Can you explain this passage?

Question

This passage was in my daily study today and wanted to share it-- does anyone want to share on this? You may look to the beginning of the chapter too...
Moses Returns to Egypt
18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive."
Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well."
19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him

Answer 1

This leads up to what Paul references in Romans chapter 9 about God hardening the heart of Pharoah.....and creating some vessels for honor and some for dishonor.

God is sovereign.......He knows all.....and He is in control of it all.

Some people may think that God did not give Pharaoh Ramses a fair chance by hardening his heart and all but.......Pharaoh Ramses' heart was hard to begin with.

His free will and God's sovereignty worked together......and all for the glory of God.

And the same holds true today.........where salvation is concerned. There are a chosen few who will be saved. God prompts us to choose Him.......it's not the other way around. John 6:44 clearly says that no one can come to the Father unless they are drawn to Him.

Yet another reason why I hold to Calvinism..........

Answer 2

He set this up so that the people will truly learn that the penalty for sin is death. Yes those people were killed but it was only the flesh body not the soul. God also set this up to show through Moses that there is a God and it is he. And because of the nonbelievers that have hardened their OWN hearts things are going to start getting harder for the USA. And He will let it happen because He will then use the opportunity to again show that there is a God and it is He..

Answer 3

I can help u.

What it's basically telling you is that all the death and destruction that already happened (those who hated u are dead) and what is about to happen (all the plagues ESPECIALLY the 10th) are in the power of god to stop. Yet instead of softening the pharoah's heart, he hardens it. Then he sends the angel of death to kill all 1st-born males in the entire country of Egypt up to even the cattle. So thousands of male babies and children were killed b/c god "hardened the pharoah's heart".

God created the universe with a thought, yet 1 man held his people captive for 400 years. And when the time came to get them out, he didn't just escort them out, blink them out, or make the pharaoh let them out. He made the pharaoh NOT agree to let them go, hence dooming the children to doom as well as al the soldiers that died in the river crossing.

Answer 4

It was done to show that God controls man, not the other way around. God had complete control over the mightiest man of that time. Man gives the glory to man, and leaves God back on the shelf. Romans 9:17, "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, THAT I MIGHT SHOW MY POWER IN THEE".

Answer 5

The same sunshine that melts butter also hardens clay.
The presence of God causes some hearts to soften and some to harden. God is not setting Pharoah up for failure here by "choosing" to "harden his heart" He was stating what the result would be of his presence on Pharoah's life. As a fact.

Answer 6

Obedience and respect lead to blessings.
Dis-obedience and selfishness lead to cursings.