An interesting question, it is written:
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Now some might read this and assume the answer is, Yes. And it is but not how many think it is.
Notice carefully that the point is that it is not based on our will but rather on God who shows mercy. That is a statement of fact. He is not saying we have not will or that our will has no place but rather that salvation is based not on human will but on Gods mercy.
Notice in relation to Pharaoh God shows his power but did God shew mercy to Pharaoh?
Exo 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
notice here that it says that God would harden Pharaoh's heart. now that seems pretty straight forward does it not?
Well yes but to understand what that means we need to understand how God did this and then we will better understand God.
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
This is the first time His heart hardens it says the Lord did it. But notice that it happened after his magicians preformed a similar miracle. keep note of the events this is important.
Exo 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
The second time and Pharaoh's heart hardens again only after the magicians preform a similar feat.
now notice something different happens the third time:
Exo 8:7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
Exo 8:8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.
The magicians manage to preform a similar feat but this time Pharaoh has not yet hardened his heart because the frogs are still a problem for Him.
Exo 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
now notice carefully it is not until God takes the frogs away in His mercy that Pharaoh hardens his heart now notice the wording "he hardened his heart"
Notice carefully, Gods act of mercy causes Pharaoh to harden his heart.
Continue through and something will become clear, Pharaoh hardened his heart by his own free will and it was based on the mercy of God. when God showed mercy by taking the plague away, Pharaoh hardened in pride. One time He hardens because his magicians say this is the finger of God and that is an insult as Pharaoh sees himself as God.
It was his pride so why then does God say I will harden his heart?
The answer is simple, God knew how Pharaoh would react to his mercy and thus he knew his actions though merciful would harden Pharaoh's heart.
this was not force but simple reality.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Now some might read this and assume the answer is, Yes. And it is but not how many think it is.
Notice carefully that the point is that it is not based on our will but rather on God who shows mercy. That is a statement of fact. He is not saying we have not will or that our will has no place but rather that salvation is based not on human will but on Gods mercy.
Notice in relation to Pharaoh God shows his power but did God shew mercy to Pharaoh?
Exo 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
notice here that it says that God would harden Pharaoh's heart. now that seems pretty straight forward does it not?
Well yes but to understand what that means we need to understand how God did this and then we will better understand God.
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
This is the first time His heart hardens it says the Lord did it. But notice that it happened after his magicians preformed a similar miracle. keep note of the events this is important.
Exo 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
The second time and Pharaoh's heart hardens again only after the magicians preform a similar feat.
now notice something different happens the third time:
Exo 8:7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
Exo 8:8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.
The magicians manage to preform a similar feat but this time Pharaoh has not yet hardened his heart because the frogs are still a problem for Him.
Exo 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
now notice carefully it is not until God takes the frogs away in His mercy that Pharaoh hardens his heart now notice the wording "he hardened his heart"
Notice carefully, Gods act of mercy causes Pharaoh to harden his heart.
Continue through and something will become clear, Pharaoh hardened his heart by his own free will and it was based on the mercy of God. when God showed mercy by taking the plague away, Pharaoh hardened in pride. One time He hardens because his magicians say this is the finger of God and that is an insult as Pharaoh sees himself as God.
It was his pride so why then does God say I will harden his heart?
The answer is simple, God knew how Pharaoh would react to his mercy and thus he knew his actions though merciful would harden Pharaoh's heart.
this was not force but simple reality.