The Answer To Life's Toughest Question
by Bro. Charlie Heath
10/11/2023
Exodus 4:21 - “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”
In this verse, we encounter a difficult truth when seen at a glance, but it is a beautiful and encouraging truth when we understand it properly. That truth is that God hardened Pharoah’s heart so that he would not let the people of Israel go.
When I was in Bible college, one of the classes proposed the question, “Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?”. This is one of the great questions of the Old Testament, but I believe it is the wrong question. You see, if you read the account of Exodus, there is no doubt who hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
Twelve times from Exodus 4-14, we encounter the idea that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Out of those twelve instances, it says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart nine times, and the other three cases state that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
I believe the question that we should ask is not “Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?” but rather “Why did God allow Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened?”. If God can control the hearts of men (which He can), then why wouldn’t God simply let the nation of Israel go the first time Moses approached Pharaoh? Why the necessity of the ten plagues? Why put Moses and Aaron through all of the “back and forth” with Pharaoh? Why would God allow the people of Isreal to continue in bitter and cruel enslavement?
The answer to these questions is found in Exodus 7:5, which states, “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.”
Throughout Exodus, God demonstrates His sovereignty over all of creation to make Himself known throughout all of the land of Egypt. Eight times between chapters six and eleven, God states that the sole reason for the plagues, for the hardening of the heart of Pharaoh, and the continued enslavement of His people is so that He can make Himself known.
The answer we find in Exodus 7:5 is the same answer to the questions of your own life. Why does God allow certain situations and difficulties in your life? It could be that God is allowing you to go through a difficult situation for the salvation of another. Furthermore, it could be that you will never know on this side of eternity who your testimony is affecting.
Stay faithful believer. Endure through Jesus Christ and find rest in Him. Allow Him to work His perfect work through you and to use you as an instrument of salvation to those you come in contact with. Trust and be encouraged that God is performing His perfect work and that He is making His name known through the midst of your difficulty.
10/11/2023
Exodus 4:21 - “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”
In this verse, we encounter a difficult truth when seen at a glance, but it is a beautiful and encouraging truth when we understand it properly. That truth is that God hardened Pharoah’s heart so that he would not let the people of Israel go.
When I was in Bible college, one of the classes proposed the question, “Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?”. This is one of the great questions of the Old Testament, but I believe it is the wrong question. You see, if you read the account of Exodus, there is no doubt who hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
Twelve times from Exodus 4-14, we encounter the idea that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Out of those twelve instances, it says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart nine times, and the other three cases state that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
I believe the question that we should ask is not “Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?” but rather “Why did God allow Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened?”. If God can control the hearts of men (which He can), then why wouldn’t God simply let the nation of Israel go the first time Moses approached Pharaoh? Why the necessity of the ten plagues? Why put Moses and Aaron through all of the “back and forth” with Pharaoh? Why would God allow the people of Isreal to continue in bitter and cruel enslavement?
The answer to these questions is found in Exodus 7:5, which states, “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.”
Throughout Exodus, God demonstrates His sovereignty over all of creation to make Himself known throughout all of the land of Egypt. Eight times between chapters six and eleven, God states that the sole reason for the plagues, for the hardening of the heart of Pharaoh, and the continued enslavement of His people is so that He can make Himself known.
The answer we find in Exodus 7:5 is the same answer to the questions of your own life. Why does God allow certain situations and difficulties in your life? It could be that God is allowing you to go through a difficult situation for the salvation of another. Furthermore, it could be that you will never know on this side of eternity who your testimony is affecting.
Stay faithful believer. Endure through Jesus Christ and find rest in Him. Allow Him to work His perfect work through you and to use you as an instrument of salvation to those you come in contact with. Trust and be encouraged that God is performing His perfect work and that He is making His name known through the midst of your difficulty.
Posted in Living for God, The Mighty God
Posted in Exodus 4, heart, hardened, control, testimony, faithfulness, faithful, work, difficulties
Posted in Exodus 4, heart, hardened, control, testimony, faithfulness, faithful, work, difficulties
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