Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” (Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late.) So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the Lord; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses. Exodus 9:29-35 NASB
When things go well, I forget my need for God and sometimes I forget the promises I made to Him in my hour of need. I think that’s human nature. I call that the condition of the ‘forgetful’ heart. Our heart is not against God, its just conditioned a bit on seeking him greatly when in need, only minimally when in a good season of life. But, there is another type of heart, its the ‘hardened’ heart. The problem with the hardened heart is its callous to God and brings destruction. Pharaoh suffered from this condition and it was devastating to him and all around him, literally resulting in the loss of life. Pharaoh found himself constantly fighting against God’s will and God’s people. Even after the devastating rain had stopped by miraculous means, Pharaoh didn’t just forget God, he hardened his heart against Him. Oh the danger of the hardened heart, it cannot be reminded, it must be broken.
How about me? Is my heart soft toward God? Do I seek after God’s own heart? Is there any part of my heart that has a tendency for hardness toward God or anyone else?
God, as this day begins- Oh, I need You. Uphold me with Your right hand as I hold out the words of life to a hurting family and friends who come to mourn the loss of a young one. May I proclaim the hope of heaven in a compelling manner. Draw people to Yourself. Thank you for the team of people who will minister today. Please keep my heart ever tender.
