Today’s Sunday reflection takes us to the dramatic story of Pharaoh’s hardened heart, found in the book of Exodus. Moses is sent to Egypt with one message from God: “Let my people go.” Pharaoh refuses. Again and again, plagues fall, and each time, Pharaoh seems close to relenting — then his heart hardens again.
We often wonder: Why would God harden someone’s heart? But if you read the full story, you’ll see that Pharaoh hardened his heart first (Exodus 8:15, 8:32), and only after repeated stubbornness did God confirm it and use the situation to reveal His glory.
This story holds timeless truths about how we, too, can resist God’s voice without even realizing it.
What Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart Teaches Us
Pharaoh’s hardened heart wasn’t just a personal issue — it became a national crisis. His refusal to obey God brought suffering on his people. And it wasn’t because he didn’t hear God — it was because he ignored Him.
In contrast, look at the Pharaoh in Joseph’s time (Genesis 41). When God spoke through Joseph’s dream interpretation, this Pharaoh listened. He promoted Joseph and saved Egypt and surrounding nations from famine. His soft heart saved lives.
Two kings. Two choices. One obeyed and blessed others; the other resisted and destroyed his own people.
Signs of a Hardened Heart Today
We might not be kings or rulers, but we all face moments when God speaks — through His Word, through people, or through inner conviction — and we’re called to respond.
Pharaoh’s hardened heart began with pride. That same pride can show up in us as:
- Anger we don’t want to let go
- Bitterness we nurse in secret
- Unforgiveness we justify
- Resistance to change because we’re comfortable
Sometimes, we even celebrate these traits: “That’s just how I am,” or “I don’t let people cross me.” But while we think we’re protecting ourselves, we’re actually building walls between our hearts and God.
As life goes on, the heart can grow dull. The things that once convicted us no longer move us. The voice of God becomes faint. Not because He’s silent — but because our hearts are no longer listening.
The Israelites Wanted to Go Back
It wasn’t just Pharaoh. Even the Israelites, after God freed them, began to rebel.
When the wilderness tested them — when there was no meat, no variety, no certainty — they longed for Egypt, the very place they had begged God to deliver them from.
“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost…” (Numbers 11:5)
They forgot the slavery. They remembered only the food. Their hearts hardened in hardship, and they preferred the comfort of captivity over the uncertainty of freedom.
That’s what a hardened heart does. It makes us forget God’s faithfulness and romanticize our past bondage. It leads us to grumble, resist, and rebel — even when we’re on the edge of breakthrough.
Hebrews 3:15 warns us:
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
When You Sense Resistance in Your Heart
If you’ve noticed that prayer feels dry, you’re avoiding difficult conversations, or you keep saying “later” when God says “now” — be careful. Those are signs of a slow-hardening heart.
Pharaoh’s hardened heart didn’t happen in a day. It was the result of daily disobedience. But we can respond differently.
God offers a better way:
“I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
His desire is not to condemn but to soften and restore. He wants hearts that are teachable, responsive, and full of trust.
A Simple Prayer to Soften the Heart
Here’s a prayer you can carry into the week:
Lord, show me where my heart has grown hard.
Soften me with Your presence.
Make me responsive to Your Word, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Help me choose humility over pride, and obedience over resistance. Amen.
Related Reflection:
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Sometimes, God allows us to meet difficult people — not just to test our patience, but to soften the parts of us we didn’t know had hardened.
Final Thought:
Pharaoh’s hardened heart shows us the danger of ignoring God and the power of choosing to obey. Don’t wait for ten plagues to hear God clearly. Listen while it’s still easy to say yes.
A soft heart isn’t weakness. It’s strength in God’s hands.
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