Hardened Hearts
Exodus 14:1 – The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 – “Tell the Israelites that they must turn and camp befroe Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you are to camp by the sea before Baal Zephon opposite it. 3 – Pharaoh will think regarding the Israelites, ‘They are wandering around confused in the land – the desert has closed in on them.’ 4 – I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them. I will gain honor because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” so this is what they did.
verse 5 – When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, “what in the world have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!” 6 – Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him.
God knows our hearts. God knew Pharaoh’s heart. In this particular instance what caused the heart of Pharaoh and his servants to turn against the Israelites? It was the report that the Israelites had fled to the desert. God did not manipulate Pharaoh against His will. God, rather, used circumstances such as leading the Israelites to where they would be vulnerable and enabling a report to be sent to Pharaoh – He did this because He knew Pharaoh’s will. God led the Israelites into the desert in order to deliver them in a mighty, supernatural way. A way that would finally send the message home to Pharaoh that you don’t mess with God’s people and expect to get away with it. It was all to reveal to Pharaoh and his army the reality of God, the great I AM.
God seeks to draw us to Him through the cross so He can change our hearts and get us to willingly surrender to Him. If we refuse, then He will use forces external to us in order to demonstrate how real He truly is. Our stubbornness will be turned against us as Jesus will use circumstances, reports, and any multitude of ways… because He knows exactly what we will do in any situation.
God will use everything in His power to defend us or God will use everything in His power against us if we rebel and turn against Him and His people. I would rather have God fight for me than against me. Let’s not misinterpret being led into positions of vulnerability by thinking that God has abandoned us. The more hopeless our situation seems, the more God is glorified when He delivers us.
When we are weak then He is strong!
Where two are gathered 