Ex’s 9
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K
Karraster
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Hi, altho I studied that years ago and don't have references handy, in a nutshell the word "harden" could better be understood as "strengthen". In other words, God strengthened what was already in Pharaoh's heart, much like what a good rest/refreshing, making him feel like a million bucks and ready/resolved to do what was in his heart to do....undaunted.
Because Pharaoh refused to repent and give up his evil ways EVEN AFTER MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
During all the time it perplexed you, did you not come up with some idea you could share with us?
So he could circumcise the hearts of the Hebrews.
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deut 30:6
(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."
Quantrill
I understand it to
right, but almost seems free will was taken away from him in order for God’s plan.
After the second time that pharaoh hardened His own heart..
First time::
(Exodus 8:15) "But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said."
Second time::
(Exodus 8:32) "And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go."
But the third time God hardened Pharaoh's heart::
(Exodus 9:7) "And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go."
God hardened his heart as a judgement upon him and upon the Egyptians who had enslaved and persecuted the Hebrews.. This allowed God to perform all the great signs of the plagues to leave no one in any doubt that it was God saving his people from Egypt and it wasn't Moses or Aaron doing it..
For the scripture said unto Pharaoh
Kinda ironic since the spoken word wasn't written (scripture) until after the Exodus.
Depends on what you mean by "our" heart.
If you are talking about the unsaved, who knew God, but suppress the Truth, then yes God will at some point, sear their consciences and harden their hearts.
I do not believe He will harden the born again believers NEW heart. Rather He will train, sanctify, ans discipline His kids hearts.
God did not harden His heart at the begging,, God knew however that Pharoah would harden his own heart and therefore told Moses that God would Keep Pharaohs heart hardened to a deluded extent.. Any sane ruler would have known they where dealing with a God they had no hope of opposing by the time the third and latter plagues happened but God sent pharoah strong delusions..
God will do this in the future and for the same reason .. People hardening their hearts against the gospel message we read in the NT that in the end times::
2 Thessalonians 2: KJV
1 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, {2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. {3} Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; {4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. {5} Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? {6} And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. {7} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. {8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: {9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
So again we shall see God causing those who reject his will to be deluded and fall victims to end times satanic deception.. Because they rejected the Love of the truth ( Gospel ) that would have saved them..
Still get stuck on the fact that God hardened his heart.
As Karraster said above, strengthened instead of hardened. Sounds more like God increased Pharoahs resolve instead of taking his free will away to choose.
I don’t think so, but does this happen any other place of the Bible?
"And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go" (Exodus 8:32).
Pharaoh hardened his own heart on at least two occasions, possibly more.
Thank you, need to look more into this passage. Is this talking about the second coming or the times leading up to that?
Thinking of a friend who doesn’t believe in God. could there be a point when God hardens non believers hearts?
I do not agree with the interpretation that hardened means strengthened at all..
God gave Pharaoh two chances with clear evidence to accept Gods will.. Pharoah on two occasions feigned acceptance of Gods will only to turn around and reimpose His evil upon Gods people.. The will of God can and is resisted by people.. Back then in the past and even today.. people are given thge message of God and they reject it because they love evil more.. Or they make fake statements that they believe but in secret they don't.. If a person is not prepared to accept the love of God that would see them saved then god can use that person to that person Gods plans... Pharaoh was a rejecter or of God who was used by God anyway..
It is like the Assyrians who came to destroy Israel and carry them away or Babylon who came to destroy Judah and carry them away in bondage for 70 years.. God can use unbelievers to further His plan.. To carry out His wrath.. To bring judgement against his own people who rebel against His will..
Well most of that 2 thessolonians 2 passage is talking about the end times great deception
The 2 Thessalonians 2 passage is dealing with the great deception that will happen just before the return of our LORD Jesus Christ..
""That Wicked"" is i believe referring to the man called the anti-christ who will be the center of this great deception.. I believe many of those who are unsaved or those in false churches and religions will believe that this evil man is the Messiah or God on earth to be worshiped..
God foreknows everyone.. He knows your friends entire lives.. What they will in the end accept or reject.. We do not know each others future.. We can and should pray for our friends and hope that they end up coming to accept the love of Gods truth.. But in the end God knows how they will respond to his gift of salvation..
For the scripture said unto Pharaoh
Paul equates the Scripture with the Words of God.
Quantrill