Conditioning of the Heart (ii)

Continuing our series on the Conditioning of the Heart, today we consider the signs of a hardened heart that we can look out for and the consequences should we fail to get on the path for remedy. The heart, designed to be sensitive to the things of God, grows less receptive to His voice when it is waxed gross. Hebrews 3 cautions us against such spiritual callousness, saying, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years …” (vs.7-9). Hardness of heart blinds us to God’s love and provision, hindering us from experiencing His rest and peace. Conversely, conditioning our hearts with the Word enhances our perception of God’s goodness, ensuring we remain receptive to His promises, which are Yes and Amen in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

The Exodus story vividly illustrates the dire consequences of a hardened heart, showing a stubbornness that persists despite the evident display of God’s power. In Exodus 5, we see God sending Moses to Pharaoh with the message, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness’ “ (vs.1). God knew that Moses would face resistance, and had already informed him, “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him” (Exodus 3:19). At Moses and Aaron’s suggestion that Israel rest from their labour to worship God, Pharaoh asked, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go” (vs.2). Pharaoh’s hardened heart led him to reject God’s authority and refuse to recognize Him as King. This exchange highlights the nature of a hardened heart: it is resistant to God’s commands and refuses to acknowledge His authority. As believers, we must guard against such stubbornness by continually conditioning our hearts to remain receptive and obedient to God’s Word, even when we do not feel like it.

Pharaoh commanded that the Israelites no longer be provided with straw to make bricks, yet still required them to meet their daily quota (vs.6-8), showing no regard for the added difficulty. Instead he said, “Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labour in it, and let them not regard false words” (vs. 9). This response reflects the enemy’s tactics to discourage us from pursuing God’s calling. In our lives today, this often manifests as overwhelming demands of work or other responsibilities that distract us from fulfilling our divine purpose. However, we must continue to stand firm on the Word, even when we are pressured from all sides. When the Israelites failed to meet the quota, they were beaten (vs.14), and their cries for mercy were met with scorn. The Israelite foremen cried out in despair and began blaming Moses and Aaron, saying, “Let the Lord judge and punish you, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!” (vs.21). Moses’ response was to turn to the Lord and enquire of Him (vs.22-23), because it is absolutely crucial to know the mind of God concerning a situation. For us, this can be through the wisdom of the Scriptures, godly counsel from the brethren, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord comforted Moses, saying, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land … I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them” (Exodus 6:1-3). Church, we need a personal revelation of God as a firm foundation to endure challenging times and maintain our faith; without such a personal revelation, we will falter during times of hardship.

In the chapters that follow, we witness God’s miraculous demonstration of supremacy over the Egyptian gods through a series of plagues, aimed at compelling Pharaoh to free the Israelites. These plagues were not only judgements, but also an extension of God’s mercy, offering Pharaoh repeated opportunities to relent and free Israel. This is similar to how God reaches out to the lost, giving them multiple opportunities to choose Christ and accept the gift of salvation. However, Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Pharaoh asked Moses to pray that God take away the suffering in exchange for him freeing Israel, but when relief came, he always retreated back to stubbornness. In Exodus 14, we finally witness the culmination of Israel’s fight for freedom. As they departed from Egypt, Pharaoh and his troops pursued them all the way to the Red Sea, causing panic among them. Even after the death of his own son, Pharaoh was still relentless in his lack of good reason; this is what callousness of the heart does – you lose all senses! Moses encouraged the Israelites, who were now fearful, “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord Himself will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (vs.13-14). We too may encounter situations that threaten to shake our faith. But, like Moses, we must stand firm and have peace even in the day of adversity, knowing that the Lord fights for us.

Moses received divine strategy to use his staff to part the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk on dry ground (vs.15-16). Despite witnessing this miracle, Pharaoh and his troops, blinded by pride and self-assurance, remained unyielding and persisted in their pursuit into the middle of the sea. But the Lord’s promise was clear: “My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers … all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” (vs.18-19). God’s plan prevailed, demonstrating His glory through the deliverance of the Israelites. ‘The angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps …’ (Exodus 14:19). Not only did God provide a protective barrier for His people, but He also caused confusion among the enemy forces to hinder their pursuit (vs.24). When Moses stretched his hand over the sea, the waters returned to their usual place, sweeping the Egyptian army into the sea such that none of them survived (vs.27-28). Hallelujah! What a powerful and mighty God we serve! Let this serve as a reminder for us, church, to diligently condition our hearts to trust in God no matter the circumstances. Let us heed the warnings of Scripture and be a people known for our tender hearts, so that we can appreciate and fully experience the abundant life God has promised us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for opening our eyes to the Truth, for showing us the importance of guarding our hearts against spiritual callousness, so we can remain receptive to Your voice. Teach us to seek Your guidance and stand firm on Your Word, even when faced with adversity. Grant us the wisdom to continue exhorting one another daily, and help us to trust in Your salvation, comforted in the knowledge that You fight for us and deliver us every time. In Jesus’ name. Amen!