Modern society claims that punishment only hardens the heart of those who have been disciplined by it.
But as we ponder the account ot Pharaoh in the bible we see that Pharaoh hardened his own heart when God disciplined him and because of the hard heart God gave him what he wanted and further hardened his heart so that it could not come out of it.
Exodus 8:32 "32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go."
"15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said."
Exodus 10:27
"27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh 's heart, and he would not let them go."
God wanted the people of Isarel to see the mighty hand of God that even though the Pharoah would not repent or relent from chasing God's people he would not be able to control them or overtake them because God was their protector.
When someone is punished for their crime two things are possible. The one who is punished will either harden their heart further or they will repent and turn from their evil. Both choices are that of the one who was disciplines. The one who administered the discipline is not responsible for the response of the offender.
Modern society having been steeped in psychology teaches that discipline only make a person more angry and that softness and leniency causes sorrow in the heat. This is the opposite of what God says. Those who are already hard will become harder and those who are open to correction will soften their heart to hear the a rebuke.
Discipline does not shape the heart of a man it reveals what is really inside. For the one who is open to truth the heart becomes softer and more repentant when disciplined by God. However in the heart of a rebellious offender discipline causes worse anger and rage.
When we see someone rage at the truth or resist correction we are watching someone who already has a hard heart and is hardening it further though the rage.
Never beat yourself up when a person with a hard heart rages at you for telling the truth. This is their choice to resist God, you are merely the messenger obeying God.
We live in a day when the rightoues are blamed for the anger of the rebellious. Everything is opposite of what God says.
Isaiah 5:20 "
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"
Ezekiel 33:1-6
"1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman,
3 and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the horn and warns the people,
4 then someone who hears the sound of the horn but does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the horn but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have saved his life.
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the horn and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away for his wrongdoing; but I will require his blood from the watchman’s hand.’"
Every born again believer is a watchman, we are responsible to bring the truth no matter how anyone responds to it. We are the messengers of God's Word in every and all circumstances unless we have already warned once and someone will not listen, then we are required to walk away and leave the matter to God.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 "8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will certainly die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked about his way, that wicked person shall die for his wrongdoing, but I will require his blood from your hand.
9 But if you on your part warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die for his wrongdoing, but you have saved your life."
We have no ability to change somoene's heart or mind. We speak truth from God and He is the One Who speaks to the heart of the one hearing.
We are only responsible to speak the truth and all the results belong to God and what is in the heart of the one who hears it.
Acts 18:6
"But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.""
We must refrain from becoming sensitive to the reactions of others knowing full well God has not called us to cause people to like us, but to impart the Word that they might repent and love Him.
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