1. Choices & Consequences
Proverb 21
Choices & Consequences
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

2. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart
What Did God Do?
Exodus 10:20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.
Exodus 10:27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.
Exodus 11:10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

3. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart
Providence
Proverb 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. NKJV
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

4. Right Thing, Wrong Reason
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers
of water; He turns it wherever He wishes
Right Thing, Wrong Reason
Proverb 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.
Motive AND obedience.
You lose when doing the right thing for the wrong reason, Acts 5:1-11.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
I Samuel 15:22, Proverb 7:14
You can sacrifice without righteousness, but you can’t be righteous without sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin. NKJV
Plowing is hard work. Diligence. Planning. Faith.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

5. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers
of water; He turns it wherever He wishes
Alert!
Proverb 21:6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.
Nothing wrong with money, but sin is sin. (Rob Peter to pay…)
7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do justice.
What goes around comes around…God is not mocked.
8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; but as for the pure, his work is right.
Do the right thing for the right reason.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman. NKJV
Who, when, where, how, why… Nobody’s an island unto themselves.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

6. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers
of water; He turns it wherever He wishes
Omniscient God
Proverb 21:11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
The same thing could happen to two people, but they take it in very different ways. Why?
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. NKJV
The world doesn’t necessarily see what God sees.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

7. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers
of water; He turns it wherever He wishes
Motive & Commitment
Proverb 21:15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
It’s not hard – but it does require true commitment.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. NKJV
There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death, Proverb 14:12; 16:25.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

8. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart
If God is With us…
Proverb 21:19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.
Who, when, where, how, why… We’re STILL not an island unto ourselves.
20 There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it.
Since it’s not about physical riches (consider Jesus, Paul, etc.), what could this be about?
21 He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.
Perhaps not in this life, but certainly in the next!
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the trusted stronghold. NKJV
A wise man seeks to do the Will of God Almighty. If God is for us…
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

9. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart
Intent
Proverb 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with wicked intent! NKJV
Sacrifice has always been an integral part of serving God, but then so is true conversion.
Acts 8:18-23, Simon the (repentant) sorcerer.
Good intent by itself doesn’t make something right, but wicked intent makes anything bad, regardless of what the action is. It will do us no good.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

10. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart
Where Are You Going?
Proverb 21:29 A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he establishes his way.
Determination can be great, but determination to do what?
30 There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.
You can fight, but you can’t win. How long is eternity?
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord. NKJV
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…failed.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

11. Choices & Consequences
Prov 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. NKJV
Prov 22:3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. NKJV
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. NKJV
Our name w/ GOD
Choices and…
We get to choose.
So do they.
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

12. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart
What, Then?
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. NKJV
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

13. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" NKJV
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. NKJV
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. NKJV
Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him… NKJV
The king's heart is in the hand of
the Lord, like the rivers
of water; He turns it
wherever He wishes
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

14. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Hear The Gospel (John 5:24; Romans 10:17)
Believe it (John 3:16-18; John 8:24)
Repent Of Your Sins (Luke 13:1-5; Acts 2:38)
Confess Jesus as Christ (Mt 10:32; Rom 10:10)
Be Baptized (Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27)
Remain Faithful for Life (John 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child of God:
Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I John 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)
The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

15. The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart