Abounding Grace

Guest (Male): Pastor Ed Taylor on how dangerous a hardened heart can be.

Pastor Ed Taylor: Do you really want to take a step back? Do I really want to take a step back from God and the sensitivity of the moving of His Holy Spirit? Do I really think that's the best decision to harden my heart toward that person, to allow that situation to dig into my heart and give bitterness?

I think of this such a danger in marriage because we know the source of every single divorce that has ever taken place in the history of mankind. Jesus told us. It's because of the hardness of your hearts.

Guest (Male): Welcome once again to Abounding Grace with our pastor and teacher Ed Taylor. We're in the middle of a series in Exodus and today we approach chapter 11. As we consider the heart of Pharaoh today, which was a very hard heart, it would be good for us to look in the mirror. Could the same be said of us? Has pride and stubbornness set in to the point you've been fighting against God? Let's give thoughtful consideration to that now as we join Pastor Ed for part one of "Receive the Lamb."

Pastor Ed Taylor: Exodus chapter 11 is where we are. We start a new chapter, Exodus chapter 11, and I've entitled our Bible study "Receive the Lamb." By now, as you're studying with us, I think we would all agree that Pharaoh is an extremely hard, stubborn, and obstinate man. His heart is pridefully hardened and God is establishing that hardness and saying, "If that's what you want, Pharaoh, then that's what you'll get."

He's the type of man that we meet today. He's not unlike many people that might be very close to you who is super hard and takes delight in fighting God or fighting you, a representative of God. A man or a woman who takes pleasure in pestering and harassing God's followers or making empty promises. The kind that denies that even God exists. You can jot it down in Psalm 14, in verse one it says, "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." They're corrupt. They've all done abominable works. There is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand and seek God. Just to think that there's foolish thoughts today. The fool has said in their heart there is no God.

Pharaoh looks like he's alive. If you watched him from just observing him, if you were in his kingdom, he's got everything that you would want. He has power, prestige, money. He is the known ruler of the world at the time. You would say that's a man that's alive, that's something that I would ascribe to. But the Bible would say differently. He's not alive. According to the definition of God's Word, the definition of life according to God's Word, Pharaoh would be considered a walking dead man spiritually.

According to Ephesians, Paul speaks of being dead in your trespasses and sins. In Romans, a life apart from God is called without strength. So in reality, he is a very weak man, lifeless. It's a strange paradox. The ones that are fighting so hard, the ones that seem to be so strong, the ones that you could say are taking life by the horns and getting everything that they'd ever wanted aren't really alive at all and aren't really strong at all.

Pharaoh fights but he's no match for God. It's a reminder even to those listening to me right now that have a posture or a position against God as if you're going to win, as if you seem like you're making progress or you've gotten away with it up until now. You, too, are no match for God. I hope you've learned that already, but it's worth saying God always wins. He always wins in the end. He's our Creator and our Savior and our Sustainer.

My pastor would always say that there's a lot of tough nuts in this world. Sometimes there are parents, or neighbors, or bosses. But over the years, we've seen God bring out just the right nutcracker to break that stubbornness, the hardest men and women. I'm certain some of you have that testimony. There's such a transformation in your life because of the gospel. But it wasn't too long ago or too many years ago that you were that hard nut, just that resistance to the love of God.

For us, we don't want to give up on those hard ones and just turn our backs on them, those difficult, stubborn ones. Because even if, like we see with Pharaoh, they continue in their stubbornness, the people around them are also witnesses. Remember in our last study the servants of Pharaoh were turning on him, like, "Just let them go! Don't you see what's happening? Don't you have your eyes open?" Today you're going to see that Moses through all of this is given favor with the people of Egypt.

That reminds me too that sometimes the way I see things is not the way it is. Sometimes I view things so hard and so difficult but that's not the way it is really at all. God is at work behind the scenes. He's so faithful to us. Pharaoh has had nine chances to repent. We refer to them as the Bible does, as plagues. He's been warned, he's been told, he's shown mercy by God where God has then removed the plagues or removed the damage nine times. He has heard the phrase, "Let my people go." In response, he's offered compromise after compromise. But this last one's going to get him.

Notice in verse one of chapter 11: "And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. And when he lets you go, he will surely drive you out altogether. Speak now in the hearing of the people and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor articles of silver and articles of gold.'" Notice this, you've got to mark this, verse three: "And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people."

God tells Moses it's time. This is it. This will be the one. Not only will after this plague Pharaoh let you go, he will drive you out. He's not going to be doing this anymore. There's not going to be a back and forth anymore. So send the people and get them ready and send them throughout the land that they might ask for the property of the Egyptians, which I find is very interesting. God gave them favor. Notice it says ask from his neighbor, verse two, every woman from her neighbor articles of silver and articles of gold. I like this. God says ask for things before they go and ask for the expensive stuff, that which is of value.

Now you have to understand here, let's not forget for 400 years, the children of Israel have been slaves generationally in Egypt. They have paid a high price for their time in Egypt. It didn't start out that way, but remember there was a Pharaoh that came that didn't remember Joseph and began to do great harm and damage to this nation. So you could look at this as back pay, as preparation, wages that were owed to them. By this point, the Egyptians would be glad to see them go and be welcome to give them their stuff. "Get out of here, take my stuff, and take the plagues."

For 400 years they were used and exploited. Egypt was literally built on their backs with their sweat and their toil. These things, this gold and silver, would by no means be any type of reimbursement or compensation for their labor. But it would be just enough for them to begin a new life. Just enough. It wouldn't cover all sin. You've got to understand this. No one this side of eternity will ever receive full justice. Sin does deep damage and we won't receive the type of justice that we yearn for.

We won't receive the type of justice where it seems to be literally an eye for an eye, which by the way from God was a limitation upon man's flesh. If your eye was poked out or taken away, there's part of you inside of you that would want to take both their eyes. It would never end. True justice is never met and experienced among us. There can be reimbursement and there can be restitution, but that's not full justice because justice was paid at the cross by an innocent man, God in human flesh. He took the full weight and penalty of my sin and yours. That's where justice is met.

In order for us to experience justice, we have to die to ourselves and admit what placed Jesus on the cross. Admit our own behaviors, our own sin is what placed Jesus on the cross. So here they're going to have just enough to start a new life, a new generation in the Promised Land as God promised. This phrase "just enough," it's a hard place to be, isn't it? We always want just a little bit more, to be a little bit ahead, to have a little bit more in the bank, a little more savings, a little more, a little more. Just enough, it's hard.

It's hard to stop at just enough or to be content because it seems like we never have enough. We never have enough. In a very real way, that's true, especially as we see the way the economy is today in our own country and around the world. Sometimes we don't have enough because of our own past decisions, our poor decisions, our debt, our poor money management, wrong purchases or situations. Other times it's due to an unforeseen job loss or some emergency challenge that we couldn't have ever planned for, an unexpected bill.

Sometimes it's because of the sin of others and we're having to make up for the difficulties of situations where we had very little, if any, control. Many times it must be admitted. We have to honestly look at it. Many times in those seasons of discontentment or wanting more, pressing after more, whatever it is, is because of greed and our desire for more stuff or the battle that we have with discontentment. Hold your places here. Turn over to Philippians chapter 4 for a moment. I want to point out a word to you there that you may have overlooked or it might be a reminder for you.

In the life of Paul, he certainly struggled and wrestled with contentment. He gives us a description of this in his own life. I want to draw your attention when you get to Philippians chapter 4, let's start in verse 10. Contentment is so valuable and yet sometimes so elusive. Just enough. Lord, just give us just enough. Notice verse 10: "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished, though you surely did care but you lacked the opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned that in whatever state I am to be content.

I know how to be abased," which basically means I know how to have nothing, "and I know how to abound," which means I have more than enough. "But everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." You might want to mark in verse 11 the word learned and then also mark down in verse 12 learned. Contentment is something we learn. We learn contentment when we have nothing, or less than nothing, or we owe more than what we have.

We learn contentment when we have nothing, but we also learn contentment when we have everything and more than enough. Because we find that contentment is not in what we have or what we don't have, but it's in the presence and the strength of the Lord. We learn that in those times when we have nothing we're seeking and where we're pressing in, like, "Lord, You know our needs." Then we're also learning contentment when we go, "Lord, You've been so good and gracious to me. I know where I come from, I know who I am, and look where You have me. You're so good. I know what I deserve."

Remember what Paul wrote to young Timothy? He said in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 8, "Having food and clothing with these we shall be content." Jesus would teach us don't be worrying about these things of what you're going to eat or what you're going to wear. But remember Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 5: "Let your conduct be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have, for He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.'"

So go ask the Egyptians for their stuff. It's almost like God was saying they're ready to give it to you. Just go ask them. Yet at the same time, we also see that God is showing favor. He's showing favor. It says in verse three that the Lord God gave people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. He's moving upon their hearts. He's the one elevating Moses and giving him this great prestige in Egypt and even among those that were as close to Pharaoh, his servants.

Verse 4 now, notice: "Then Moses said, 'Thus says the Lord: "About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant who is by the handmill and the firstborn of all the beasts. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel." And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me saying, "Get out and all the people who follow you!" After that I will go out.'" Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

Why the final plague? Well, in Exodus chapter 4, if you want to turn back a few pages, we're given insight to this. It's been some time since we've been in chapter 4, but notice in verse 22 of Exodus chapter 4. He says, "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn."'"

Because of what Pharaoh did to God's firstborn, the firstborn of Pharaoh and all throughout the land would be struck. And yet verse 9: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not heed you so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.' So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land." Now remember, we've studied this and we've mentioned it almost every time we've come across it, but God is not violating the free will or the ability for Pharaoh to make a free will decision.

Each and every time that Moses came to him, he could have chosen to heed the direction that Moses gave. But he didn't. He chose instead to harden his heart. And God was saying in a very real way, "If that is what you want, Pharaoh, then I will affirm and give you that very same thing." Would Pharaoh have experienced blessing if he would have changed his mind and gave Moses, or in reality gave God what He desired? Yes. That's not how it's recorded because that's not what happened. But God certainly would have blessed obedience.

Now think about this for a moment. Think about this in your own life. We're not just separated by thousands of years here. Think about this the next time you allow your heart to be hardened or you choose to harden your heart toward a person, toward a situation. Is that what you really want? Do you really want to take a step back? Do I really want to take a step back from God and the sensitivity of the moving of His Holy Spirit? Do I really think that's the best decision to harden my heart toward that person, to allow that situation to dig into my heart and give bitterness?

I think of this such a danger in marriage because we know the source of every single divorce that has ever taken place in the history of mankind. Jesus told us. It's because of the hardness of your hearts. There's a lot of circumstances surrounding what will harden a heart. You're listening going, "Wait a minute, this happened and this happened and this happened." And we often will have this emphasis and you'll hear it, you'll talk about it, you'll always hear this phrase. You'll always hear this phrase: "Well, but Pastor, that's grounds for divorce. That's grounds for divorce."

You may even be accurate in such a statement when adultery takes place or abandonment. Grounds for divorce. You very rarely hear the phrase it's also grounds for forgiveness. As a matter of fact, you don't hear that phrase very much at all. Because by the time the phrase grounds for divorce is used, it's coming from a hard heart. Whatever the circumstances might be, you find yourself sitting with a pastor here in this church with a Bible open. You might even become very frustrated because we're not dealing with all the circumstances right away.

We're going right for the heart and we're going for the heart that seems the softest because that's the one closer to the Lord even though we might have two hearts that are hard and we begin to nurture it and pour the seeds of the gospel into it. Because what's grounds for divorce are also grounds for forgiveness. It's possible in the power of the Lord.

On a much smaller scale, there are times when we temporarily harden our hearts or give way to bitterness or whatever it might be. And you just have to ask yourself, is that what you really want? Again, turn over to Psalm 106. I was reminded of this scripture even just before coming in, I'm reviewing my notes and praying over them and I was reminded of this scripture in Psalm 106. If you don't have it marked already, you need to, because it's a great warning to us. It's not speaking of this situation but later on of the children of Israel as they're upset with God.

And in Psalm 106 in verse 15, it says that He gave them their request, but notice: He sent leanness into their soul. So they got what they wanted. Notice what did they want? Well, it says in verse 14 they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, they tested God in the desert, and He gave them their request. They got what they wanted, but they got more than they wanted. Leanness.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Abounding Grace with Pastor Ed Taylor. If you joined us late or would just like to hear this message from Exodus again, turn to aboundinggraceradio.com or you can listen through our app as well. Search for Ed Taylor in the App Store or Google Play. If you take a brief moment to write or call, that would make our day. Let us know the station you're listening to and if today's study was a blessing in your life.

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The new year is a great time to kickstart or breathe new life into your devotional life and we've got a book that can help. It's titled *Jesus Every Day* from Jim Cymbala. Each day brings its own set of challenges and events that can at times leave us dazed and confused. But in Christ, we can find the grace, strength, and peace to face those days with hope. Living by God's unshakeable promises will challenge you to consider what your life might look like with Jesus every day.

We'll send you a copy with our thanks for a gift of $25 or more to Abounding Grace. Call 877-30-GRACE or visit our e-store at calvaryco.store. And then be sure to join Pastor Ed Taylor next time for more teaching from the book of Exodus right here on Abounding Grace. Abounding Grace is made possible by Calvary Church Colorado here in Aurora.