Gregor, the statements from that post are not mine. They are God's.
The word is chazaq 2388 to be obstinate; to bind
God said He hardened Pharoah's heart. If you like it better, then God made Pharoah obstinate. Obstinate: to stand against, oppose. In other words, God made Pharoah oppose Him. God can make a vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor. God does these things, but this isn't their end. Remember Gregor, all these things are temporary. Christ will subject all, including obstinate wills. But make no mistake, God is behind all.(See 2 Cor 5:18, Romans 11:36, 1 Cor 8:6, 1 Cor 11:12 etc..)
We are chosen in Christ not for anything we do, it's just God's sovereign choice. We are the clay, He is the potter. And the clay doesn't decide what it wants to be. Do you really think our wills can overpower God's will? Romans 9:17 says "for the scripture saith unto Pharoah, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, & that my name might be declared throughout the earth". This says nothing about God lamenting over Pharoah's shortcomings. It says he was raised up strictly to show God's power. When I realized that these things were temporary, they all made sense. Then I was free to believe them all.
People always say that God is sovereign but they just don't believe it. Here are a few more of God's words. With references to old testament quotes. We have to believe all of God's words, not just the ones we like.
Romans 9:
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Mal. 1.2, 3
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Ex. 33.19
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
17 For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Ex. 9.16
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Is. 29.16 ; 45.9
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Romans 8:
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope;
John 1:
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Ephesians 1:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Phillipians 2:
13 for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Jeremiah 10:
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
John 15:
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Romans 3:
10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Romans 11:
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Ephesians 1:
4 according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Acts 13:
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
All these words make God sound like a monster, but the important thing is they are all temporary. The wages of sin is death, but death will be abolished.
Christ is not standing at the gates of hell trying to "snatch any he can out of the fire". He paid for the sins of all on the cross. His work of salvation is finished. Believe that. He is still processing us and yes, satan blinds men's eyes, but nothing happens that's out of the will of God.
Evil, sin and death are all temporary. They will all be done away with at the end the ages. And then Pharoah and all those hardened will have their obstinate wills conformed to the image of Christ just as the chief of sinners, Saul of Tarsus was instantly converted by the Savior on the road to Damascus.
Have a good one Gregor. |
