Exodus 9.1-12 John 12.1-11
Exode 9.1-12 Jean 12.1-11
Psalm 55 Hebrews 12.3-13
Psaume 55 Hébreux 12. 3-13
When reading through the stories in Exodus about the plagues, you may have been struck by how many times it talks of Pharaoh having a “hard heart”.
It used to puzzle me as a child why it speaks of the Lord hardening Pharaoh’s heart, as if it was God’s doing. Then I remember hearing it explained that it was because of Pharaoh’s response. The working of God’s Spirit, if resisted, has the opposite effect, like a stubborn horse being encouraged to move but just digging his feet further into the ground.
More recently, I read in a Study Bible (ESV) that it talks a full 7 times of Pharaoh hardening his heart (in Ex 7-9), before we read here for the first time in verse 12, after the 6th plague, that “the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh”. Although God had said at the start, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (7:3), it is Pharaoh’s repeated opposition that is to blame.
It seems a strong lesson – that if hearts are hard and cold, they may simply turn God’s blessings into the opposite, like the waters of blessing in the next plague, frozen and turned into hard hail.
But, to end on a positive note, in the readings from John there’s a wonderful story (12:1-8) of a woman whose heart was so taken up in cooperating with God that it overflowed with love abundantly.
Striking contrast! Resist or cooperate – which is it to be...?
« L’Eternel endurcit le cœur de Pharaon » mais c’était à cause de sa résistance. Et Marie par contre... ?
“De HERE verhardde het hart van Farao” maar het was door zijn tegenstand. En Maria aan de andere kant...?
James Pitts
Suggestion for Daily Use
Follow the ‘Daily Prayer’ at the side+++Suivez le ‘Prière Quotidienne’.
Read the bible passages and then the meditation.
Pray, tell God how you felt about the reading and share the concerns of your life with him.
Maybe you will continue the habit after Lent.
Lisez les passages bible et après la méditation.
Priez, dites à Dieu que vous avez ressenti à propos de la lecture et de partager les préoccupations de votre vie avec lui.
Peut-être que vous allez continuer l'habitude après le Carême.
Daily Prayer
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4.1-2
Now is the healing time decreed
For sins of heart, of word or deed,
When we in humble fear record
The wrong that we have done the Lord. (Latin, before 12th century)
Read: Read the Bible passage. Read the meditation
Pray: Talk to God about what you have just read. Tell him your concerns - for yourself, your family, our church family, our world. Praise him.
Pray the collect for the week – see next pages.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Prière Quotidienne
Jésus, rempli de l'Esprit Saint, revint du Jourdain et le Saint-Esprit le conduisit dans le désert où il fut tenté par le diable durant quarante jours. Luc 4.1-2
Maintenant le temps de la guérison est décrété
Pour les péchés du cœur, de la parole et des actes,
Lorsque nous nous souvenons avec humilité
Le mal que nous avons fait au Seigneur.
Lire : Lisez le passage de la Bible. Lisez la méditation.
Prier : Parlez avec le Seigneur de ce que vous avez lu. Parlez-lui de vos préoccupations pour vous-même, votre famille, notre famille de l’église, notre monde. Louez-le.
Priez la collecte pour la semaine. Voyez les pages suivantes
Mon âme, bénis le Seigneur ! Que tout qui est en moi bénisse son saint nom.
Mon âme, bénis le Seigneur, et n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits !
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