Hard Heart

And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses. Exodus 9:34‭-‬35 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.9.34-35.NKJV I love the Bible, learning, and hearts. These are a few of my favorite things. However, this is one of those verses that honestly, I just do not understand. I want to. I pray for wisdom from above. It is like some of those tough earthly questions: did Adam and Eve have a choice to sin or not? Did Judas have a choice? So, did Pharoah have a choice? Many translations say, "And God hardened Pharaoh's heart." I know we all have free will. I am not a Calvin's. Yet, are there instances when God intervenes and overrides His own law? An axe head floats, a donkey talks, the sun goes backwards, the dead are made alive, a bush is burning yet not consumed. Of course. We all say. God can do anything. Then, it would reason in my little head that, God can give us a choice, but He can override thar choice, as well. Pharoah was chosen. But. Pharoah had a choice. 10 times he changed his mind. So, in my little thinking, when we choose to follow God, there seems to be a period where I can harden my heart, in sin. My heart can be hard because of my self. It can be hardened because of my will. I can be given over to Satan, like Job. Pharoah wanted to keep the children of Israel as slaves. God wanted them free. Free to worship, love, and follow Him. Are there areas that my heart is becoming hard? Life is too hard. Life is not fair. I can't help it, I am just a worrier. I don't have that kind of faith. I am not smart. We can reason ourselves right onto a hard heart. We can stop sin. Stop our lack of faith and trust God. A hard heart happens one small choice at a time. Confess it now. Soften your heart in prayer, service to God, love for others, before it is too late. We can choose our thoughts. We can choose our feelings. We can bring all of this and our actions to the obedience of God's word. Choose rightly. Father. Guard my heart today. Keep it focused on you. Your will. Not fear. Not sin. Not Satan. But you and you alone God. Keep my heart sift to your word, your discipline, and your love. Anita CasteelExodus 9:34‭-‬35 NKJVhttps://bible.com/bible/114/exo.9.34-35.NKJV

I love the Bible, learning, and hearts. These are a few of my favorite things. However, this is one of those verses that honestly, I just do not understand. I want to. I pray for wisdom from above.

It is like some of those tough earthly questions:  did Adam and Eve have a choice to sin or not? Did Judas have a choice? So, did Pharoah have a choice? 

Many translations say, "And God hardened Pharaoh's heart." I know we all have free will. I am not a Calvin's. Yet, are there instances when God intervenes and overrides His own law? An axe head floats, a donkey talks, the sun goes backwards, the dead are made alive, a bush is burning yet not consumed. 

Of course. We all say. God can do anything. 

Then, it would reason in my little head that, God can give us a choice, but He can override thar choice, as well.

Pharoah was chosen. But. Pharoah had a choice. 10 times he changed his mind. So, in my little thinking, when we choose to follow God, there seems to be a period where I can harden my heart, in sin. 

My heart can be hard because of my self. It can be hardened because of my will. I can be given over to Satan, like Job.

Pharoah wanted to keep the children of Israel as slaves. God wanted them free. Free to worship, love, and follow Him.

Are there areas that my heart is becoming hard? Life is too hard. Life is not fair. I can't help it, I am just a worrier. I don't have that kind of faith. I am not smart. 

We can reason ourselves right onto a hard heart. We can stop sin. Stop our lack of faith and trust God. 

A hard heart happens one small choice at a time. Confess it now. Soften your heart in prayer, service to God, love for others, before it is too late. 

We can choose our thoughts. We can choose our feelings. We can bring all of this and our actions to the obedience of God's word. Choose rightly. 

Father. Guard my heart today. Keep it focused on you. Your will. Not fear. Not sin. Not Satan. But you and you alone God. Keep my heart sift to your word, your discipline, and your love. 

Anita Casteel