Subject: why was pharoh's heart hardened? |
Bible Note: But note that the Pharoh's heart was already hard in that he had treated Israel with cruelty. Also note that God had told Abraham that his children would be slaves in a strange land, but that He would judge them. Genesis 15:13Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. We know from Romans 1 that 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. and 24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, and 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; And so it is apparent that there is a point of no return with God, a point at which He will give a person over to vileness, and completely harden their already hard heart. the reason given in Romans is having a knowledge of God but not thinking it worthy of retaining. So the Justice of God is that if a person forsakes Him, He will harden that person's heart, that they may not be saved. This is a tough lesson, but one who will not bend his knee will be condemned to not having it be able to bend. Some could ask if this is fair, but He is God. He can not be continually offended without retribution. In addition, God in His purpose needed the world to see His mighty, Awesome power. If Pharoh had been a push-over, would the World have heard of His mighty works? Look how Israel behaved after seeing the awesome hand of God, the plagues, the pillar of smoke and fire, the separation of the Sea, the closing of the sea on Pharoh's army, etc. How would they have behaved if Pharoh had relented? |