OLD TESTAMENT ARTICLE
HARD-HEARTED!
Exodus 3 - 14
To say that Pharaoh was a prideful man might well be the understatement of the year. Between chapters three and fourteen Pharaoh's heart is described as hard or hardened 19 times. He was the type of man who when pushed, pushed back; when pressured, refused to give way; when humiliated, continued undauntedly. God knew this and warned Moses of the same in Exodus 3:19, "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go except under compulsion." The New King James translates that verse as "no, not even by a mighty hand." Pharaoh would be forced to release Israel when finally confronted with one greater than he. Pharaoh's pride is seen in his response to Moses, '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.' (Exodus 5:2) Only after his kingdom was destroyed by the plagues (Exodus 10:7) and his army lost in the Red Sea (Exodus 14:28) did he gain the knowledge he lacked.
What caused his heart to be so hardened? Ten times it is stated that God hardened his heart, (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17), three times it is stated that Pharaoh hardened his heart, (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34), six times it is simply stated that his heart was hardened, (Exodus 7:13-14, 22; 8:19; 9:7, 35). This has been a question which has plagued many a theologian and Christian alike. Are we to understand that God hardened Pharaoh's heart then punished him for having a hard heart?. God forbid. We know God would not violate man's right to chose.
Pharaoh's heart was already hardened before God ever sent Moses. God knew this would be the perfect king to demonstrate His power. This was a king so arrogant and prideful that he would not bend to the will of one greater. This gave God an opportunity to not only demonstrate his power to Pharaoh but also to the Israelites, who would need this evidence to give them faith in God's ability to deliver, protect, and sustain them. Because Pharaoh's heart was already hardened, every plague which God sent upon Egypt simply hardened Pharaoh's resolve not to give in. These plagues would have humbled any other man but not one so hardened by pride. Thus in that sense one could say God was hardening his heart. The more God demonstrated his power the firmer became Pharaoh's determination not to release Israel. The more God pushed, the more Pharaoh pushed back; the more God pressured, the more Pharaoh refused to give way; the more God humiliated him, the more undaunted became Pharaoh in his resistance.
Let us learn from Pharaoh the danger of having a prideful heart. "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.' (Proverbs 16:18)
NEW TESTAMENT ARTICLE
THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA
Luke 20:1-8
Another cliche we use gives a good description of the above, 'between a rock and a hard place.' It's putting one into a trap that no matter the choice, defeat is inevitable. That's what the religious leaders thought they had Jesus in only to find that they were the ones trapped. What occasioned this?
At the end of chapter 19 Jesus is seen throwing out those engaged in selling. According to Matthew, there were also buyers and moneychangers in the group which the Lord threw out, (Matthew 21:12). This was the second time Jesus had cleansed the temple, (John 2:13-16). Jesus is immediately confronted by the "authorities" who demand to know who gave Him the authority to do such. They had given these individuals permission to be in the temple and supply animals for sacrifice and money changing services for those coming from distant lands who would need Jewish money to pay their tax. The religious leaders knew the source of their authority, the Law of Moses, but what about Jesus? They thought they had Him. If He claimed God, they would claim the same; He couldn't claim Jewish authority because that's what they were and He couldn't claim Roman authority for they could care less about the Jewish religion. So they finally had Him after three years of trying! Victory was so close they could taste it.
'How the mighty have fallen!" Jesus says, "I shall ask you a question, and you tell Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" Either way they answer they're in trouble so they 'play dumb.' "And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Are you shocked at the Lord's attitude? You shouldn't be. He was simply living by HIS own teaching, 'Do not give what is holy to dogs...' (Matthew 7:6). Do you think if Jesus explained the source of His authority they would have accepted it? Jesus' entire ministry on earth was testimony to the source of His authority. He had been all over Judea healing the sick, raising the dead, exorcizing demons and performing various other signs and wonders all in an attempt to prove the source of HIS authority, (John 20:30-31. These leaders had not only heard about this man but had interviewed some healed by Him, (John 9). They should have known the answer to this question ten times over again! Yet their prejudice would not give way in the face of overwhelming evidence. Thus, theirs was a self-imposed dilemma.
Let these men forever serve as an example of the dangers of having a closed mind. Being open-minded is not easy. It's not easy having your beliefs questioned and challenged. But if they are wrong, wouldn't you rather endure the discomfort of changing your opinions to the truth than an eternity of misery because of your unbending devotion to wrong beliefs?