Hardened Hearts

Dear Class,

Today's reading is from 1Samuel 4-7

We read of the great defeat of the Israelites against the Philiistines which also saw the demise of Eli and his sons as well as the capture of the ark.

Just a quick observation today in 1Sa 6:6

Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

Sometime back when we mentioned about God hardening the hearts of men, we alluded to the fact that it is man that makes the choice to harden his heart. God merely allows that to happen as a consequence of the free will that he has given man.

This passage here clearly illustrates the point. Considering the fact that this was some 500 years after the exodus, the impact of the 10 plagues and the vanquished Egyptian army must have been exceedingly great on the people of the land in those days. Yet it is abundantly clear to the observers that even the enemies of God had a choice! The priests and diviners of the Phillistines, for all their worth did actually dish out some good advice! They knew it was pointless to go against the God of Israel. Hardened hearts against God Almighty led to certain death and destruction.

Let us be reminded that even as foreign nations could do nothing but acknowledge the power of God, yea, even the devils themselves (c.f. Jam 2:19), what more us as Christians, "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (1Pe 2:9)? Let our hearts be never hardened but always tender and contrite, which is the essence of acceptable sacrifice to God (Psa 51:17).

in Him
Paul


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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~ 1Thessalonians 5:17,18