The words “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go”* are devastating. Is that saying what I think it’s saying? Why would God purposely harden the heart of our adversary when we’re trying to escape captivity? Was God also wanting to change a captive heart from apathetic to motivated?

In my own life, just as I was learning to hear God’s voice and obey, it seemed that God hardened the hearts of many key players around me. I didn’t know it at the time but I was living as a captive. God hardened those hearts against me to force me to rise up and learn to walk free. Certainly there were no visible chains holding me, but the mental chains were real. If the church said that God doesn’t speak, then who was I to dispute their lies? If the church said that women weren’t anointed by God to lead, wasn’t I supposed to just shut up and sit pretty? Seriously, how dare I think that God had chosen for me to escape the captivity of bogus church traditions and false doctrine?

In hindsight, I can thank the Lord for making me a fighter through those hideous hardened hearts of my betrayers. I can tell you with confidence that God has chosen me to dispute the false teachings in the church and to boldly proclaim that women can receive every anointing from God as He decides.

I’m ok with that hardened heart of the opposition because God is on my side preparing the escape plan even now. Remember that He used ten plagues against Egypt when they tried to hold His people captive. Perhaps God is a bit of a show off in hardening their hearts. Rise up beloved and follow God to the promised land.

*Exodus 10:27 NIV