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“Hardening Of The Arteries”
Categories: GOD, OLD TESTAMENT, RELATIONSHIPS, WITH MANKINDWhy did God harden Pharaoh’s heart when Aaron went to tell him to let His people go? Doesn't that go against free will??Sincerely,
Chisel In Hand
Dear Chisel In Hand,
It is true that Ex 7:3 says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but Ex 8:15 says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Both are true. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by sending Moses to take Pharaoh’s slaves away, and Pharaoh chose to allow the plagues to anger and harden his heart instead of soften it. God sent the events that affected Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh chose how he would react to them.
It is the same as the statement, “I made him angry” versus “He got angry with me.” It is true that our words and actions can cause a reaction from others, but at the same time, when someone gets angry, that is still their choice. Pharaoh was the kind of person that when confronted with the signs and wonders from God, he hardened his heart and became angry. God sent the signs and wonders; Pharaoh chose to react like he did.
