How do we make sense of the Bible when it doesn’t make sense? 1 Corinthian 3:6-7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The condition of our hearts influences the choices we make. The Making of a Hard Heart Exodus 7:3–4 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. Blood: Pharaoh’s heart “became hard” (7:22) Frogs: Pharaoh “hardened his own heart” (8:15) Gnats: Pharaoh’s heart “was hard” (8:19) Flies: “Pharaoh hardened his own heart” (8:32) Livestock die: Pharaoh’s heart “was hard” (9:7) Boils: “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (9:12) Hail: Pharaoh “hardened his own heart” (9:34) Locusts: God announces that he has “hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (10:1,10:20) Darkness: “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (10:27) Death of the firstborn: “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (11:10) The Meaning of a Hard Heart Romans 9:14–18 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. The Mending of a Hard Heart Ezekiel 36:25–27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. We let God do His part and we do our part. What’s the condition of your heart this morning? Do you need a new heart this morning? Interested in Baptism: https://lp.life/LPPCBaptism25 Membership Class, May 25th: https://lp.life/PlainCityDL2025