“‘But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you.’” –Exodus 7:3-4a (NIV)
This passage is describing one of the moments that God and Moses shared. God had just revealed himself to Moses and explained what he wished for Moses to do: stand up to Pharaoh and demand that he free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, so that they may be free to go and worship God. Now, this is kind of one of those “classic” Bible stories that, even if you don’t go to church regularly, you’ve probably heard of this story. So I don’t know if you’ve every gotten this feeling, but have you ever felt kind of sorry for Pharaoh? When I read this story, sometimes I wonder if Pharaoh was kind of set up to fail here. God said that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart, basically so that He could display His power through the miracles of the plagues. So is this an issue that, even if Pharaoh wanted to let the Israelites go, he didn’t have an option because God had hardened his heart against it? Was the choice really not his to make? Even though I know that Pharaoh was a bad dude, keeping these innocent people in slavery for so long, part of me has felt some feelings of injustice in his case. So, having said that, I read a note in my Student Edition, “Fire” Study Bible that really helped explain this to me, so I hope it helps you too:
“God did not force Pharaoh to resist Him. Pharaoh’s heart was already hard towards God. So when God confronted him and pushed against him, Pharaoh resisted even more. This additional hardening was a punishment for Pharaoh’s defiance and opposition toward God. 1) God was demonstrating a principle that applies to all who resist God and refuse to turn from their own stubborn way. There comes a point where God finally turn people over to the full effects and consequences of their sinful desires, and actually harden their hearts even more. People in this dangerous condition are often spiritually blinded to God’s love and the truth of His Word. God often allows this so that a person will come to a point of hopelessness and finally turn to God for help and salvation. 2) Notice how the judgments of the early plagues softened Pharaoh’s heart a little. But when God removed each plague, Pharaoh’s heart hardened again. In other words, Pharaoh resisted God and hardened his own heart whenever God showed mercy.” [1]
Pharaoh had a long history of resisting God. He even viewed himself as a “god” of Egypt, as that’s how the Egyptian culture was in regards to Pharaohs. Yet, even though Pharaoh thought he was completely shutting God out, he wasn’t (up until this point when Moses confronted him). God could have totally wiped Pharaoh out for blatantly defying him, and worse yet, putting himself high up on a pedestal, which is a position for only God to hold. By his grace, God allowed Pharaoh to choose this. By His grace He gave Pharaoh the option of what he wanted. By His grace, He gave Pharaoh multiple times to get himself straightened out. And by His grace, He gave in to what Pharaoh had made clear his choice was. This isn’t an issue of blaming God and saying that it wasn’t “fair” of Him to sway the emotions of Pharaoh, when Moses stood up to him. This was God being so merciful to honor the path Pharaoh had chosen, that He stopped “saving” him, and let all his consequences cave in on him, thus hardening his heart more and leading to Pharaoh’s ultimate destruction. Take a look at the choice you’re making; God will honor it, no matter what it is. Where are you going to end up when God lets it all cave in?
1. Huffman, Carey, ed. “Exodus 7:3-4a.” Fire Bible Student Edition New International Version, Black, Bonded Leather. Ed. J. Wesley Adams. Springfield: Hendrickson Pub, 2010. 107. Print.
“‘…I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself.’” –Exodus 19:4 (NIV)
Here God is talking to Moses, referencing how He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Now, I’ve grown up in church my whole life…my dad has always been a pastor, and so I’ve just grown up in the “behind the scenes” of church atmosphere. Having said that, I’ve definitely experienced and even said my share of “churchy lingo” ~ those phrases that make sense if you’ve gone to church for a long time, but to someone new, they just sound scary and weird. Yet, just because I’ve grown up around the phrases, doesn’t mean that I understand them all. Actually, until today, I’d never really understood what “on eagle’s wings” meant. I’ve heard it in a lot of worship songs, and even found myself worshiping along with the song, just because the phrase sounded “right” or “spiritual,” but honestly I never fully knew what it meant. So in my study Bible (The Fire Bible – Pentecostal Study Bible, Student Edition) it gives an illustration and explanation of this phrase that’s simple, yet so impacting:
“A mother eagle swoops down and catches her young on her wings to keep them from crashing while learning to fly…This expression demonstrates God’s love, which is the greatest reason for obeying God and following His plan.” (Fire Bible, pg. 124; verse 19:4 note)
