But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Exodus 7:3-4a ESV

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Mark 8:17 ESV

I am reading in Exodus this week, specifically about Moses and Aaron and the ten plagues that finally convinced Egypt’s Pharaoh to let God’s people go. And this phrase stuck in my mind, a hardened heart. Pharaoh had a hardened heart which meant he disregarded who God was and His commands to free the Israelites. In some instances, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and in others Pharaoh hardened his own heart against God.

And in finding more references to a hardened heart, I found the verse in Mark. Jesus asks His disciples if their hearts are hardened because they did not understand His comment about the “leaven of the Pharisees.” They took it as a comment about the fact that they had no bread. They did not understand the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ words. A hardened heart is also a heart that doesn’t perceive or understand the things or words of God.

There is only one way to soften a hardened heart and that is by the grace of our mighty God. In Ezekiel’s time the Israelites had hardened hearts and even though God scattered them among the nations they still rebelled. But God gave them (and us) a promise. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

As I look back, I recognize that there were times when my heart was hardened. Times I read the Bible each day as something to cross off my list, not always as the quiet time spent with my Lord. Times I went to church as a duty and not the spiritual privilege it was. Times I tried to rely on myself instead of turning things over to the Lord and seeking His will. But His forgiveness and grace always brought me back to Him.

This week let’s each examine our hearts. If they are hardened, let’s seek the Lord, ask for His grace to soften our hearts, replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh that perceive and understand God’s will and purpose for our lives.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we search our hearts and seek our Mighty God and His path for our lives.

Blessings and softened hearts!