Pharaoh lives!

I have been reading in the early chapters of Exodus. In chapters 7 through 14 you read these verses:

“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart… he will not listen to you…” (7:3-4).

“…Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he did not listen…” (7:13).

“So Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he would not listen…” (7:22).

“But… Pharaoh… hardened his heart and would not listen to them…” (8:15).

“But Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he would not listen to them…” (8:19).

“But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go” (8:32).

“But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the people go” (9:7).

“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he did not listen to them…” (9:12).

“…Pharaoh… sinned again and hardened his heart…” (9:34 & 35).

“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go” (10:20).

“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go” (10:27).

“…but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land” (11:10).

“The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out triumphantly” (14:8).

The pattern is glaringly obvious. The question comes up: “Did Pharaoh harden his heart, or did God harden Pharaoh’s heart?” The answer is “Yes.”

But the lesson we need to learn is this: There is a Pharaoh who resides in every one of our hearts. He will not listen to God. He will stubbornly resist the Lord’s will until the waters of the Nile roll over his silent face. He lives in you and he lives in me. In fact, the longer I am a Christian the more I lament his presence in my life. Paul knew him too—read Romans chapter 7.

There is only one answer for this old man—death! I do not mean you need to shallow poison. There is a spiritual sentence. When Jesus our Savior died on the cross He not only died for our sins but also for our sin—for our old man. We died with Him. That old Pharaoh died, and every day of my life I have to claim that truth and remind myself of it. Every day I must bow my heart and my will and say, “Lord Jesus, You are my Lord and I choose to obey You and do Your will today.”