“It’s obvious,” my brother said. “A southerly wind is a wind that’s blowing toward the South.” I tried to protest. He rushed out and picked up a dictionary, returning with the gleeful smugness of the elder brother. “Read it and weep!” he said. When I read aloud the final phrase of the dictionary entry: “concerning winds, southerly means from a southern direction” he grabbed the book from me. He read the entry again, blinking in disbelief before stalking off dejectedly. He couldn’t accept the truth at first, even after reading it for himself. He had been convinced that he was right.
When we’re sure we’re right, it’s often hard to see we’re actually mistaken. Pharaoh refused to acknowledge that God was speaking to him. The signs were irrefutable, but from the devouring serpent to the death of every first-born in Egypt (Exodus 7:8-13, 12:28-32), Pharaoh refused to accept the reality of what was going on. Far more than mistaken, he fought God with a hard heart right up to the loss of his army in the Red Sea! We’re mystified as we read these accounts, wondering how someone could ignore such clear signs (Exodus 7:13, 14:5).
The truth is, we can all be hard in our attitude toward God and His instructions. Paul wrote of God being obvious to all and that we’re without excuse in Romans 1:19-20. Then in Romans 1:21-24 he described how God turns people over to their own sinful desires if they choose to ignore Him. He did the same with Pharaoh and the outcome was disastrous for Egypt (Exodus 12:29-30).
God is loving and kind. He desires that we turn to Him and receive life and salvation. May we choose to do so today, for “it’s obvious” He wants us to be in right relationship with Him.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 1:1-13
More:
Read Romans 2:5-11 to see what awaits those who reject God with stubborn and hardened hearts.
Next:
How have you experienced a hard heart toward God in your relationship with Him? What has He done to reveal His grace and life-giving ways to you?
Gary Shultz on June 15, 2016 at 6:22 am
I don’t know about you, Russell, but it is nice to be right or correct in our minds eye. I am human and can’t always be that person, the older I get, the dumber I look in some points. It seems many today, like Pharaoh, are convinced, regardless of fact, they cannot be wrong. I guess it’s that pride thing, but with your point comes another side to this coin. We can’t afford to be wrong with what God says. Once more people, for some reason, are convinced what they have spawned in their minds is total life truth. The Christian must be an ardent student of the word of God. We ourselves can not afford to be wrong, and for the sake of others we must be correct with the word, with the Spirit’s leading, with the way we pray, minister, and hand out, what we hope, is good advice. Just to crank this a little further, this is not pride, this is putting ourselves under God’s kind hand of guidance and care. So thanks for letting me flip the coin over Russell and may we learn to be gracious in other trivial matters of life because as Pharaoh, if we don’t we may find loss in our pride. Thanks Russell
philipforchrist on June 15, 2016 at 7:17 am
Gary, please explain something to me! Yes, I agree that Pharaoh did not know who God is, never acknowledged God and so failed to allow the Israelites to go worship Him. But it seems he may have been convinced with some of those plagues done by Moses, which were of course, punishments from God. I am thinking Pharaoh was incapable of yielding to Moses’ request because God did not allow him to do so. God Himself hardened Pharaoh’s heart, because as an aenemy of God’s people, he was meant to be destroyed. Isnt it?
godlove on June 15, 2016 at 11:54 am
Hi philipforchrist, while waiting for Gary to respond, I would chip in my humble opinion on this. I think the answer is found in Romans 1:19-24. I don’t think it’s about God not wanting Pharaoh to yield and so hardening his heart, but rather the other way round: since Pharaoh was stubborn to yield, God allowed his mind to become dark and foolish, and eventually hardened.
philipforchrist on June 15, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Thanks so much @godlove and God bless you real good. I have been somewhat perplexed by the issue raised by me for sometime but I did not take any conscious effort to research it until I read the devotional today. Yes, I agree with your submission and I just read some stuffs on the internet now and i believe Pharaoh and the Egyptians had a choice to surrender to the will of God but chose not to as explained in 1 Samuel 6 vs 6
gagirllive on June 15, 2016 at 1:02 pm
If I may interject, philipforchrist, Romans 9: 14–18 sheds even more light upon your question.
philipforchrist on June 16, 2016 at 4:33 am
Thanks, gagirlive! I have read Romans 9 vs 14-18 and I pray that God’s mercy shall continue to be on us in Jesus name. Amen
Tim Gustafson on June 15, 2016 at 1:41 pm
PhilipforChrist, this story of Pharaoh perplexes me also. But I do note that with the first five plagues, the scriptural account says that Pharaoh “hardened his heart.” In other words, he himself refused to acknowledge God in the miraculous plagues. But by the time we get to the plague of boils (the sixth plague), it is the Lord who hardens Pharaoh’s heart. The lesson for all of us is not to keep rejecting God’s grace.
philipforchrist on June 16, 2016 at 4:35 am
Thanks Tim, You are right about Pharaoh. He rejected God totally but God fought for and saved His people. God bless you sir.
gagirllive on June 15, 2016 at 7:51 am
Beautiful picture, Russell. I’m wondering if the heart is natural or hewn stone. A few years ago I started collecting things I found in nature that are heart-shaped. I have some interesting finds. I thought it would be a fun way to remind myself that God has given me a new heart. In Ezekiel 36: 26 God tells us, “I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” My prayer is that this new heart will always be tender and responsive to God. I find that gratitude and praise keeps my heart tender toward God. But the main thing for me is acknowledging that God knows everything. He’s never wrong. It’s when I think I know what’s best (or right) that I run the risk of my heart growing hard. I think it’s good that He let’s me “eat crow” (as we say here in southern USA) every now and then. Humble pie should be a dietary staple. It’s good for the heart. Thanks for this encouragement today, Russell.
godlove on June 15, 2016 at 11:48 am
I like your comment, gagirl. Gratitude and praise certainly prevents the heart from hardening, together with acceptance that He always knows what’s best, regardless of what we desire. Focus should always be on His will and not ours. And thanks be given in all circumstances. Blessings dear sister.
hsnpoor on June 15, 2016 at 10:09 am
In today’s reading in Romans 2, something struck me that I’ve never noticed before (God’s word is so like that, plus I’ve never done a formal systematic study of Romans, something I hope to do before I’m called home). In verses 9 & 10, Paul tells us there will be trouble for evil doers and glory & honor for those who do good, for the Jew first, then for the Gentile. Then, verse 11 says, “For God does not show favoritism”. Now, by my way of thinking (which admittedly is not initially God’s way of thinking), being first is usually a show of favor, so vs. 11 confuses me in light of verses 9 & 10. I’m sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation and I’m thinking it has something to do with “first being last and the last being first”, but I’ve got to go to work, so would appreciate your thoughts on this and I’ll check back as time permits during the day because I know I won’t rest until I get a resolve on this. Thank you all and to all of you I wish you a blessed and highly favored day!
godlove on June 15, 2016 at 11:43 am
Well, hsnpoor, I may be wrong but my understanding of v. 11 was that it’s related to v. 6 “He will judge everyone according to what they have done.” I don’t know for certain but that’s the way I have always understood it.
hsnpoor on June 16, 2016 at 1:20 am
Thank you godlove, but what I was getting at is how to interpret the statement that God does not show favoritism, right after saying all judgement, good or bad, will apply to the Jew first and then the Gentile. The very phrase of “the Jew first and then the Gentile” would appear to show some fashion of favoritism.
godlove on June 16, 2016 at 9:47 am
Ah, I understand your interrogation better. Well, I would guess that saying the good and bad alike are applied to the Jew first, then the Gentile shows that God doesn’t favour the Jew, otherwise He could have applied the bad to the Gentile first before the Jew. Again, just my humble take on your query.
hsnpoor on June 17, 2016 at 4:18 pm
And, your humble opinion is appreciated and informative. I thank you for it! I’m going to do a little digging into this this weekend and I’ll let you know what, if anything I find out, if you’re interested. Have a great weekend (I’m responding to you on Friday, the 17th)!
jef on June 15, 2016 at 10:13 am
Thanks Gary for adding fresh insight. Reading through Gene Getz’s Measure of a man topic on overcoming self centredness; the problem is self will and being unapproachable of which even mature Christians run risk. The moment you stop being a student of the word and start rationalising your actions by your own knowledge not as per the spirit leading, problem sets in and may be hardened like pharaoh justifying your sinful tendencies.
godlove on June 15, 2016 at 11:39 am
I totally agree jef, and as Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
godlove on June 15, 2016 at 11:33 am
Russell, I smiled broadly as I read your story. As an elder brother who has experienced countless similar situations with my own younger brother I can relate to your brother’s feelings at the moment when he realised he was mistaken. It’s rather unfortunate that, too many times, we let our hearts get hardened by stubbornly refusing to admit when we are mistaken in what God requires of us. It is especially true for those Biblical principles which the flesh may not agree with and we would rather prefer to have it our own way. We create our own understading of His Word, even when it’s all written very clearly with no ambiguity possible. I guess this is an area where we need the Spirit most, wisdom and discernment. Romans 12:2 says “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” May God, in His infinite grace, forgive us for our mistakes and help us to understand His will instead of trying to justify our sinful nature by reinterpreting Scripture to fit with what we would like it to say.
street on June 15, 2016 at 2:48 pm
thinking of the difficulty of connecting a tangible world with a non tangible world. can’t be done even though we can perceive of there presents. good and evil.
God in His infinite wisdom makes this possible by faith through the cross of His Son. keep your eyes on the Son or you will get lost. if you’re a sheep, the Good Shepard will come and get you. anyone who call’s on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. how will they call if they had not heard? how can they hear if no one is sent? in order to be sent you must listen for the sender. anyone listening?
street on June 15, 2016 at 2:56 pm
It is an easy thing to argue from precedent because it makes everything simple, but it is a risky thing to do. Give God “elbow room”; let Him come into His universe as He pleases. If we confine God in His working to religious people or to certain ways, we place ourselves on an equality with God. Baffled to Fight Better, 51 L
street on June 15, 2016 at 3:02 pm
thinking of Hannah and Job both were provoked by there circumstances and responded correctly. Pharaoh did not respond correctly when provoked. thinking provocation should lead us to prayer and prayer should lead us to God. maybe lead us away from an idol.
Gary Shultz on June 15, 2016 at 9:16 pm
Hi Philip, sorry sometimes I work long hours. You did get many different and good view points. I appreciate the question, I’m probably not the best equipped to answer, but how great it is that you ask questions. So, I’m off on a rabbit trail. I love the Christian faith because you can ask questions, asking questions is a healthy and a convincing way to grow this faith walk. Keep asking questions, get good answers! Now back to something closer to your initial question. When heads of state, kingdoms, territories and the like are involved, please be open that things beyond our eyes can be taking place. I like what has been said in these comment sections, but I would add some complex issues to consider. the fact that Pharaoh’s were considered gods, the pantheon of gods that encircled thought life for the Egyptian nation. Each plague, underscored a completely failed category of one of these gods. As often happens God is working behind the scenes. Remember “Our Father who is in heaven” we are not the only game in town and many times heavenly business is reflected by happenings on earth. I’m not doing the twilight zone here, but God ties things together in ways we have no clue about. So we may only see one side of the equation, that is how we walk in trust and faith. We may not understand all, but we can trust God does. Me thinks we see some of this with the story of Pharaoh’ however, if we have an active relationship with God we know who He is and His character. Long lines to keep you turning over every stone in God’s word and searching the scriptures. I hope this was not too wacky.
philipforchrist on June 16, 2016 at 4:45 am
It was not wacky at all. If there’s something you have done; God has used you to open my understanding more on this subject. The complex issues you added about each plague reprensenting failure of the Egyptian gods is true. Pharaoh actually rejected God but God fought for and saved His people. You remember the Abrahamic covenant? I’ll bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you……………Thanks so much Gary for your response, I bless God for your life and I pray that God shall continue to give you wisdom and be with you all the days of your life in jesus name. Amen