Sermon Central
-
A Hardened Heart
Contributed by Robert Baldwin on Aug 2, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: God was teaching Pharoah that he was no match for God.
A Hardened Heart
Intro.
The first six chapters of Exodus tell us of Moses, his birth, his preparation, his faults and his arguments. He is the Deliverer, certainly a type of our Lord.
The next six chapters will tell of the deliverance of the nation of Israel, the picture and the type of the church. Just as Christ Jesus delivered us from the kingdom of darkness, that is, Satan’s kingdom. So Moses will deliver Israel from the clutches of this ungodly Pharoah. He like Satan is cruel and unyielding, but God will not only bend him, He will ultimately break him.
When we begin to read in chapter 7, we see a great difference in this man named Moses. God has made him to be as god to Pharoah.
I. Moses as God: (V.1)
What a contrast between ch.6:30 and v.1, from a man feeling his inadequacies, his weakness and his sinfulness to a man with great powers over this Pharoah. When God sends us forth to do His will, we know we are weak and we feel the burden of this. But who he sends He endows with His power, a spirit filled preacher is not just a strong man, but one who draws from the power of God.
Look at 6:30, he confesses his weakness, and his unbelief. But God’s grace is sufficient to master the situation. God raises him in power, no longer do we see a man who is filled with doubt, but a man who is mighty in God. He will now go forth with the authority of God, to do the work of God.
Several ways in which Moses will be God to Pharoah. He will actually rule over Pharoah, he will command him to do God’s will and will be used to punish him for his disobedience to God. I want to point out what God said to Moses in vs.1, was not you’ll be as one god among many, oh no, what He said was “I have made thee God to Pharoah.”
The word used for God is El ohim, the triune, creator God of the universe. In other words Moses was to be the representation of the Almighty God to Pharoah. This shows forth him as a type of Christ Jesus. Jesus was the embodiment of the Godhead, and this is what God said to Moses.
Col 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
Moses was probably the most complete type of the Lord Jesus Christ shown in the Old Testament. I believe after this verse, 7:1, we will not see the weakness of Moses, making excuses why he cannot do what God has appointed. It was as if God filled him with courage and strength.
II. Aaron As His Prophet:
The job of the prophet is to speak the word of God. He speaks for God, “Thus saith the Lord God Almighty.”
And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. Exod 4:15-16
God’s prophet is God’s spokesman he speaks for God. The man of God is not to speak what he thinks, nor what someone else has said, but what does God say to the people. His message is to be from God’s great word.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Tim 4:1-2
Paul had earlier in the letter to Timothy said, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 1:13
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Tim 6:3-5
III. The Hardening Of Pharoah’s Heart: (V.3)
Many have questioned this statement, and they do all sorts of literary gymnastics to try to prove it doesn’t say it. They think they must protect God. But, He doesn’t need to be protected. They say, God merely allowed Pharoah to harden his heart.
