Welcome!Welcome!March 5March 5thth

20062006

Don’t Harden Your Don’t Harden Your HeartHeart

Open Your Bibles to Exodus 4:1Open Your Bibles to Exodus 4:1

We are going to look at the We are going to look at the entire 4entire 4thth chapter, so let’s begin chapter, so let’s begin

reading 4:1 thru 31.reading 4:1 thru 31.

Things to note:Things to note:““believe the voice”.believe the voice”. 4:1,8,9 Is it the voice of the 4:1,8,9 Is it the voice of the man we are to believe? No, see 7:17 man we are to believe? No, see 7:17 “Thus saith the “Thus saith the LORD”LORD” We are to believe God’s Word through the man’s We are to believe God’s Word through the man’s voice. Man can say many things, but it’s God’s Word that voice. Man can say many things, but it’s God’s Word that conveys the Authority man should heed. God’s Word conveys the Authority man should heed. God’s Word proves itself to be true every time. “The people believed” proves itself to be true every time. “The people believed” 4:31 4:31

““Him Whom Thou wilt send.”Him Whom Thou wilt send.” 4:13 Notice the next verse God says 4:13 Notice the next verse God says “Is “Is not Aaron the not Aaron the LeviteLevite thy brother?” thy brother?” Moses is also a Levite, God states the obvious so there be no confusion that Redeemer will not be a Levite. For God promised; Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

(4:14, 27) Aaron was well acquainted with (4:14, 27) Aaron was well acquainted with his brother Moses, They may have been his brother Moses, They may have been schooled together. See 1 Sam. 2:27-28. schooled together. See 1 Sam. 2:27-28. ““And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?”

4:24-264:24-26 God wasn’t trying to kill God wasn’t trying to kill MosesMoses. . “And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him,

and sought to kill him (Eliezer). 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son

(Eliezer), and cast it at his (Moses) feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26 So he (LORD) let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.”

See See Genesis 17:12 “And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the

house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must

needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for

an everlasting covenant.”

Genesis 17:14 “And the uncircumcised man child

whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul

shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my

covenant.” This is God’s rule!

4:314:31“the LORD had visited”“the LORD had visited”. God . God keeps His promises. See Gen. 50:24-25 keeps His promises. See Gen. 50:24-25 ““And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.”

Exodus 6:6 “Wherefore say unto Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I the children of Israel, I amam the the LORD, and I will bring you out LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the from under the burdens of the

Egyptians, and Egyptians, and I will rid you out I will rid you out of their bondage, and I willof their bondage, and I will

redeemredeem you with a stretched out you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:” arm, and with great judgments:”

redeemredeem = Strong's Number = Strong's Number 0135001350 Hebrew Hebrew ga'alga'al

A primitive root, to A primitive root, to redeemredeem (according to the (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e. to Oriental law of kinship), i.e. to be the be the next of next of

kinkin (and as such (and as such to to buy backbuy back a relative's a relative's property, property, marrymarry his widow, etc.). his widow, etc.).

Compare 13:13Compare 13:13 “And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if

thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among

thy children shalt thou redeem.”

Redeem = Redeem = 6299 padah A primitive root.A primitive root.

To To sever,sever, i.e. i.e. ransom;ransom; generally generally to to release, preserve. release, preserve. As with As with

powerpower× at all, deliver, × × at all, deliver, × by any by any

meansmeans. .

We see the difference in these 2 We see the difference in these 2 meanings of redeem. God’s meanings of redeem. God’s

visit to the people unto visit to the people unto Salvation is as a substitute. A Salvation is as a substitute. A kinsman-redeemer. See Luke kinsman-redeemer. See Luke

1:681:68

Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath

visited and redeemed his people,”

These are all interesting points These are all interesting points of the 4of the 4thth chapter of Exodus, and chapter of Exodus, and they help us better understand they help us better understand God, but the focus of our study God, but the focus of our study

is going to be the is going to be the Hardening Hardening of the Heartof the Heart..

Exodus 4:21Exodus 4:21

Exodus 4:21 “And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou

do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in

thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the

people go.”

God tells us that God tells us that HeHe is going to harden is going to harden Pharaoh’s heart.Pharaoh’s heart.

#1) Exodus 9:12 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken

unto Moses. #2) Exodus 10:1 And the LORD said unto

Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his

servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

#3) Exodus 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the

children of Israel go.

#4) Exodus 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

#5) Exodus 11:10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh:

and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of

Israel go out of his land.

#6) Exodus 14:8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with

an high hand.

Why?Why?

It seems that God was making It seems that God was making Pharaoh do evil. This would be Pharaoh do evil. This would be a sin. God can have nothing to a sin. God can have nothing to

do with sin. How do we do with sin. How do we reconcile this??reconcile this??

The Lord was not making The Lord was not making Pharaoh do evil, the Lord was Pharaoh do evil, the Lord was

"allowing" him to do evil. "allowing" him to do evil.

That's an important distinction That's an important distinction that changes the whole picture. that changes the whole picture. Pharaoh (Pharaoh (as is all of mankindas is all of mankind) )

was by nature desperately was by nature desperately wicked. That is what normally wicked. That is what normally

proceeds from the heart of man proceeds from the heart of man since the fall of Adam. since the fall of Adam.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,

murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Only God truly understands the total Only God truly understands the total depravity of man's heart against Him. depravity of man's heart against Him.

From Adam's fall it is not conditioned to From Adam's fall it is not conditioned to receive God's Word, but hardened as a receive God's Word, but hardened as a stone in carnality to reject it. The only stone in carnality to reject it. The only

thing that keeps man from acting on all thing that keeps man from acting on all of the depravity in his heart is God's of the depravity in his heart is God's

hand in the restraint of sin. Otherwise hand in the restraint of sin. Otherwise carnal man would soon destroy himself. carnal man would soon destroy himself.

This stony nature of the heart is This stony nature of the heart is illustrated in such scriptures as: illustrated in such scriptures as:

Ezekiel 11:19Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within and I will put a new spirit within

you; and I will take the stony you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:" give them an heart of flesh:"

Without God's interference, man's heart Without God's interference, man's heart is a stony heart, where it's hardened to is a stony heart, where it's hardened to God. But God is determined that His God. But God is determined that His

will and purpose be done on earth, and will and purpose be done on earth, and so God places His hand of restraint so God places His hand of restraint

upon man that His will be carried out to upon man that His will be carried out to His glory. What man generally doesn't His glory. What man generally doesn't

understand is that he is not in control in understand is that he is not in control in this world, God is. And God makes his this world, God is. And God makes his rain to fall on the wicked as well as well rain to fall on the wicked as well as well

as on the just. as on the just.

Jeremiah 17:9 Jeremiah 17:9 "The Heart is deceitful above "The Heart is deceitful above

all things, and desperately all things, and desperately wicked: Who can know it? wicked: Who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart, I I the Lord search the heart, I try the reigns, even to give try the reigns, even to give every man according to his every man according to his ways, and according to the ways, and according to the

fruit of his doing."fruit of his doing."

The heart is deceitful above all, and The heart is deceitful above all, and who can know it? Certainly not man, for who can know it? Certainly not man, for he thinks that he’s a good person. But he thinks that he’s a good person. But

God knows better! He tested Pharaoh's God knows better! He tested Pharaoh's heart and it was found wanting, and by heart and it was found wanting, and by

removing His hand of restraint, removing His hand of restraint, Pharaoh's heart returned to it's dark Pharaoh's heart returned to it's dark ((hardenedhardened) state. This God does as ) state. This God does as

judgment, that He might give him judgment, that He might give him according to his evil ways. according to his evil ways.

Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in

the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from

sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch

her.

In this last Scripture King In this last Scripture King Abimelech may have "thought" it Abimelech may have "thought" it

was all his doing not to touch Sarah was all his doing not to touch Sarah out of the goodness or integrity of out of the goodness or integrity of

his heart, the Lord lets us know that his heart, the Lord lets us know that it wasn't that the king was good, it it wasn't that the king was good, it

was truly because God Himself was was truly because God Himself was at work and put integrity in his at work and put integrity in his

heart. heart.

He did this restraining without He did this restraining without the King's knowledge preventing the King's knowledge preventing

what he had in his heart from what he had in his heart from coming to fruition in sin against coming to fruition in sin against God. That is not a statement to God. That is not a statement to take lightly. In order to get His take lightly. In order to get His

will done on earth, God will done on earth, God restrains the evil of man's heart. restrains the evil of man's heart.

Philippians 2:13 Philippians 2:13 "For "For it is God which worketh in it is God which worketh in youyou both to WILL and to DO of both to WILL and to DO of

His good pleasure."His good pleasure." Hebrews 13:21 Hebrews 13:21

"Make you perfect in every good "Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, work to do his will, working in working in

youyou that which is wellpleasing in that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and to whom be glory for ever and

ever. Amen".ever. Amen".

Exodus 8:15 Exodus 8:15 "But when Pharaoh saw that "But when Pharaoh saw that

there was respite, there was respite, he he hardened his hearthardened his heart, and , and

hearkened not unto them;hearkened not unto them; as as the LORD had said."the LORD had said."

God says He would harden God says He would harden Pharaoh’s heart 6 times, But Pharaoh’s heart 6 times, But Pharaoh hardened his own Pharaoh hardened his own

heart 6 times.heart 6 times.Exodus 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, Exodus 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32,

9:7, 9:349:7, 9:34This God allowed.This God allowed.

If someone were physically holding If someone were physically holding someone else back from someone else back from

committing a crime, and he told him committing a crime, and he told him he'd let him go if he would not he'd let him go if he would not

commit crimes again. And when he commit crimes again. And when he let him go, He committed crimes let him go, He committed crimes

again, is that one man responsible again, is that one man responsible for another man's sin simply for another man's sin simply

because he no longer physically because he no longer physically restrained him? restrained him?

Psalms 76:10 Psalms 76:10 "Surely the wrath of man shall "Surely the wrath of man shall

praise God."praise God." Exodus 9:16 Exodus 9:16

"And in very deed for this cause "And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show have I raised thee up, for to show

in thee My Power; and that My in thee My Power; and that My name may be declared name may be declared

throughout all the earth.”throughout all the earth.”

How does this affect us as How does this affect us as believers? We don’t have hard believers? We don’t have hard

hearts…?hearts…?

The dictionary defines the word The dictionary defines the word "harden," when applied to our "harden," when applied to our

hearts, as "insensitive, hearts, as "insensitive, unfeeling, unyielding, unfeeling, unyielding,

calloused." With this understood calloused." With this understood we certainly don't always yield we certainly don't always yield

to the Lord as we should. Those to the Lord as we should. Those are all symptoms of a hardened, are all symptoms of a hardened,

or calloused, heart. or calloused, heart.

Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind

was contrary to them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh to them, walking upon

the sea, and would have passed by them.

6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they

supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith to

them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

6:51 And he went up to them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure,

and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the

loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Jesus' disciples had hardened hearts because they were

shocked and amazed to see Jesus walk on the water. They They

had very soon forgot His had very soon forgot His feeding of the 5000.feeding of the 5000.

We should be blessed to see We should be blessed to see the supernatural power of God the supernatural power of God manifest, but we shouldn't be manifest, but we shouldn't be

shocked. If you relate easier to shocked. If you relate easier to the natural and its problems the natural and its problems

than you do to the supernatural than you do to the supernatural and its miracles, you have a and its miracles, you have a hardened heart. (OUCH!)hardened heart. (OUCH!)

Was Jesus amazed when He Was Jesus amazed when He Himself fed 5000, or walked on Himself fed 5000, or walked on water? No way! He believed water? No way! He believed and received exactly what he and received exactly what he

expected. Of course we are not expected. Of course we are not Christ, but we are to be Christ-Christ, but we are to be Christ-

like. like.

The fact that we would be The fact that we would be shocked to see someone raised shocked to see someone raised

from the dead or blind eyes from the dead or blind eyes opened is the reason most of us opened is the reason most of us

may have never seen those may have never seen those things. things.

God says their hearts were God says their hearts were harden due to their improper harden due to their improper response to the supernatural response to the supernatural event of Jesus walking on the event of Jesus walking on the

water.water.

Certainly the disciples have Certainly the disciples have learned their lesson; Let’s see learned their lesson; Let’s see what happens just a few days what happens just a few days

later.later.

Mark 8:8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left

seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were

about four thousand: and he sent them away.

(Skip down to vs. 16)

Mark 8:16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is

because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith to them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither

understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I broke the

five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments

took ye up? They say to him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of

fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said to them, How is it that ye do not understand?

We not only have physical eyes We not only have physical eyes and ears; our hearts have eyes and ears; our hearts have eyes and ears as well, that allow us and ears as well, that allow us to hear and see God. People to hear and see God. People with hard hearts aren't seeing with hard hearts aren't seeing and hearing from their hearts. and hearing from their hearts. They are limited to only what They are limited to only what

their senses tell them. That's a their senses tell them. That's a severe disability. severe disability.

What causes a hardened heart What causes a hardened heart toward God? The answer is toward God? The answer is

back in Mark 6:52, which says, back in Mark 6:52, which says, "For they "For they consideredconsidered not the not the

miracle of the loaves: for their miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.heart was hardened.

What we consider is what our What we consider is what our heart becomes open or heart becomes open or

sensitive to. The inverse is also sensitive to. The inverse is also true. What we fail to consider, true. What we fail to consider, our heart becomes closed or our heart becomes closed or

hardened to.hardened to.

The word “consider” means “to The word “consider” means “to study, ponder, deliberate, study, ponder, deliberate,

examine or meditate.” In other examine or meditate.” In other words, whatever occupies your words, whatever occupies your attention, you become sensitive attention, you become sensitive to, and you become hardened to, and you become hardened

to everything else. to everything else.

The way we change this The way we change this problem is to change the things problem is to change the things we are considering. Remember, we are considering. Remember,

whatever we consider, our whatever we consider, our hearts become sensitive to. This hearts become sensitive to. This doesn't happen automatically. It doesn't happen automatically. It

takes time.takes time.

Consider this; You can't be Consider this; You can't be tempted by something that you tempted by something that you

don't think about. We must don't think about. We must substitute the things of the world substitute the things of the world

with the things of God. In this with the things of God. In this way we will guard our hearts way we will guard our hearts

from becoming hardened.from becoming hardened.

The closer we are to God the The closer we are to God the easier it is to hear the Holy easier it is to hear the Holy

Spirit speak to our heart. The Spirit speak to our heart. The further we turn from God the further we turn from God the

less we hear from our less we hear from our Councilor. Councilor.

Can you hear the Can you hear the Voice?Voice?