James 1:23-24 (ESV): “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”

Throughout the Bible, we see a pattern of God hardening the hearts of people, which leads to spiritual blindness. This phenomenon is seen in various stories where individuals or groups become resistant to God’s will and unable to perceive His truth. Why would God do this? What’s behind it? Can this still happen today? And most importantly, how can we avoid having our hearts hardened?

Bible Verses Describing Hardened Hearts and Spiritual Blindness

1. Exodus 9:12: “But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.”
2. Deuteronomy 2:30: “But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.”
3. Joshua 11:20: “For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”
4. Isaiah 63:17: “O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.”
5. Romans 9:17-18: “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.’ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.”
6. John 12:39-40: “Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.'”
7. Exodus 14:8: “And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.”
8. Exodus 10:20: “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.”
9. Exodus 11:10: “Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.”
10. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: “Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Reasons Why God Hardens Hearts

• Demonstrating His Power and Glory: God hardens our hearts to show His power and make His name known, as seen with Pharaoh in Egypt. This act demonstrates His supreme authority over all creation.
• Fulfilling His Divine Plan: God’s actions align with His broader plans and purposes, ensuring that His will is accomplished. His sovereignty ensures that every event in our lives unfolds according to His divine plan.
• Judgment for Disobedience and Sin: Hardening our hearts can be a form of judgment against us when we persist in sin and rebellion. This serves as a consequence for our unwillingness to turn away from wrongdoing.
• Testing and Refining Faith: Hardening can serve as a test to refine and strengthen our faith. Through these trials, we are drawn closer to God and our faith is purified.

Outcomes When Hearts Are Hardened

• Resistance to God’s Commands: When our hearts are hardened, we resist God’s commands and refuse to comply with His will. This defiance shows our unwillingness to submit to divine authority.
• Inability to Perceive and Understand: Hardening leads to spiritual blindness, preventing us from seeing and understanding God’s truth. Our hearts become closed off to the enlightenment that comes from God’s word.
• Fulfillment of God’s Judgments: Our hardened hearts often lead us to actions that fulfill God’s predetermined judgments. This process ensures that divine justice is carried out as intended.
• Increased Stubbornness and Obstinacy: With hardened hearts, we become more obstinate and determined in our opposition to God. Our persistent defiance intensifies our resistance to divine influence.
• Spiritual and Moral Decline: Hardening can result in a decline in our spiritual and moral integrity, leading us into further sin and separation from God. This downward spiral exacerbates our estrangement from divine grace.

How Our Hearts Become Hardened in Our Lives Now

• Persistent Sin: Continuous engagement in sinful behavior can desensitize us to moral and spiritual truths. Over time, our repeated actions can numb our conscience, making it harder to recognize and respond to God’s guidance. King Saul’s repeated disobedience to God’s commands led to his spiritual blindness, ultimately causing him to lose his way (1 Samuel 15).
• Rejection of Truth: Repeatedly rejecting spiritual or moral truths can lead to a hardening of our hearts. Each time we ignore or dismiss these truths, we build a barrier that distances us from God. The Pharisees often rejected Jesus’ teachings, which gradually hardened their hearts and prevented them from seeing the truth (Matthew 13:13-15).
• Pride and Self-Sufficiency: Excessive pride or reliance on ourselves can close us off from the need for divine help. When we think we can handle everything on our own, we fail to acknowledge God’s authority and wisdom. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride led to God humbling him until he finally recognized and accepted God’s sovereignty (Daniel 4:28-37).
• Bitterness and Unforgiveness: Harboring bitterness or refusing to forgive can harden our hearts. These negative emotions create a barrier that prevents love and grace from entering our lives. The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates how a lack of forgiveness leads to a hardened heart, affecting not only our relationship with others but also with God (Matthew 18:21-35).

How to Avoid a Hardened Heart

1. Stay Humble: Regularly practice humility and acknowledge your need for God’s guidance and help. King David demonstrated humility by acknowledging his sins and seeking God’s forgiveness, maintaining a heart that was responsive to God’s correction (Psalm 51:10-12). By recognizing our limitations and relying on God’s strength, we can prevent our hearts from becoming hardened (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. Repent Quickly: Be quick to repent and turn away from sin, maintaining a soft and responsive heart to God’s correction. When Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba, David immediately repented, showing a willingness to turn back to God (2 Samuel 12:13). Swift repentance keeps our hearts open to God’s grace and guidance, preventing the build-up of a hardened heart (1 John 1:9).
3. Embrace Truth: Seek and embrace spiritual and moral truths, allowing them to shape and guide your life. Josiah, the king of Judah, embraced the truth found in the Book of the Law and led his people in repentance and reform, keeping his heart and the hearts of his people responsive to God (2 Kings 22:11-13). Embracing truth helps us align our lives with God’s will, preventing our hearts from hardening (John 8:31-32).
4. Forgive Others: Cultivate a spirit of forgiveness and let go of bitterness, keeping your heart free from hardness. Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery, which kept his heart soft and allowed God’s plan to unfold (Genesis 50:20-21). By forgiving others, we release bitterness and maintain a heart that is open to God’s love and direction (Ephesians 4:32).
5. Regular Worship and Prayer: Engage in regular worship and prayer to stay connected to God and sensitive to His leading. Daniel prayed three times a day, maintaining a strong connection with God despite the challenges he faced (Daniel 6:10). Regular worship and prayer keep our hearts attuned to God’s voice and prevent spiritual hardness (Philippians 4:6-7).