Hard

 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
Exodus 9:12 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.9.12.ESV

Sometimes we're told that Pharoah hardened his own heart. So it's not like he was helpless in the hands of God. He bore responsibility for his own hardness of heart.

These two truths need to be held in tension: that God is in control and that we are responsible for our own behaviour. We can't blame God when we make mistakes. God can't be held responsible for our own decisions, unless He inspires us to do what is right.

God wasn't wringing His hands in frustration when Pharoah hardened his heart. God wasn't helpless in the face of Pharoah's stubbornness. He allowed him to be so in order to magnify His glory.

God doesn't necessarily make things easy for His people. What He does do is to empower us to endure the hardness of the likes of Pharoah's heart. His grace is sufficient for us, because His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.

'Please soften our hearts to You Lord, so that we might honour You as You deserve. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen'





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