But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn. Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the Lord had predicted through Moses. [Exodus 9.34-35]
I've been in conversations before where the exchange is going along fine until God is mentioned. At that point, the person I am talking to changes - a notable difference comes across in their countenance and their tone. It is, in fact, God hardening their heart.
If I know this person is disposed to do this, I could say to someone standing nearby, "watch this - I am going to harden this person's heart!" And then, all I would have to do is mention God to invoke their predictable response and it would appear that I had indeed hardened that person's heart.
But it wouldn't actually be me, would it? It would be that person's reaction to the mention of God.
Of course, God can do what He wants to do. However, it helps our understanding of God's character to process these things in our minds in a way that is consistent with His character. Our understanding of God's character is oftentimes all we have to go on in determining our direction in a given situation. So, it is imperative that we understand God's character as a matter of daily progression.
I think this is part of the intrigue of the Bible. This amazing book is a compilation of writings that are factual enough to warrant validity, and yet, extraordinary enough to warrant disbelief. It all comes down to the heart of the reader. One person reads the Bible in faith and another reads it in disbelief. One accepts the Bible, while another rejects it.
To the Bible reader who accepts it's content, the book brings life, love, hope, and faith.
To the Bible reader who rejects the book's validity, it brings bitterness, disgust, disdain, and disbelief.
The same book invokes different responses in different people.
A hard heart will never accept the Bible and its teachings. A hard heart refuses to make allowance for any realm other than the one in which it exists. A hard heart focuses solely upon reality. A hard heart requires its possessor to focus on self.
In contrast, a believing heart is one that can accept the unseen and the unknown. It can can deal with the fact that its existence is out of its control, however, is closely associated to its devotion to what it believes in. The believing heart sees beyond reality. The believing heart has room to focus on others.
We should all review what the Bible invokes in us. And, where we find hardness, we should allow the Holy Spirit to explain it to us (He will do that). That is what I think He has done for me in the idea that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Frankly, as I soften my stance and allow God's Spirit to speak first, I am finding much more of the Bible' acceptable' to my reasoning. When my reasoning has room for faith and the realm of the Spirit, the Bible becomes a vast resource of possibilities.
Father, I don't know that I accomplished anything with this writing today except to realize that as I have submitted to You, I have found the Bible much more understandable. Thank You.
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