Day 36: The Hardening of the Heart – A Biblical Principle

One of the Bible’s most profound and sometimes perplexing truths is that God hardens the hearts of men. This principle is not about God forcing people to act against their will or making them do things they don’t want to do. Instead, the hardening of the heart results from pride and stubbornness, where an individual’s choices and attitudes make them resistant to God’s will. The hardening comes when a person, like Pharaoh in the book of Exodus, becomes stiff-necked and rebellious, refusing to submit to God’s guidance.

Biblical Principle: God Hardens the Hearts of Men

In the book of Exodus, we find a clear example of this principle at work with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. God tells Moses in Exodus 7:3-5:

"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt. 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. 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."

Here, God reveals that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart, not to force Pharaoh to sin, but to bring about a greater revelation of His power and glory. Pharaoh's heart becomes hardened because of his pride and resistance to God’s commands, not because God is making him sin. Pharaoh’s heart was already inclined toward pride and rebellion, and God allowed that stubbornness to grow. The hardening is not God imposing willful disobedience upon Pharaoh but instead allowing his sin to run its course.

The Purpose Behind Hardening

In the case of Pharaoh, God’s hardening of his heart served a greater purpose: Pharaoh’s stubbornness would display God’s power through the ten plagues and, ultimately, Israel's deliverance. The Egyptians would see that God is the faithful Lord, and the children of Israel would be freed from their bondage.

God’s hardening of Pharaoh's heart also shows that God works in ways that may seem mysterious to us. What may appear as God’s judgment on Pharaoh was, in reality, part of God’s plan to deliver His people. It teaches us that God’s ways are higher than ours, and He uses both the humble and the proud to fulfill His purposes. While Pharaoh’s pride kept him from yielding to God, Moses’ humility allowed God to use him to lead Israel out of Egypt.

Practical Application: Pride vs. Humility

The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart serves as a warning: pride can close our eyes to God’s will and harden our hearts. But God also offers us a path of grace, humility, and submission that leads to life. The practical question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we more like Pharaoh or more like Moses?

James 4:5-10 offers profound wisdom on this subject. It contrasts the humble and the proud:

"Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you."

In our daily lives, we are constantly faced with choices—choices between humility and pride, submission and rebellion, obedience and resistance. Pride is a stubbornness that refuses to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, while humility acknowledges our dependence on God and submits to His will. Humble hearts are open to correction, growth, and direction, while hardened hearts become entrenched in their ways.

Reflecting on Our Hearts: Pharaoh or Moses?

So, where does this leave us? Are we like Pharaoh, whose pride keeps him from yielding to God, or are we like Moses, who, though imperfect, humbly obeyed God and was exalted as a leader for His people? When we choose humility, God promises to lift us, just as He did Moses. Humility is not about thinking less of ourselves but of ourselves less—putting God and others above our pride and desires.

As we go through each day, let’s ask ourselves: Is there an area where pride is hardening my heart against God's leading? Am I resisting His will in any way? And am I willing to humble myself before Him, knowing He gives grace to the humble?

Conclusion: The Heart Matters

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is a powerful lesson that reminds us that the condition of our hearts matters to God. God doesn’t force us to act against our will; He allows us to make our own choices. But He also calls us to humble ourselves, to submit to Him, and to resist the pride that hardens our hearts. As we seek to follow God, we must keep our hearts soft, humble, and open to His leading so that He may use us for His glory and purposes.