Human Heart's Resistance to God's Call in Scripture

The Human Heart's Resistance to God's Call in Scripture

The human heart's resistance to God's call is a pervasive theme throughout Scripture. According to the biblical account, humanity's natural inclination is to rebel against God, as seen in Isaiah 59:13, where it is written that people "rebelled and turned away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart" ^[2]. This resistance is rooted in the "mind of the flesh," which is "hostile to God" and unable to submit to His law (Romans 8:7) ^[3].

The biblical narrative portrays humanity's resistance as a fundamental aspect of the human condition. one tradition notes that the wicked person "condemns God, and says in his heart, 'God won't call me into account'" (Psalms 10:13) ^[1]. This attitude of defiance and self-reliance is a hallmark of humanity's fallen nature. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights various forms of rebellion against God, including despising His law, distrusting His power, and murmuring against Him ^[5].

The call of God, on the other hand, is a gracious invitation to humanity to turn away from sin and towards Him. This call is extended to all people, regardless of their background or circumstances (Isaiah 45:22; Matthew 20:16) ^[6]. However, many reject this call, as noted in Proverbs 1:24 and Matthew 20:16. The biblical account emphasizes that the call of God is not limited to a select few, but is a universal invitation to salvation.

The tension between the human heart's resistance and God's call is a recurring theme in Scripture. In Mark 14:38, Jesus exhorts His disciples to "watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation," acknowledging that "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" ^[4]. This weakness is a manifestation of the human heart's inherent resistance to God's call.

Various traditions have interpreted this tension in different ways. John Gill notes that the hardness of heart is a natural consequence of sin, which can become habitual and even judicial ^[7]. Adam Clarke, on the other hand, suggests that God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart was a response to Pharaoh's prior resistance to God's grace ^[8]. The Tyndale House commentary on Hebrews 3:9-10 highlights the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness as a classic example of humanity's resistance to God's call ^[9].

The biblical response to this resistance is to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7) ^{[10, 11]}. This involves acknowledging one's weakness and relying on God's strength to overcome the natural inclination to rebel against Him. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note, submitting to God and resisting the devil requires humility, faith, and heavenly wisdom ^[11].

The human heart's resistance to God's call is a fundamental aspect of the biblical narrative. Understanding this resistance and its consequences is crucial for grasping the nature of humanity's relationship with God. As Scripture testifies, humanity's rebellion against God is a pervasive theme that underscores the need for God's gracious call to salvation.

Sources

Psalms “Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?” -- Psalms 10:13”
Isaiah “Isaiah 59:13 (BSB) — rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.”
Romans “Romans 8:7 (BSB) — because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
Mark “Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” -- Mark 14:38”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Call of God, The — By Christ -- Isa 55:5; Ro 1:6. By his Spirit -- Re 22:17. By his works -- Ps 19:2,3; Ro 1:20. By his ministers -- Jer 35:15; 2Co 5:20. By his gospel -- 2Th 2:14. Is from darkness -- 1Pe 2:9. Addressed to all -- Isa 45:22; Mt 20:16. Most reject -- Pr 1:24; Mt 20:16. Effectual to saints -- Ps 110:3; Ac 2:47; 13:48; 1Co 1:24. To man is Of grace. -- Ga 1:15; 2Ti 1:9. According to the purpose of God. -- Ro 8:28; 9:11,23,24. High. -- Php 3:14. Holy. -- 1Ti 1:9. Heavenly. -- Heb 3:1. To fellowship with Christ. -- 1Co 1:9. To holiness. -- 1Th 4:7. To liber”
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 ”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 4:21: But I will harden his heart - The case of Pharaoh has given rise to many fierce controversies, and to several strange and conflicting opinions. Would men but look at the whole account without the medium of their respective creeds, they would find little difficulty to apprehend the truth. If we take up the subject in a theological point of view, all sober Christians will allow the truth of this proposition of St. Augustine, when the subject in question is a person who has hardened his own heart by frequently resisting the grace and spirit of God: Non obdurate Deus im”
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.”
James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 4:7: Submit - to God - Continue to bow to all his decisions, and to all his dispensations. Resist the devil - He cannot conquer you if you continue to resist. Strong as he is, God never permits him to conquer the man who continues to resist him; he cannot force the human will. He who, in the terrible name of Jesus, opposes even the devil himself, is sure to have a speedy and glorious conquest. He flees from that name, and from his conquering blood.”
James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 4:7: Submit to . . . God--so ye shall be among "the humble," Jam 4:6; also Jam 4:10; Pe1 5:6. Resist . . . devil--Under his banner pride and envy are enlisted in the world; resist his temptations to these. Faith, humble prayers, and heavenly wisdom, are the weapons of resistance. The language is taken from warfare. "Submit" as a good soldier puts himself in complete subjection to his captain. "Resist," stand bravely against. he will flee--Translate, "he shall flee." For it is a promise of God, not a mere assurance from man to man [ALFORD]. He shall flee w”

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