The Heart Grew Hard

And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. Exodus 7: 13

Our heightened and highlighted word is, heart. Here are pronouncements about the heart, based solely on what is before us. From our text, we can say that the heart can, grow, hard. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard. As you know, the word, grew, is the past tense of the action or doing word, grow. To grow is to bear, or to produce.

Okay! I point to my mango tree and say to you that my mango tree grew mangoes in abundance. As elementary and almost silly as it may seem, to say to you that my mango tree grew mangoes, it is for me absolutely necessary, in order to explain some deep spiritual facts. Let’s reason this through. My mango tree grew something. It grew or produced that which is called mangoes - not cherries, not grapes, not bananas, and not apples or any other fruit - but mangoes.

Can we understand that the heart grew, hard? In other words, what the heart produced, what came out from the heart is called, hard. The heart grew, hard – not considerate, not helpful, not beautiful, not caring and certainly not soft – but hard. The heart can grow, hard. In other words, the produce of Pharaoh’s heart is, hard. The first major understanding therefore, to be worked out in us, is that any heart, such as Pharaoh’s, grows dark, dull and ugly produce. Yes!  Such a heart can only bear what is, hard.

Returning to our text, we can glean another understanding of the word, grew. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard. Having understood one meaning of the word, grew, as produce, the name of what the heart bears, we look at the word grew, as becoming, or growing in a certain way.

Still using my mango tree as a reference point, I again draw your attention to it. I tell you that my mango tree grew, tall. As fundamental as this is, and as obvious and simplistic as it might seem to say to you that my mango tree grew tall, is for me a great, living picture of understanding. It helps to explain, in practical and most simple terms, another deep, spiritual fact. Let’s reason this through. My mango tree grew, what I refer to as physical growth. It grew or became tall - not wide, not short, not bent and certainly not stunted – but tall. The very character or posture of the tree was seen in how it grew.

Can we appreciate that the heart grew, hard? In other words, its posture was most noted and distinct. The heart grew tall, – not humble, not selfless, not neighbourly, and definitely not regarding of others – just haughty and tall. The heart can grow hard. In other words, the posture of Pharaoh’s heart is, hard. The second major understanding therefore, to be worked out in us, is that the heart such as Pharaoh’s, grows a haughty posture.  Yes!  Such a heart can only grow, hard.

Once again, we consult our text and find yet another understanding of the word, grew. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard. Having understood one meaning of the word, grew, as produce, what the heart bears, and another meaning as posture, the way the heart grows, we receive more. We are now viewing the word, grew, in relation to its function or purpose.

I invite you once more, to turn your attention to my mango tree. I have told you that my mango tree grew mangoes, in that what it produced was called mangoes.  I also told you that it grew tall, showing you its grand, tall and slender, posture. Now, you are witnessing its purpose, as you receive, firsthand, from the mango tree itself, the main purpose or reason for its existence. The reason it is there, is to feed you, me and others, what it produces. The whole purpose of that mango tree is to provide mangoes to those who need mangoes. 

As foolish and as much of a non-brainer as it may come across to you, for me to announce that my mango tree’s mangoes are for others and not for itself, I need to say it. By articulating this, an often missed or bypassed spiritual fact is brought into the limelight. Let’s rationally discuss this. My mango tree has a purpose and it certainly is not hidden unto itself. In other words, its whole reason for being, its whole purpose in growing, is to give – not to itself, not to feed itself, not even to hoard unto itself – but to feed others.    

Can we accept that the heart grew, hard? In other words, its very purpose, what it was living to do, whatever was produced from the heart was, hard. The heart grew hard – stubborn, uncompliant, disobedient and most of all, insolent – not obedient. It grew unto itself. The heart can grow hard. In other words, the purpose of Pharaoh’s heart is, hard. The third and final major understanding therefore, to be worked out in each of us, is that the heart, such as Pharaoh’s, grows more stubbornly defiant to God and more adamantly pleasing to itself. Yes!  Such a heart can only offer what is, against God.