Hardening of Hearts

Scripture

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If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts... (Psalm 95:7b-8a)

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Observation

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Hardening the heart is the opposite of listening to His voice. What does hardening the heart look like? An example occurred shortly after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and journeyed into the wilderness beyond. They came to a place where there was no water and they all became thirsty. The leaders of the people came to Moses and began to complain. What are you doing? Leading us out into this wilderness to perish? Where is this God that is supposed to be taking care of us? Why hasn't He provided water for us? They demanded that God prove Himself again. This is likened to denying who God is. God may be speaking to them in various ways, but their hardened hearts prevented them from listening and realising that.

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Application

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It is disturbing that people can come week after week and hear stirring testimonies of what God is doing in many lives, see the evident transformation of many hearts and witness release from bondages, but still fall apart or question our God's nature when things do not go the way they expect. In times when circumstances around us may be difficult, do we seek quiet moments to listen to Him, and reflect to see what God may possibly be teaching us, or how He may be using us to bless others in those circumstances? Do we identify his blessings, or do we blame the circumstances around us, and question His nature?

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Prayer

 

Forgive me if my heart has been indifferent to You, to injustice and to things worth rejoicing. Lord, we pray that You will help us to listen, to not be like the fathers of old who resisted you, vexed you, and grieved you for forty years.