“Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.”
― Joni Eareckson Tada, The God I Love
― Joni Eareckson Tada, The God I Love
10So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. 11The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.(9:10-12)EXODUS 9-10
MATTHEW 18:1-20
10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]a
12“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
JOURNAL
The verses about Pharaoh have always troubled me, because it seems that Pharaoh doesn't have a choice. Over and over it says that God "hardened" Pharoah's heart. Doing some research on the subject I found that the problem is in the translation. Since it is in the past tense the wording is indicating that God allowed his heart to be hardened. God allowed Pharaoh to be stubborn. Just as God allows me to be stubborn and disobedient.
God's heart is shown in Matthew when Jesus declares that God does not desire that any child should perish. It's God's desire for all to be reconciled yet he still allows us to choose. He gives us the means and the path to relationship with him, yet he does not force our hand. It is the same with my boys. I desire their love and relationship but I cannot force that. I can create situations and cause consequences etc...but whether they choose to love me or not is in their own heart and mind.
The verses about Pharaoh have always troubled me, because it seems that Pharaoh doesn't have a choice. Over and over it says that God "hardened" Pharoah's heart. Doing some research on the subject I found that the problem is in the translation. Since it is in the past tense the wording is indicating that God allowed his heart to be hardened. God allowed Pharaoh to be stubborn. Just as God allows me to be stubborn and disobedient.
God's heart is shown in Matthew when Jesus declares that God does not desire that any child should perish. It's God's desire for all to be reconciled yet he still allows us to choose. He gives us the means and the path to relationship with him, yet he does not force our hand. It is the same with my boys. I desire their love and relationship but I cannot force that. I can create situations and cause consequences etc...but whether they choose to love me or not is in their own heart and mind.
God's heart is shown in Matthew when Jesus declares that God does not desire that any child should perish. It's God's desire for all to be reconciled yet he still allows us to choose. He gives us the means and the path to relationship with him, yet he does not force our hand. It is the same with my boys. I desire their love and relationship but I cannot force that. I can create situations and cause consequences etc...but whether they choose to love me or not is in their own heart and mind.
26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
JAMES 1:26-27
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