Hearts of Kings
Read It Aloud: 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 (Exodus 4:21).
Ponder it Prayerfully: We saw yesterday that we must continually abide in God in order to proceed in the callings that He gives us or places in our lives. Jesus said in John 15 that we should abide in Him if we are to bear any fruit.
Today, we see that the fact that God has sent us does not mean the people He sends us to will co-operate. Some times, He deliberately purposes this for His glory. In this passage, He tells Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart. In the book of Nehemiah, we see that Sanballat and Tobiah worked constantly to undermine Nehemiah as he supervised the building of the wall of Jerusalem. This did not discredit the fact that he was doing the will of God, nor did Saul’s jealousy mean that David was not anointed. When Jesus was arrested, and Peter cut off a soldier’s ear, the Lord said, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:53-54). God is ultimately in control and nothing on earth or anywhere else can happen without His permission.
Be A Doer (James 1:22): Opposition does not mean that we are not called. In fact, it could be one indicator that we are indeed called. Jesus guaranteed that in this world, we would have tribulation (John 16:33) but He encouraged us to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world. Tribulation can come in the form of naysayers, hard-hearted people and persecution of all forms. It does not in any way mean that we are not called. If we are certain that we have heard from God, like Moses did in Exodus 3 and thereafter, then we must proceed in His work regardless of what people say, try or think. It might just be that the Lord Himself is hardening their hearts for His glory.
Hide It In Your Heart (Psalm 119:11): The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (Proverbs 21:1).
Pray It Personally: Thank You heavenly Father for the strength You provide for me to keep going in Your purposes. Thank You because You are forever in control and You have overcome the world. Thank You because You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Thank You that those who know You will do exploits. I submit myself to Your divine purpose and I ask for strength to keep going despite opposition, to the glory of Your Name, in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
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