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NASB | Exodus 4:21 ¶ The LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 4:21 ¶ The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders (miracles) which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and make him stubborn so that he will not let the people go. |
Subject: did God harden Pharoah's heart for etern |
Bible Note: I do not think that God hardened Pharoahs heart against salvation. Exodus 4:21 says that God hardened his heart against letting his people go. Why? Why did not God SOFTEN Pharaohs heart so Pharaoh would let Israel go? Or why did not God just kill Pharaoh and any other ruling Egyptian who refused to set Israel free? Because that was not Gods ultimate goal. What was Gods ultimate goal? God wanted the people of Egypt and the whole world to know that there is only ONE TRUE God. And the way God was going to make that known was by showing Egypts gods to be false gods with no power. The Egyptians believed in about 80 different gods and goddesses. Each of the 10 plagues was designed by God to discredit one or more of the Egyptian's false gods. You can find a list of the possible Egyptian gods and goddesses attacked by the plagues in the Bible Knowledge Commentary edited by John Walvoord and Roy Zuck. My point is that God had a purpose in sending each of the plagues. God hardened the Pharoahs heart against letting his people go halfway through the plagues because if Pharoah had let them go after discrediting only half of Egypts false gods the Egyptians would have thought that their other false gods were still worthy of worship. And God would not have communicated his ultimate goal, that He is the ONLY TRUE God. Please read the following scriptures which repeatedly state God's purpose for the plagues. (Ex 7:3,5,17; 8:22; 10:1-2; 14:4,18) Ro 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh,For this very purpose I raised you up (to be Pharoah), to demonstrate my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth. |