Human Heart's Rebellion Against God's Sovereign Will
The human heart's rebellion against God's sovereign will is a recurring theme in biblical literature, described as a fundamental aspect of the human condition. This rebellion manifests as an inherent hostility toward God and His law [1]. The Bible often uses the term "heart" to denote the center of a person's spiritual activity, encompassing their intellect, emotions, and will [5]. Therefore, a rebellious heart signifies a comprehensive opposition to divine authority.
Scripture portrays this rebellion in various ways. For instance, Proverbs 19:3 states that "The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh" [4]. This "raging" indicates an active, internal resistance to God's governance. Similarly, Psalm 107:11 speaks of those who "rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High" [3]. This highlights a rejection of God's revealed will and His wisdom. The book of Job also describes this rebellion, noting that a person's "hand is stretched out against God, and his heart is lifted up against the Ruler of all" [2]. John Gill interprets this as an active hatred and enmity against God, manifested through wicked works that are acts of hostility against His nature, will, and law [11].
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:7, articulates this rebellion profoundly: "the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be" [1]. This "carnal mind" is not merely disobedient but is "enmity itself against God," opposing His very being, perfections, and authority [8]. Adam Clarke elaborates that this carnal mind "relishes earthly and sinful things, and lives in opposition to the pure and holy law of God," representing "irreconcilable and implacable hatred" [10]. He further notes that this principle of rebellion is inherent to sin, making it impossible for those under its power to please God [9, 10]. This inherent hostility means that humanity, apart from divine intervention, is on a "broad road to final perdition" [9].
The concept of a hardened heart is closely related to this rebellion. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 95:8, describes various forms of heart hardness: a natural hardness due to corrupted nature, an habitual hardness from persistent sin, and a judicial hardness where God gives individuals over to their rebellion [6]. The Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness, where they "tested God’s patience by refusing to trust him," is cited as an example of hearts turning away from God and not desiring to obey Him [7]. This led to God's anger [7].
The question of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in hardening hearts is addressed in some traditions. Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist, discusses Pharaoh's hardened heart, noting that while God can harden a heart, humans are granted wisdom and intelligence to choose good. He suggests that God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart was a consequence of Pharaoh's initial self-hardening, allowing God to demonstrate His power through signs and wonders [12]. This perspective suggests that human will plays a role in the initial turning away from God, which can then lead to a divinely ordained hardening.
Sources
- Romans “because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. -- Romans 8:7”
- Job “Job 15:25 (BBE) — Because his hand is stretched out against God, and his heart is lifted up against the Ruler of all,”
- Psalms “because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High. -- Psalms 107:11”
- Proverbs “The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. -- Proverbs 19:3”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heart — According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 95:8: Harden not your hearts,.... Against Christ, against his Gospel, against all the light and evidence of it. There is a natural hardness of the heart, owing to the corruption of nature; and an habitual hardness, acquired by a constant continuance and long custom in sinning; and there is a judicial hardness, which God gives men up unto. There is a hardness of heart, which sometimes attends God's own people, through the deceitfulness of sin gaining upon them; of which, when sensible, they complain, and do well to guard against. Respect seems to be had here to the hardness ”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 3:9: 3:9-10 Despite seeing the miracles God had performed on their behalf, the people of Israel tested God’s patience by refusing to trust him in the wilderness (Num 14:11, 22). The essence of their rebellion was that their hearts always turned away from God—they did not desire to obey him. The result was that God was angry with them.”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,.... These words contain a reason why the issue of carnal mindedness is death; because the carnal mind, the wisdom of the flesh, is not only an enemy, but enmity itself against God: against his being; it reasons against it; it wishes he was not; it forms unworthy notions of him; thinks him such an one as itself; and endeavours to bury him in forgetfulness, and erase out of its mind all memorials of him: it is at enmity against his perfections; either denying his omniscience; or arraigning his justice and faithfulness; or de”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 8:8: So then - Because this carnal mind is enmity against God, they that are in the flesh - who are under the power of the workings of this carnal mind, (which every soul is that has not received redemption in the blood of the Lamb), - Cannot please God - Because of the rebellious workings of this principle of rebellion and hatred. And, if they cannot please God, they must be displeasing to him; and consequently in the broad road to final perdition.”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God - Because it is a carnal mind, and relishes earthly and sinful things, and lives in opposition to the pure and holy law of God: therefore, it is enmity against God; it is irreconcilable and implacable hatred. It is not subject to the law of God - It will come under no obedience; for it is sin, and the very principle of rebellion; and therefore it cannot be subject, nor subjected; for it is essential to sin to show itself in rebellion; and when it ceases to rebel, it ceases to be sin. From this we learn that the design of ”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 15:24: For he stretched out his hand against God,.... Being an hater of him, an enemy to him, yea, enmity itself against him; an enemy in his mind, which appears by his wicked works, which are so many acts of hostility against God; all sins are against God, his nature, his will, his law, and all his remonstrances, exhortations, cautions, and instructions; but some are more daring and impudent than others, or are committed in a more open, bold, and audacious manner, as were those committed by the inhabitants of Sodom, and those who are similar to them; especially such as strike”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:3: AND I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH’S HEART. The question arises: “If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart what was his transgression and what was his sin?” 15 Prima facie , our verse states that God will harden Pharaoh’s heart and punish him for not mending his ways; i.e., I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and punish him for hardening his heart by multiplying “My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” The answer is: God granted wisdom to man and implanted in his heart the intelligence to receive power from on high to add to his good 16 If good things are destined to befall an i”