God hardened Pharoah's heart.

In the book of  Exodus we read of how the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and how God called Moses to lead them out of slavery.    In chapter 4 we read of God calling Moses and saying to him that he should appear before the Egyptian king (Pharoah) and tell him that God told him to let the Israelites go.

However, God warned Moses (chapter 4 v 21) that he would harden Pharoah's heart and, as a result, he would refuse to let his slaves go.  As we read through those early chapters we see this fulfilled.  Moses appeared before Pharoah and told him to let the slaves go, but God hardened Pharoah's heart so that he refused; the subsequent plagues brought upon the Egyptians for this stubbornness led to a great deal of destruction in the land and huge loss of life.

Opponents of the Bible are quick to complain that Pharoah should not have been blamed for what happened as God had hardened his heart anyway.  Even many Christians appear to "water down" this statement and make it seem to suggest something else.

However, if plain English means anything then we cannot get away from the text - in a number of places it clearly states that God hardened Pharoah's heart.  Moreover, in Romans 9 v 17 we read that God raised up Pharoah in order to show His power.  In other words, this whole matter was fore-ordained by God in order to show His power in the plagues of Egypt and get great glory for Himself.  If Pharoah had simply let the slaves go then the plagues would not have happened; therefore, God hardened his heart in order that the plagues would follow and God's great power would be clearly manifested for all to see.

I've no doubt that what I've written above will be vehemently opposed by the Bible's opponents; even Christians may feel "embarrassed" by it.  However it is the clear truth;  moreover,  in the same chapter (Romans 9) we read in verse 18 that God shows mercy to whom He wishes to show mercy, and whom He wishes He hardens.

By the time many have read down to that last paragraph they will really be gnashing their teeth in rage, but the answer to them is found in verse 20 - after stating the objections people have (v19) Paul says: "Who are you, O man, to reply against God?".   That is the answer to all the objections and complaints about the apparent injustice of God in the way He acted against Pharoah.

In conclusion we should note that God is sovereign - if He chooses to harden someone that is His business; if He chooses to show mercy then we give Him all the glory and the praise for this.

God showed mercy to me some 38 years ago when he opened my eyes to my lost condition as a sinner on the way to hell, and then He graciously drew me so that I willingly repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour - my heart wells up in praise and adoration to Him for showing me this mercy, even though I didn't deserve it.

May God be pleased to draw many sinners to Himself as the Gospel goes forth in the preached word and the printed page.

Psychological abuse or Christian Evangelism ?

The government recently published plans to make it a criminal offence to subject children to "emotional or psychological abuse" but there is some debate concerning whether or not they will actually carry this through.


In theory this would be a good law as no-one should want to treat children in such a way.  However, if these proposals become law then it would have serious consequences for Christian parents and general evangelism among children as I will now explain.


The Bible has much teaching about the love of God and His goodness to us.  However, it also teaches a number of unpalatable truths which many find deeply offensive - the universal guilt of all mankind (i.e. we are all sinners), the fact of Christ's death for our sins and His resurrection, the fact that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven and the alternative to Heaven being Hell.  These truths are deeply resented by most people, no doubt because the devil has blinded them and, keeps them under his control -  until such time as the Lord draws them out of this state.


Truly loving Christian parents will teach these facts to their children, as also will Sunday school/club leaders etc.  In my own evangelism I often see children walk past me after leaving school, or French kids on day trips to Canterbury and I offer them material without any pressure or harassment.  In the last few weeks over 50 Gospel leaflets have been passed on to English children and over 200 scripture booklets or Gospel cartoon booklets to French kids (if anyone wishes to read the English equivalent please Google "This was your life chick tract" and read online).


I consider all these outreaches to children to be extremely important - they need the Gospel as they have souls.  While it may be wrong to pressurise them it is not wrong to freely offer them the opportunity to read the only way eternal life.


However, there are trendy-left social workers who believe that giving children Gospel material, or verbally teaching them these truths, is "poisoning their minds" and is a form of "child abuse".    If the proposed law is enacted it will give ammunition to these people to be able to complain to the police and get such evangelism stopped. It may even lead to children being snatched from their parents simply for teaching them the Bible (as happened in the Soviet Union when it was under communism).


What should be our response to all this?  I believe in 3 ways:


1.  First we need to pray that the enemy of our souls does not get this legislation through the House of Commons.


2.  We need to redouble our efforts to offer children the Gospel while we still can.


3.  We need to recognise the sovereignty of God in this matter.  He will ensure that the Gospel goes forth and that ALL those people who have been given to Jesus will be saved. (John 6 v 37).


The devil has been trying to stop Gospel preaching for the last 2,000 years and he has not succeeded.  As we get closer to Christ's 2nd coming we must expect him to step up his efforts -  as the Bible says: "...the devil has come down to you having great wrath for he knows that he has but a short time"  Revelation 12 v 12

Now, the moment of truth.

News came through yesterday, of the sudden death of "comedian" Rik Mayall at the age of 56 (born the same year as me).  He was not known for living a godly life, quite the reverse - only last week he was photographed with a fan sticking 2 fingers up at the camera.  Moreover, he once wrote a book about himself as being "better than Christ" - what blasphemy!


I've no doubt that during his comedy career he raised many laughs by his outrageous antics; I've no doubt too, that he made a great deal of money in the process - but what good is that now that he has passed into eternity?  After all, didn't Jesus say "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul" (Mark 8 v 36).


Many of these entertainers and celebrities think they are so clever with their godless behaviour and attention seeking.  For them, the most important thing in life is to be noticed and feted.   They have to have a pedestal to show off from, and they love the fame and status (not to mention the money) that comes with territory.  Moreover, for them, the more godless and vile their behaviour the better!


However, all this is worth absolutely nothing if one's soul is not saved.  Indeed, just one second in Hell will be enough to obliterate all fond memories of pleasure and fame that they enjoyed while they lived out their pathetic little lives on earth.


The Bible says: "That which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God" - Luke 16 v 15.  The world has it's "heroes" who have their 15 minutes (or more) of fame, but I would rather give homage to the godly, Christlike believers, who quietly serve Jesus without seeking to draw attention to themselves.  Such precious people are gems in the sight of God - they are highly esteemed by Him and will have their reward on the great day.


It is vitally important that we keep things in their proper prospective.  After all doesn't the Bible say "..we look not at the things which are seen but the things which are unseen.  For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal" - 2nd Corinthians 4 v 18.


This is a lesson I need to constantly bear in mind as I go out, week by week, to offer the Gospel to the unsaved.  Many of these poor creatures have been so blinded by the devil that they have no idea they are just one heartbeat from the presence of God, and the bliss (or torment) of eternity - depending upon what they do with Christ's free offer of salvation.


May the Lord give us all an "eternity focus" in our daily lives - not to be taken up with the foolish cares, pleasures and pursuits of this short existence on earth, but to live for Christ in accordance with Paul's words in Philippians 1 v 21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain".

If God is drawing them, then they WILL come!

Back in the 1990s I used to attend a church where there was an "after-church fellowship" after the evening service.  Sometimes, this would take the form of a "testimony time" whereby people could speak of a verse from the Bible that had been particularly helpful to them.  One Sunday, a lady (we'll call her Jane) spoke of how John 6 v 44 helped her while speaking to another lady about the Lord Jesus. 


In John 6 v 44 Jesus stated that no-one would be able to come to Him unless "drawn" by the Father.  Jane was saying how she had several opportunities to speak to this lady, who was very open to the Gospel, and told her that if God was drawing her, then she would come.  At the time I was unsure of this line of theology but as I thought upon it and looked into the Bible I came to see that it was absolutely right.


In John 6 v 65 Jesus stated that people could not believe in Him unless enabled by the Father.  Moreover, in verse 37 of the same chapter Jesus made it clear that everyone given to Him by the Father would come to Him.  As we put these verse together we can see a clear pattern emerging which is as follows:


Firstly - People in their unsaved state do not have the natural ability to repent and believe.  They are spiritually blind and spiritually enslaved by Satan.  Moreover, 1st Corinthians 2 v 14 tells us that such people cannot grasp the truths of God because they are foolishness to them.  2nd Corinthians 4 v 4 tells us that these poor creatures have been so blinded by "the god of this world" (the devil) that they are unable to see their need of salvation.


Secondly - God, in His mercy, has given a people to Jesus (John 6 v 37) and that every single one of those so given do come to the point of repenting of their sins and trusting in Christ as their Lord and Saviour.  Unless God draws such (John 6 v 44) they cannot, and will not, so believe.


What are the practical implications of this? The answer is simple - When we point people to Christ we can have absolute assurance that, if God draws them, then they will believe.  This is a huge encouragement in evangelism.


The people we are speaking to may be  hardened, even abusive, atheists.  However, if God is drawing them then they will repent of their unbelief and come to know the God whom they once denied even existed!


The people we are speaking to may be involved in an immoral lifestyle such as adultery or homosexuality.  It may be that they are so "comfortable" in their sin that they don't want to leave it - but if God is drawing them then they will be set free from their filth.


The people we are speaking to may be addicted to alcohol or drugs and, seemingly, without any hope of redemption.  However, if God is drawing them then they will be set free from their addictions and given new life in Jesus.


As we go forth and spread the Word let us be absolutely confident in the power of God to save even the vilest of people and transform them into trophies of Grace.


God "is able to save to the uttermost" all who unto come to Him through Jesus.   Hebrews 7 v 25.