Hardened hearts

Exodus 6:9

So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

Exodus 6:12

“But LORD!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!

Exodus 7:3-4

But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment.

There are many reasons why our hearts become hard and we refuse to listen to God.

First, we see that the Israelites had become so discouraged as their plight had worsened under the ruthless Egyptian taskmasters. Ever since Moses and Aaron had given them hope of freedom, their slavery had become unbearable. So much so that they refused to listen. They hardened their hearts because of oppression and what they considered was a "no-show" by God.

We can get like that too. When hard times come and it seems God doesn't care and our prayers fall on deaf ears - then we can get "Word fatigue" and reject God's promises as empty and futile. Which, of course, they never are!

What about Moses and his inferiority complex? We see he's still arguing with God about his lack of speaking ability and the seeming impossibility of his task. He actually argued with God stating: "If the Israelites won't listen to me, why then should Pharaoh?"

I know this one all too well! If given a choice, I would choose anonymity and obscurity. Let someone more capable do it. Let me rather blend into the background away from confrontation. Who's going to take any notice of me anyway?

Finally, there's Pharaoh - thinking that there's no higher authority than him. So sure that he can do what he wants and never be challenged.

That's the scariest state of all - when God hardens your heart. The first two instances above are where the people hardened their own hearts, but if the Lord does it, then there's no opportunity for reparation.

God forbid that we descend to the point where we disregard and ignore the existence of the Lord and His Power. To defy and deny the Living God and treat His Word as something to be scorned and mocked is the worst state for a person.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God.

Hebrews 10:31