What Is Hard-Heartedness?

Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses. [Exodus 9.35] 

It will take some time, but I highly recommend going back to read previous years' articles for this day in 2019 Difficult Passages, and 2022 Endless Love, Limited Patience, for supporting discussion about today's One Year Chronological Bible reading.

However, as my understanding continues to grow year upon year, I find something additional to discuss today.

Pharoah's story really does outline the process of reconciling with God. Pharoah's repeated justification for rejecting God's commands speaks of the human condition... 

At first, God is fully rejected and given little or no thought. However, as circumstances continue in incremental hardship, pain, suffering and emotion, it becomes increasingly more difficult to 'explain' their existence in natural terms. The God-connection with these circumstances becomes more profound with each instance. There comes the moment when, even though there must be a logical and scientific explanation for all the circumstances, there is also the fledgling idea that maybe - just maybe - God really exists and is Someone to be reconciled with.

'God' is always a 'choice' humanity is faced with. Ideally, humans would simply submit to God, but, in most cases, pride, in various levels, determines human resistance to God. This pride looks as different from human to human as humans are different from one to the other. But, it remains true that human pride or humility will determine how humans deal with their respective circumstances.

Let's just settle something real quick... Even though the blessings and curses (for obedience or disobedience respectively) of Deuteronomy 28 have not been written at this point in history, every plague that came upon Pharoah and Egypt falls squarely within the definition and realm of curses for disobedience. It would only be later that Moses would document for posterity that curses are directly attached to disobedience. While some things have changed wildly since the time of Moses and Pharoah, man's dilemma of choosing whether or not God is in control of every circumstance remains unchanged.

In purest humility, humans would ideally survey every circumstance for its 'blessing' or 'curse' and respond accordingly in rejoicing or repentance. However, in this modern age of hyper-advanced knowledge and technology, the purity of interpreting what is good from what is not good (based on respective blessing or curse) is all but lost. New Testament religion is just as consumed in this modern error evidenced by Biblically unfounded explanations of "why bad things happen to good people." Both the world and 'Christians' have adopted a non-Biblical understanding that "circumstances just happen." But no amount of religious academia can alter God's timeless indicators of blessings and curses defined in His Word. Jesus did not change the meaning of blessings or curses! He simply provided the better (only) way to deal with them! But they still must be understood and dealt with properly!

So, while modern religion tends to look in disgust upon Pharoah for his resistance to repenting, it really should look in the mirror! Modern religion is doing the exact same thing as Pharoah did (and modern science does) in denying the obvious God-connection in his and his nation's circumstances. 

The condition of denying that circumstances indicate the presence or absence of obedience is hard-heartedness.

Nothing about this definition makes life easier. However, it does bring clarity in understanding what Paul encouraged in his letter to the Philippian Church:

So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. [Philippians 2.12 AMP]

Father, in today's society of extreme secularism, help Your people to find their foundation only in Your Word knowing with confidence it will earn them the full ire of the world. This separation of sheep from goats is a reality that should and will not be avoided. So be it.