By Pastor Pete Valdez
GOD'S FREEDOM TO HARDEN THE HEART OF PHARAOH AND SHOW MERCY TO WHOM HE WILLS
Romans 9
17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
It is probably one of the difficult passages in the Bible to accept, not necessarily difficult to understand. Though for sure we can be limited in comprehension.
First of all, Pharaoh was not a benevolent Leader who's intention was only good until God pulled him out of his duty and hardened his heart. No. God did not, does not create evil. Sinful nature was already dwelling in Pharaoh's heart by virtue of imputed sin of Adam. All who were born under Adam down our present line inherited his sinful nature.
God is never tyrannical nor despot to harden Pharaoh's heart! He never acts outside His perfect counsel and will. "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does" (Psalm 145:17). "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He." (Deuteronomy 32:4).
But note God's purpose in Pharaoh's life: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Romans 9:17
God raised Pharaoh to display His power through ten powerful plagues including death. He wants His name to be proclaimed over all the earth through judgment of Egypt and mercy to Israel. God permitted, allowed, decided, ruled and was never caught off guard with this sequence of events. He saved Israel and opposed Egypt head on!
Lest we think Israel deserved mercy, Psalms 106:7 tells us, "When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known." If anything, Israel deserved to be drowned in Red Sea along with all the Egyptians!
This emphasizes the freeness, the sheer mercy and grace, the lavish love and goodness of God to the undeserving Israel whom He redeemed and freed from Egyptian bondage.
You might think, this is unfair! This sounds injustice! Why would God save Israel and not Egypt who happens to have the same stubbornness, rebellion, ingratitude, and sinful nature? The answer is "...He saved them for His name's sake." (Psalm 106:
. Any condition outside God has zero basis to save them except His grace, love and mercy. We have absolutely nothing to boast nor congratulate ourselves with!
If we cry out unfair, if we seek fairness and justice, we are treading a terrifying ground to receive a just and worthy censure and punishment from God. For no single man on earth deserve His mercy. To deny His righteousness and holiness is blasphemy. To say God will never do that doesn't change the fact that He is upright and will never compromise His character Who is so so unlike us!
What is amazing is He shows mercy...to whom He freely wills but He still shows mercy! And who know how many countless people there are! Please do not presume on God and do not harden your heart. God may justly abandon us to our sinful ways if we persist to oppose, turn our backs, neglect, distrust and not follow Him.
Prayer: Oh Lord, may we never harden our hearts to You. May we humble ourselves and look at the cross of Jesus who was sacrificed for us, for our sins and have the power to give new hearts. May you pardon us from our deception, lies, cheating, hatred, pride, envy, lusts, selfishness, bitterness, and all the sin that harden our hearts. May you grant us new hearts beating to love You, submits to You, worship You and aim to know you endlessly in Jesus Christ. Amen!
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GOD'S FREEDOM TO HARDEN THE HEART OF PHARAOH AND SHOW MERCY TO WHOM HE WILLS
Romans 9
17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
It is probably one of the difficult passages in the Bible to accept, not necessarily difficult to understand. Though for sure we can be limited in comprehension.
First of all, Pharaoh was not a benevolent Leader who's intention was only good until God pulled him out of his duty and hardened his heart. No. God did not, does not create evil. Sinful nature was already dwelling in Pharaoh's heart by virtue of imputed sin of Adam. All who were born under Adam down our present line inherited his sinful nature.
God is never tyrannical nor despot to harden Pharaoh's heart! He never acts outside His perfect counsel and will. "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does" (Psalm 145:17). "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He." (Deuteronomy 32:4).
But note God's purpose in Pharaoh's life: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Romans 9:17
God raised Pharaoh to display His power through ten powerful plagues including death. He wants His name to be proclaimed over all the earth through judgment of Egypt and mercy to Israel. God permitted, allowed, decided, ruled and was never caught off guard with this sequence of events. He saved Israel and opposed Egypt head on!
Lest we think Israel deserved mercy, Psalms 106:7 tells us, "When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known." If anything, Israel deserved to be drowned in Red Sea along with all the Egyptians!
This emphasizes the freeness, the sheer mercy and grace, the lavish love and goodness of God to the undeserving Israel whom He redeemed and freed from Egyptian bondage.
You might think, this is unfair! This sounds injustice! Why would God save Israel and not Egypt who happens to have the same stubbornness, rebellion, ingratitude, and sinful nature? The answer is "...He saved them for His name's sake." (Psalm 106:
. Any condition outside God has zero basis to save them except His grace, love and mercy. We have absolutely nothing to boast nor congratulate ourselves with! If we cry out unfair, if we seek fairness and justice, we are treading a terrifying ground to receive a just and worthy censure and punishment from God. For no single man on earth deserve His mercy. To deny His righteousness and holiness is blasphemy. To say God will never do that doesn't change the fact that He is upright and will never compromise His character Who is so so unlike us!
What is amazing is He shows mercy...to whom He freely wills but He still shows mercy! And who know how many countless people there are! Please do not presume on God and do not harden your heart. God may justly abandon us to our sinful ways if we persist to oppose, turn our backs, neglect, distrust and not follow Him.
Prayer: Oh Lord, may we never harden our hearts to You. May we humble ourselves and look at the cross of Jesus who was sacrificed for us, for our sins and have the power to give new hearts. May you pardon us from our deception, lies, cheating, hatred, pride, envy, lusts, selfishness, bitterness, and all the sin that harden our hearts. May you grant us new hearts beating to love You, submits to You, worship You and aim to know you endlessly in Jesus Christ. Amen!
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