – John 12: 6 – Judas was a covetous person – John 13: 2, 27 – Who moved Judas to sin?

Did God violate anyone’s free will? • John 12: 39 -40 –Again, it’s clear that the nation of Israel is under consideration, not an individual (see Isaiah 6: 9 -10) – Isaiah 1: 1 -20 clearly explains God’s intended purpose in sending Isaiah. – John 12: 42 – In spite of the general condition of Israel some would believe

Does God violate anyone’s free will? • Romans 2: 11 – God shows no partiality. (Deut 10: 17; Acts 10: 34; Gal 2: 6) • 1 Tim 2: 4 – God desires all men to be saved (Ezek 18: 23; Mk 16: 15; 2 Pet 3) • Acts 6: 14 – Lydia’s heart was opened to heed the word. – John 6: 44 – No one can come unless the Father draws him – John 6: 45 – Everyone who has heard and learned comes to Christ (Jer 31: 31) – Hearts are opened when they recognize the goodness and love of God

In Conclusion… • God shows no partiality, He loves all and desires that all be saved • He has wrought signs and wonders; He has shown His love; He has given us His word • Having the foreknowledge of how Pharaoh, Assyria, and Judas would respond allowed God to use them in His plan to redeem those who would obey His word.

In Conclusion… • There is a real danger of our hearts being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3: 13) • Let God soften your heart instead – Ezekiel 36: 25 -28