The Hardened Heart

[Seeker47]

Several times in the bible we encounter the concept of a hardened heart. In Exodus 7:3 God tells Moses he will harden Pharaoh’s heart to the point he will release the Israelites.

Recall in ancient Hebrew culture the “Heart” was not the center of emotions. That concept comes many centuries later from Greece. To our ancient fathers the “Heart” was the center of reason, the source of thought, logic and even learning. It is what today we would reference as our mind. To harden Pharaoh's heart was to close his mind, to shut off his reason and make his course unalterable no matter what new information was presented. We see this hardened heart culminate in the Egyptian pursuit of the Israelites. Even after watching YHWH part the sea and providing an escape route for Moses, Pharaoh charged between the waters to extract his hearts vengeance.

Our God is a God of patterns. We see hardened hearts again in His Word. We see King Saul's pursuit of David, we read of King Jeroboam and his irrational refusal to obey Samuel and we see it most clearly in the “Hearts” of the people of Israel and Judah before their exiles. We see it in the Pharisees' refusal to abandon their theological traditions, even in the face of miracles.

Do we not see this same pattern once again in the actions of Hamas, Hezbollah and now especially in Iran. Would anything but a “Hard Heart” cause Iran to guarantee their own destruction by assaulting their neighbors and former friends.

Do not doubt, pay attention; our God is neither absent nor asleep. He continues even today to keep His word with His people.

 

[Watchman22]

Several times in the bible we encounter the concept of a hardened heart. In Exodus 7:3 God tells Moses he will harden Pharaoh’s heart to the point he will release the Israelites.

Recall in ancient Hebrew culture the “Heart” was not the center of emotions. That concept comes many centuries later from Greece. To our ancient fathers the “Heart” was the center of reason, the source of thought, logic and even learning. It is what today we would reference as our mind. To harden Pharaoh's heart was to close his mind, to shut off his reason and make his course unalterable no matter what new information was presented. We see this hardened heart culminate in the Egyptian pursuit of the Israelites. Even after watching YHWH part the sea and providing an escape route for Moses, Pharaoh charged between the waters to extract his hearts vengeance.

Our God is a God of patterns. We see hardened hearts again in His Word. We see King Saul's pursuit of David, we read of King Jeroboam and his irrational refusal to obey Samuel and we see it most clearly in the “Hearts” of the people of Israel and Judah before their exiles. We see it in the Pharisees' refusal to abandon their theological traditions, even in the face of miracles.

Do we not see this same pattern once again in the actions of Hamas, Hezbollah and now especially in Iran. Would anything but a “Hard Heart” cause Iran to guarantee their own destruction by assaulting their neighbors and former friends.

Do not doubt, pay attention; our God is neither absent nor asleep. He continues even today to keep His word with His people.

For whatever it's worth, the Greek defines the heart as " the seat of moral and spiritual life."

 

[Brasspen]

Some people have a heart of stone. When you accept Jesus Christ and have your sins forgiven, Jesus will give you a heart of flesh, rather than stone.

 

[Watchman22]

Some people have a heart of stone. When you accept Jesus Christ and have your sins forgiven, Jesus will give you a heart of flesh, rather than stone.

I can tell we have some differences in our understanding of the salvation process, but I think our understanding of the heart is good.

 

[tablet123]

Exo 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.

Exo 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exo 8:32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

Exo 8:25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

Exo 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

Exo 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

God is a good God and does not touch people for evil.

But without Him operating in their life they will be self exalting.

The Bible says God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

But it says Pharaoh hardened his heart.

God left Pharaoh alone and he hardened his heart because of operating in the flesh.

Pharaoh said I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked and I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

Showing Pharaoh was hardening his own heart which God left him alone.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

God is a good God and does not touch anyone for evil when it comes to moral behavior but he does not work in their life so they operate by the flesh.

 

[Charlesiii]

Do we not see this same pattern once again in the actions of Hamas, Hezbollah and now especially in Iran. Would anything but a “Hard Heart” cause Iran to guarantee their own destruction by assaulting their neighbors and former friends.

Where scripture talks about hardened hearts, it's usually where people have been presented the gospel truth, but instead of repenting and accepting God's grace, they insist on resisting him. Circumcision is used as a metaphor for removing the foreskin (hardness) from the hearts of God's people.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.

This said, I don't think Iran has really been presented with gospel truth and yet openly chooses to reject it. Firstly, Iran is a nation state rather than a man or woman. Yes, it is an evil and tyrannical government, but it wasn't really given any other option than war. The US have effectively played a game of deception by pretending to want negotiations (and could have achieved many concessions) when only war was really on the table. As for terrorist groups, one needs to look at who funded these to get to the root of the problem, and none of the sides involved in the current war are guiltless on this count.

Perhaps hardness of heart would better apply to those who claim to be Christians, but then insist on maintaining that God's chosen people are those who live in a certain place in the Middle East or claim to be a certain ethnic group, rather than all of those who believe on Jesus for salvation?

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Perhaps hardness of heart would better apply to those who claim to be Christians, but then insist on maintaining that God's chosen people are those who live in a certain place in the Middle East or claim to be a certain ethnic group, rather than all of those who believe on Jesus for salvation?

I can see being deceived about this matter without having a hard heart, but once that belief produces justification of all of the ungodly deeds that are done in support of that belief, then that definitely is a hard heart.

 

[HeIsHere]

Several times in the bible we encounter the concept of a hardened heart. In Exodus 7:3 God tells Moses he will harden Pharaoh’s heart to the point he will release the Israelites.

Recall in ancient Hebrew culture the “Heart” was not the center of emotions. That concept comes many centuries later from Greece. To our ancient fathers the “Heart” was the center of reason, the source of thought, logic and even learning. It is what today we would reference as our mind. To harden Pharaoh's heart was to close his mind, to shut off his reason and make his course unalterable no matter what new information was presented. We see this hardened heart culminate in the Egyptian pursuit of the Israelites. Even after watching YHWH part the sea and providing an escape route for Moses, Pharaoh charged between the waters to extract his hearts vengeance.

Our God is a God of patterns. We see hardened hearts again in His Word. We see King Saul's pursuit of David, we read of King Jeroboam and his irrational refusal to obey Samuel and we see it most clearly in the “Hearts” of the people of Israel and Judah before their exiles. We see it in the Pharisees' refusal to abandon their theological traditions, even in the face of miracles.

Do we not see this same pattern once again in the actions of Hamas, Hezbollah and now especially in Iran. Would anything but a “Hard Heart” cause Iran to guarantee their own destruction by assaulting their neighbors and former friends.

Do not doubt, pay attention; our God is neither absent nor asleep. He continues even today to keep His word with His people.

I have read commentators state that Exodus 7:3, when
one looks at the original language, that God strengthened Pharaoh's resolve.

I think that makes sense in context.

 

[HeIsHere]

Where scripture talks about hardened hearts, it's usually where people have been presented the gospel truth, but instead of repenting and accepting God's grace, they insist on resisting him. Circumcision is used as a metaphor for removing the foreskin (hardness) from the hearts of God's people.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.

This said, I don't think Iran has really been presented with gospel truth and yet openly chooses to reject it. Firstly, Iran is a nation state rather than a man or woman. Yes, it is an evil and tyrannical government, but it wasn't really given any other option than war. The US have effectively played a game of deception by pretending to want negotiations (and could have achieved many concessions) when only war was really on the table. As for terrorist groups, one needs to look at who funded these to get to the root of the problem, and none of the sides involved in the current war are guiltless on this count.

Perhaps hardness of heart would better apply to those who claim to be Christians, but then insist on maintaining that God's chosen people are those who live in a certain place in the Middle East or claim to be a certain ethnic group, rather than all of those who believe on Jesus for salvation?

Yes agree, I also think trying to connect Pharaoh's actions and God working, at that time, to bring His plan of salvation to fruition through His chosen people has NO connection with a modern day state.

 

[Seeker47]

Yes agree, I also think trying to connect Pharaoh's actions and God working, at that time, to bring His plan of salvation to fruition through His chosen people has NO connection with a modern day state.

As I read the Bible, God frequently uses gentile nations to advance his salvation plans. Egypt, Moab, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome; all come to mind. Why would He change now?

 

[HeIsHere]

As I read the Bible, God frequently uses gentile nations to advance his salvation plans. Egypt, Moab, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome; all come to mind. Why would He change now?

The plan of salvation culminated in Christ Jesus

The only Temple is Christ
The only Israel is Christ
The only Messiah is Christ

The only High Priest is Christ
The only sacrifice is Christ
The only covenant is Christ

The only Lamb is Christ
The only Passover is Christ
The only atonement is Christ

The only altar is the Cross
The only offering is His blood
The only redemption is His resurrection

The law pointed to Christ
The prophets testified to Christ
The promises are fulfilled in Christ

The shadow has passed
The substance is Christ

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

As I read the Bible, God frequently uses gentile nations to advance his salvation plans. Egypt, Moab, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome; all come to mind. Why would He change now?

He hasn't. The beast is part of the plan.

 

[Seeker47]

Where scripture talks about hardened hearts, it's usually where people have been presented the gospel truth, but instead of repenting and accepting God's grace, they insist on resisting him. Circumcision is used as a metaphor for removing the foreskin (hardness) from the hearts of God's people.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.

This said, I don't think Iran has really been presented with gospel truth and yet openly chooses to reject it. Firstly, Iran is a nation state rather than a man or woman. Yes, it is an evil and tyrannical government, but it wasn't really given any other option than war. The US have effectively played a game of deception by pretending to want negotiations (and could have achieved many concessions) when only war was really on the table. As for terrorist groups, one needs to look at who funded these to get to the root of the problem, and none of the sides involved in the current war are guiltless on this count.

Perhaps hardness of heart would better apply to those who claim to be Christians, but then insist on maintaining that God's chosen people are those who live in a certain place in the Middle East or claim to be a certain ethnic group, rather than all of those who believe on Jesus for salvation?

I must have missed something. Where was the statement that "God's chosen only live in a certain place or claim to be a certain ethnic group?" If we deny that the descendants of Abraham were not God's chosen people we make Him a liar. If we deny that God has claimed a parcel of land in the middle-east for his own we again deny God; words. Making either of these claims does not negate the salvation of Jesus, they support christ

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

If we deny that the descendants of Abraham were not God's chosen people we make Him a liar.

I'm assuming you mean natural descendants, which the correct response is, were, not are. Abraham's descendants are those of faith in Christ. In fact, that is always what Abraham's seed has been.

And if you are of Christ, then you are the seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29​

If we deny that God has claimed a parcel of land in the middle-east for his own we again deny God; words.

And he gave that land to his son, not to a bunch of unbelieving disobedient larpers pretending to be the people of God.

 

[Charlesiii]

I must have missed something. Where was the statement that "God's chosen only live in a certain place or claim to be a certain ethnic group?" If we deny that the descendants of Abraham were not God's chosen people we make Him a liar. If we deny that God has claimed a parcel of land in the middle-east for his own we again deny God; words. Making either of these claims does not negate the salvation of Jesus, they support christ

It seems like you are being inconsistent, and trying to compare the hardhearted behaviour of the Pharaoh in Exodus with the violent interactions involving modern day Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel and the US. Probably a more consistent analogy would be comparing these modern day interactions to the war between say the Philistines and Assyrians - when godless nations fight each other?

The Philistines could be the analogy for the modern state of Israel and the US, and the Assyrians the analogy for modern day Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. Obviously, I doubt there is any evidence that Philistia funded groups within Assyria to perform acts of terror against itself in order to sway the "mostly-peaceful" Philistine population toward greater support for war against Assyria, so the analogy does fall down here. But its likely much closer than the analogy proposed in the OP.

 

[Seeker47]

It seems like you are being inconsistent, and trying to compare the hardhearted behaviour of the Pharaoh in Exodus with the violent interactions involving modern day Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel and the US. Probably a more consistent analogy would be comparing these modern day interactions to the war between say the Philistines and Assyrians - when godless nations fight each other?

The Philistines could be the analogy for the modern state of Israel and the US, and the Assyrians the analogy for modern day Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. Obviously, I doubt there is any evidence that Philistia funded groups within Assyria to perform acts of terror against itself in order to sway the "mostly-peaceful" Philistine population toward greater support for war against Assyria, so the analogy does fall down here. But its likely much closer than the analogy proposed in the OP.

I believe you are proving my very point.

 

[Seeker47]

I'm assuming you mean natural descendants, which the correct response is, were, not are. Abraham's descendants are those of faith in Christ. In fact, that is always what Abraham's seed has been.

And if you are of Christ, then you are the seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29​

And he gave that land to his son, not to a bunch of unbelieving disobedient larpers pretending to be the people of God.

I am absolutely fascinated by your statement that YHWH has given the Promised Land to Christians. It is true that when Christ returns in wrath and judgement He will indeed rule all Israel. I do not believe that was your point.

If God lied when He gave His land to the descendants of Abraham, it would also be a lie that the Promised Land would be theirs forever. Now two parts of God’s word are lies. Even more, how would we believe that Abraham’s descendants would be like the stars in heaven or sands at the shore. Any evidence of that or are only parts of the Bible true? But most interesting yet is his statement that the entire world would be blessed from Abraham’s seed. Every Christian I know believe this blessing is a reference to the coming of Christ himself. Is this also false?

If this was a troll, it was pretty transparent.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

I am absolutely fascinated by your statement that YHWH has given the Promised Land to Christians. It is true that when Christ returns in wrath and judgement He will indeed rule all Israel. I do not believe that was your point.

If God lied when He gave His land to the descendants of Abraham, it would also be a lie that the Promised Land would be theirs forever. Now two parts of God’s word are lies. Even more, how would we believe that Abraham’s descendants would be like the stars in heaven or sands at the shore. Any evidence of that or are only parts of the Bible true? But most interesting yet is his statement that the entire world would be blessed from Abraham’s seed. Every Christian I know believe this blessing is a reference to the coming of Christ himself. Is this also false?

If this was a troll, it was pretty transparent.

God gave the land to Christ. No one has a right to the land but him. All in Christ will receive an inheritance from him in the resurrection. Do you disagree with any of this? If yes, why? If no, then we are in agreement and I don't know what the issue is.

You can't seem to make a distinction between Abraham's seed that inherits the promises and his seed that doesn't. Abraham's seed will be as the stars of heaven because of the fullness of the gentiles who enter the new covenant. Do you disagree with Galatians 3:29 that gentiles of faith are Abraham's seed? If yes, why? If no, then we are in agreement and I don't know what the issue is.

 

[Charlesiii]

God gave the land to Christ. No one has a right to the land but him. All in Christ will receive an inheritance from him in the resurrection. Do you disagree with any of this? If yes, why? If no, then we are in agreement and I don't know what the issue is.

You can't seem to make a distinction between Abraham's seed that inherits the promises and his seed that doesn't. Abraham's seed will be as the stars of heaven because of the fullness of the gentiles who enter the new covenant. Do you disagree with Galatians 3:29 that gentiles of faith are Abraham's seed? If yes, why? If no, then we are in agreement and I don't know what the issue is.

Amen! Sad that some still are falling for the cult of the Pharisees, and calling it Christianity.

The Seed (not seeds) of the woman is Christ. The Seed (not seeds) of Abraham is Christ. All glory be to Christ our King. Not ourselves. Not Jews or Pharisees. Christ. Anything else is false religion.