“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord,” (Exodus 14:4 ESV).
Many times we assume that our good days are from God and our difficult days are from the devil. But here in Exodus, as the nation of Israel is leaving Egypt and approaching the Red Sea, God says, promises that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart, which ends in the entire Egyptian army pursuing Israel. The fear and difficulties that follow occur as a result of the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise. But God’s goal is not an easy life for us, but glory for Him. He plans our lives in such a way that we bring the most glory to Him. Sometimes that is a good simple way, but many times it is complicated and difficult. He may even harden someone’s heart against us, which is hard for us, but will result in great glory for Him.
Today I hope I can be willing to walk whatever path brings God the most glory, whatever it may look like for me.
Your thoughts?
Todd
It’s one thing to recognize that this is indeed how God operates; it’s another thing entirely to bring one’s heart into agreement with what that sometimes looks like. But the exquisite joy that comes when we do is completely indescribable! Surely there were a few Israelites that kept faith and saw the Red Sea as an opportunity for a miracle of God and not an insurmountable obstacle. I don’t read of any, but I like to hope that maybe one day when I see a Red Sea ahead of me, that I will have faith and not panic.
I’m loving this study you have been doing.
Wish you were playing in Virginia sometime.
Looking forward to the rest of the study!
Lydia
( @fieryheart4god on Twitter )
Sometimes avoiding people or shunning them can seem like a person’s heart has been hardened, I often wonder if this is true of some of the people I meet or is it all just a part of God’s plan in my life? Good thought Todd, thanks for sharing.
Tim
I often look at my daughter and listen to her as she speaks she is hard to God ,as many times that she went to church with me I do not know why she is the way she is, But then I realized that I myself have been hard to her and how can I expect her to open her heart to God if I do not open mine to her….
Today has been just one eye opening after another…
Thank you Todd for this site , My first time in here…
Sandra
Good thoughts Todd. In addition to being willing to walk a difficult path, I’m also praying that my attitude will reflect the deep joy of Jesus as He faced the cross. If I obey but still complain, have resentment, or play the role of a martyr, I wonder how much God is being glorified. I really like what Lydia said . . . “bring one’s heart into agreement.” Then actions and thoughts truly line up to reveal my love for God with my whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.
This passage can be a toughy. My God, the beautiful life giving creator, hardened the heart of a leader that led to the deaths of all the firstborns of the Egyptians. I can’t imagine all the firstborns were rotten people. Some of them were probably wee ones. That’s been a bit of a challenge. Still that’s the Father I love and trust and usually, desperately want to obey.
RE walking the rough roads – They come. I suppose I hope they’ll be few. I’m human and I don’t really like to hurt. But moreover, that in the trails I’ll remember the uncommon measures of grace He’s made available to me so many times. Literally life sustaining. I can’t produce that kind of peace in crisis. It’s beyond me. He gets the glory when somone says “I don’t know how you do it” – and you can thankfully say “I don’t do it. He does”
Todd,
You are exactly right. Lately I had struggled with my family turning on me especially my dad who is not a Christian. I suffered alot and the only thing I thought was that God was letting the devil have at me, but I was totally wrong. Sitting in church a couple of sundays ago, the worship leader pulled me out of the seat I was in and took me up for prayer. Then without hesitation he said God was speaking a Word to me. That all the hurt and the roadblocks were caused by God putting them there to bring me closer to Him and His Glory. Instantly when those words went into my ears all the anger and hate just fell to the floor. I believe that when God has His reasons that who am I to question them. Anyways, it shows how he used my family’s hardened hearts to bring me closer to Him and as painful as it was, I wouldn’t be where I am at today if God was not doing that. Its all God’s wonderful timing. God Bless You.
It is so amazing how anger blocks us from the truth. How the little things that make us mad can change our attitude and make us forget thet we represent God in all we do…
I am finding it very hard to resisist the anger until it is to late, I know some were in the daily trails that I should be learning something but this anger just blocks my mind to be opened.
Maybe that is what we have to be paying attention to , the anger and how it makes us change and forget the Glory of God? or maybe we need to step out and watch ourself in our actions, The flesh is something we fight daily and should be able to be stronger to fight it, sometimes it seems soooo impossible , especially when it comes to family.. WHY IS IT THAT WE CAN FORGIVE PEOPLE WE HARDLY NO FOR THINGS THEY HAVE DONE, AND YET IT IS HARD WHEN IT COMES TO THE ONES YOU LOVE?