Every time we deliberately say “no” to God we harden our own hearts, and every time we say “yes” to Him we become softer. By making us in His own image, God has given us the power to choose and that ability means we are responsible for the choices we make. This passage in Exodus concludes with the statement, “But when Pharaoh saw there was relief he hardened his own heart and did not listen to them as the Lord had said” (v 15). In order to understand what was taking place in Pharaoh we will first listen to a remarkable explanation about human choices Jesus gave in Matthew 13:10–17. Next we will distinguish between ignorance, defiance and obedience. And finally we’ll discover that by obedience God draws us closer and closer to Himself. An obedient heart leads to a relationship of great intimacy and understanding as “friends of God.”