I’m seeing an awful lot of comments that earlier in Exodus, before Pharaoh hardens his heart, we have the event of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. For example. “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬ If you read this passage carefully you will see that it is not a record of when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. It is a prediction that God will do so in the FUTURE. The actual chronology of when it happened in Exodus shows that Pharaoh hardened his own heart before God is said to harden it. I hope this helps avoid a confusion on this point. Please consider viewing the FULL Bible study on the topic of God hardening hearts (Pharaoh’s as an example) from Romans 9. Here it is... kzread.info/dash/bejne/n4Gpy7aYgpPgdrQ.html

@jrmitchell12

Жыл бұрын

If people are saying this, it is a mischaracterization (on their part) of what the important point is. God predicts, before Pharaoh has a chance to make a choice to harden his heart or not, that He would harden Pharaoh's heart. It seems as though this is a more important point than Pharaoh hardening his own heart "possibly" first or not. Similar to the Romans 9 where it says "Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:" With the obvious implication that before they had a "choice", God chose that the older would serve the younger. You could say, "Well God just knew what was going to happen so he was telling Moses what was going to happen." If you say this, then there are a few questions that seem to come to mind. 1. When God said to Moses that Pharaoh would harden his heart to Moses, was there any choice from that moment on that Pharaoh could have chosen any differently? 2. Could God have created a universe in which Pharaoh could have chosen anything differently? 3. Why is the voice of the text so personal? He could have said "But Pharaoh will harden his own heart, so that he will not let the people go" He could have known the future and still been able to tell Moses what Pharaoh was going to do, but he doesn't. He takes what seems to be an active action of saying "I will". This brings about what some might claim on if there is injustice on God's part, which is the same question Paul answers in Romans 9. I am not here to defend God's justice, I am here to just read what it appears to be saying in the context of where it is said. I listened to the lesson you linked last night, and it was "fine", but didn't seem terribly convincing. One issue that seemed to have was when you said that "hardening" is to (paraphrasing cause i don't remember exactly) "to solidify in its current position". This is a possible interpretation, but it doesn't necessarily mean this. It could literally just mean that something was soft, and then it was turned hard. It kind of feels like a reading in of the text to further a preconceived point rather than what it might also mean. I appreciate your ministry, and have learned a lot from you. I hope you know that my disagreement on this issue with you doesn't really change that I think you are a wonderful disciple of Jesus and are doing great work on his behalf.

@Cuhpri

Жыл бұрын

@@jrmitchell12 Do you have a more sound interpretation to provide? What mike has taught here seems very consistent with the rest of Exodus.

@williamlkeating6410

Жыл бұрын

Excellent point. Additionally, even if someone wants to claim 7:3 were the moment God hardens Pharaoh's heart, they'd have to explain how they could claim Pharaoh's heart wasn't hardened towards God prior to 7:3! Before 7:3, he has enslaved the Jews and commanded the murder of babies. Then look at what he says in 5:2 about God. I think it would be hard to argue Pharaoh hadn't already hardened himself against his creator before 7:3.

@williamlkeating6410

Жыл бұрын

​@@jrmitchell12 If Pharaoh had done differently, God would have known differently. It is a non sequitur to say that because God, in His omniscience, knew something would happen before it happened that He is the one who caused it.

@jrmitchell12

Жыл бұрын

@@williamlkeating6410 Just curious but when you say "they'd have to explain how they could claim Pharaoh's heart wasn't hardened towards God prior to 7:3" I feel like the verses could have said lots of things to imply that it was already hardened. They could have said things such as "Pharaoh has already hardened his heart" in those early verses, or something to imply that it was already hardened at the time before Moses met with Pharaoh. Why does it say "I will" meaning not yet but will in the future? For instance, If i say "I will go to the store", I haven't been to the store yet, but I will be in the future. I'm not sure how else you can take the "I will". Do you have another suggestion on why he would imply the it being in the future instead of just saying it already happened?

Any interpretation that keeps the integrity of God’s character consistent with Scripture is a safe place to start. I recall the old saying: the same sun that hardens the clay, softens the wax. The responsibility of our hearts is on us, no matter how much light we get.

@IZZY404_

Жыл бұрын

The same God can create vessels of glory and vessels of wrath. Traditional Christianity has very humanized and unbiblical view of who God actually is

@SusieQ3

Жыл бұрын

I like your picture. The Mandelbrot set is really interesting.

@giftgab

Жыл бұрын

Yes Reality, I agree. We should always put the onus on ourselves rather than passing it off to God. Yes, we can't do anything without God's grace; it is what we all require, but God says that He gives His grace _to the humble,_ yet He opposes the proud. The Bible says "humble YOURSELVES under the mighty hand of God" and then in response to us humbling OURSELVES, God promises to lift us up. ✝👑💖

@FRN2013

Жыл бұрын

'Reality,' I was going to write the same thing, but you said it very well. Thanks!

@FRN2013

Жыл бұрын

'IZ ZY', Calvinism has a very cruel and unbiblical view of who God actually is.

As a Hebrew speaker, the original text holds a nugget that could shed some light on this. I hope you find this helpful 🙌🏻 Lets take a look at Exodus 9:35: " So Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses." This is the last verse of Exodus 9. As we know, the original scrolls had no verses in them, so Exodus 10:1 is literally the following verse. Exodus 10:1 says: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them. That's puzzling - Pharaoh's heart was hard, but in the same breath God hardened it. How come? The Hebrew should clarify that - The actual Hebrew word in the text means "heavy", not "hard". This is where the added meaning makes things clearer. In Hebrew, the word "to honor" shares the same ROOT as the root of the word "heavy" (the root is כ.ב.ד). For example, when something is of "weighty" importance, it means it deserves its due honor, as we shouldn't take it lightly. So Pharaoh chose to have an unresponsive heart (heavy=slow=hard), and God honored (same root) Pharaoh's will. In the Hebrew text, the words aren't identical, but the root is certainly the same. That's why Mike's point is consistent with the text, where after multiple choices on Pharaoh's side, God honored Pharaoh's will, and so the heart was heavy, indeed. Thanks for reading all the way 😇🙏🏼

@jhoelpaco3361

Жыл бұрын

No. The pharoah's heart was hardened becaused God removed His positive influence from the pharoah and the pharoah returned to his natural state of evil. That is when the pharoah's heart was hardened. God gives His Spirit and His Wisdom to whom He pleases.

@mechelledesigns

Жыл бұрын

@loves.direction Thanks for clarifying this verse because, I was confused when in Exodus chapter 10:27 says God hardened pharaoh’s heart.

@Notapplicable124

Жыл бұрын

@@mechelledesigns My pleasure 🙏

@romariosmith422

Жыл бұрын

​@Jhoel PaCo you read all of that write that nonsense 🙄 😒 smh....

@leenieledejo6849

Жыл бұрын

@@jhoelpaco3361 God is NOT the author of evil! Only Satan would say that and influence others to say it. Everyone is born in the "SARKI", the Greek word translated correctly and consistently as "flesh" in the KJV (and NASB apparently) but stupidly and erroneously as "sinful nature" SOMETIMES in the NIV (and other times as "flesh" eg. "the two become one flesh" and "the antichrist spirit denies Jesus came in the FLESH" (1 John 4:2-3, 2 John v.7). Thus, Jesus came in this SARKI, the natural human, carnal nature. It is NOT "evil". Babies and toddlers who act according to thr sarki are not being evil but acting according to their nature. It's why Jesus says "you MUST be born again/born of the Spirit" in John 3. Romans 8, Galatians 5 & 6 etc make a lot more sense to people who know this. Sin is a CHOICE to give into the flesh and harden oneself against one's conscience. So it's a wilfull choice to sin, even for the Biblically-ignorant. For those who have heard the Gospel and know the Bible, it's inexcusable and outright defiance against God. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren" (James 1:12-16)

Thank you,Mike. Have wondered about this for decades. Finally, in my 71st year of God given life, it is explained succinctly. God bless you & yours.

@leenieledejo6849

Жыл бұрын

John 14:26 & 16:13. He's a living God. Ask Him.

@Vintage-Bob

5 ай бұрын

You could have simply looked up the passage and understood that Mike is lying to you. How lazy can you be? In my other post, I quoted where Exodus 4, 9, 10, and 11 says god will harden pharaoh's heart BEFORE it hardened. Cause precedes effects. Use the brains you were born with.

@leongkhengneoh6581

5 ай бұрын

So sorry to tell you that you have wasted your 71-year-old brain that has been given to you.

@niroshangovinder4042

5 күн бұрын

God definitely hardened Pharoah's heart. The difference is - God gives you freewill to love Him. Not necessarily freewill to do as you please. Not a blade of grass moves without His sanction. We are all instruments of God, even those against us, and thus, we cannot hate anyone, but the sin. Hare Krishna.

In chapter 7 already God says “But I will harden Pharoah’s heart” Hmmm. He doesn’t say, “Pharoah will harden his heart” or “but Pharoah hardened his heart”

@Samy-sx6kn

Жыл бұрын

Amen. Another one reading their Bible 👍

@Lanaioahu

4 ай бұрын

Typical Calvinist not reading the verse in context or with the cotext. Bad exegesis

Harden in that text is Strengthened. God strengthened Pharohs heart in his already rebellious attitude toward God. Thank you so much Mike for your in-depth study and sharing of the word.

@farrex0

5 ай бұрын

But that is going against free will tho, even if he had a predisposition. Because if it wasn't hard enough for him to act then God's push violated his free will. But if he was going to do it regardless, then why harden it at all? If you had a predisposition towards eating candies, but for health reasons you are trying to avoid them. Then, God uses that predisposition to make you eat candy and you end up getting diabetes. God is the one responsible not you. It doesn't matter if you had a predisposition and God only gave an small push.... because you wouldn't have done it without God's intervention. And that is the whole point, the point is not how much God intervened, but the fact that he did.

@emf49

3 ай бұрын

That’s my understanding.

Excellent exposition, Mike. I see this passage in Exodus 9 as an example of the passage in Romans chapter 1, verses 18 through 32. The apostle Paul states a couple of times that God gives the unrepentant people over to their own passions, where they will face God's judgment meted out as wrath because of their rejection of the truth of God's Word. I see this as the hardening of their hearts in the same way as Pharoah.

@velkyn1

Жыл бұрын

that fails since in one case this god does the action, and in the other, this god does nothing. It's a common claim, made to try to forget that this god murdered children for the actions of others.

@elunico13

Жыл бұрын

Paul interprets waaay differently that Mike Winger. Paul says in Romans 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It literally says God did it in Exodus too. Mike read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

@velkyn1

Жыл бұрын

@@elunico13 yep, christians can't agree on what nonsense they want to claim. Mike has to lie about what his bible actually says to avoid having an idiot for a god. "Paul interprets waaay differently that Mike Winger. Paul says in Romans 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It literally says God did it in Exodus too. Mike read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart."

@felixmeier3298

Жыл бұрын

Yes, God is the cause for that, but not the problem. God gave Pharaoh SO many oportunities, for a change of heart, to let the Israelites go, but Pharaoh didnt want to listen to the word of God. A man who sees a beautiful woman, might fall in love with her, but we wouldnt say its the womans fault, how the man feels... its mans nature, to find women attractiv. Its the same with Pharaoh, when God says, to let the Israelites go, he really doesnt want to hear that. Its clearly Pharaohs free choice to be against Gods will, because his heart rejects God, so he can have the Israelites for his own glory and not for the glory of God. God made us how we are, but its the ACTIONS we do or not do, that define us. Its clearly not the fault of God: Romans 9:19 One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”h 21Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use? Thats at least how i see it, what Paul is trying to say with his clay analogy.

@felixmeier3298

Жыл бұрын

@@velkyn1 Did God "harden" your heart too XD Will you say to us too, that God make you write this comment?! XD You clearly just hate God...

“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

@elunico13

Жыл бұрын

Right on. Paul interprets waaay differently than Mike Winger. Paul says in Romans 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It literally says God did it in Exodus too. Mike read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

@michaelbell4568

Жыл бұрын

Desire fully conceived turns into sin , sin full grown give birth to death. Trust me Mike’s interpretation is accurate.

@nadus7775

Жыл бұрын

Mike interpretation: human (Pharaoh) will is above God's will.

@YouTubehatesconservativespeech

Жыл бұрын

@@elunico13 When men use their free will to reject God, He turns them over to their sins and gives them what they want. God will even strengthen men in their rebellion as we see this in 2Thes 2:8-12er43e concerning the Anti-Christ. Here men refuse to accept the truth and therefore God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, but this is only after they willfully(on their own) reject the truth of the gospel.

@elunico13

Жыл бұрын

@@KZreadhatesconservativespeech Prove in scripture that man's free will is involved in their rebellion. Isiah the prophet and Paul disagree with you.

Thank you for the powerful explanation. I never heard it said this way and I totally agree with what you said. Was a big eye opener for me.

This is something that my theology professor in seminary pointed out and I'm actually going to be preaching on in a few weeks. I guess this goes back to that old saying, "A verse without context is a pretext for a proof text." I have a huge amount of respect for your careful interpretation of Scripture, and it is encouraging for me to know interpretation of this issue I have agrees with yours.

@xavierthomas5835

Жыл бұрын

That actually works against this passage though. Becauae the most important thing people fail to realize when they say that is that the whole Bible has to agree with that one passage or else everything falls apart. Case in point? How can God both cause something yo happen and only k ow about it when he plainly says that all things are in his hands? Did he forget the cause of all things in this? How can he have all power and yet fall short of why things happen? How can God say that is the cause lf all things in the earth if so many things are left up to interpretation of the people who deal with them? Also you do realize that God is REALLY doing these things? How put of control would things be if God actually, according to this rule, waited until people got to their "worst" before he finally decided to step in? Also the works of God don't change. As in, he never stops doing things the way he does them. He gave sacrifices in the old testament, he makes a new one himself in the new. He saves souls from death and hell in the old, he does it in the new. He destroys the world in the old, he destroys it in the new. He does things this way specifically so that people might know that he does not show favoritism to anyone or anything. Ever.

@elunico13

Жыл бұрын

Paul interprets waaay differently than Mike Winger. Paul says in Romans 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It literally says God did it in Exodus too. Mike read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

@oldschool5

Жыл бұрын

God hardened the heart of the Pharaoh so God could show his power by destroying Egypt. All that other stuff is just adding to the book. Exodus 10:1-2 (NLT) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them-and so you will know that I am the LORD.”

@jonathan4189

Жыл бұрын

@@oldschool5 yeah, that exact argument means god is an evil megalomaniacal murderer and psychopath.

@oldschool5

Жыл бұрын

@@jonathan4189 I could see why someone would say that about bible god or the authors who speaks on bible gods behalf

Thank you for simplifying this. I was so confused when I read the passages and now, I have a better understanding of what was happening during this time in the Bible.

Exodus 4:21 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.”

i'm scared i'm just like him.. I'm not sure i will be saved i can't stop delaying my salvation i'm scared to submit fully to Jesus.. Please pray for me

@destroyerofyorks

Жыл бұрын

Don't be afraid, just come to Him and everything will come into place. Following Him isn't easy, but what He wants is your heart. Praying for you

@cocoweepah

Жыл бұрын

Read : “The Craving Cure” by Julia Ross … and apply the info. and wisdom found there. Cheers !

@Hissatsu5

Жыл бұрын

I will pray for you

@ethanrichard4950

Жыл бұрын

I'll be praying. Just give your heart to Him. Follow Him. Repent and let Him lead your life. He won't steer you down a wrong path. Accept the truth of Jesus, that He loves you and saved you from your sins and wants a relationship with you, and it will bring joy.

@Glamst.447

Жыл бұрын

Don’t be afraid it’s the most amazing feeling in the world. People say it’s freedom before they know God because they can party lie and make bad choices, but trust me once you get to truly know him that is true freedom. Even on my bad days I try to rejoice and still be happy because of how happy my heart feels simply knowing that he is there with me through it all. Submitting to the Lord, brings you so much peace 🙏🏾🤗

I love that you have Yul Brenner representing Pharoah. “Moses. Moses. Moses” cracks me up every time!

"For this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that My Name may be proclaimed in all the earth." "But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." God Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart for His own established purpose. God's purpose is and was for the good of His chosen people, whom He Himself saves, whose hearts He Himself softens, who were dead in sin and were rebels against Him, whose heart He Himself changed and caused to live, just as He called light to shine out of darkness. As for Pharaoh, God's purpose was not to redeem him, nor to save him, but to use him to demonstrate His own power. God could have had mercy on Pharaoh and softened his rebellious heart, but God had not purposed to do so. As He said, "I will have mercy on whom I will, and I will have compassion on whom I will." And as it's also written, "He hardens whom He wills, and He has mercy on whom He wills." And as it's written, "He is able to humble the proud," and "His arm is not short, that it cannot save!" And "I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and will give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them." And "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." And "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing." And "No one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." And "You are my witnesses, and My Servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I AM HE." I hope this sheds light for whoever needs to understand this teaching. This used to give me trouble, because I knew that if my coming to Jesus had depended first on my own will, and not on His, then my very salvation was just as prone to change as I am. I know how often I harden my heart; I know that if God deals with me in the same manner as He dealt with Pharaoh or with Judas (which is His right to do), then I am a surely dead man. But God has not dealt that way with me, and will not - nor will He with any in Christ. The Christian's faith does not depend on the Christian, but on Christ! If God had not changed my heart and opened my eyes, I would still be a rebel against Christ. If my will were not in God's hand, I would have no hope that He is able to keep me. But He is able. He is able both to humble the proud and to preserve those who believe in Him. I can look at any number of times where, if it were dependent upon me, I would have abandoned the faith. But God, faithful and merciful, preserved my faith intact. He, not I. He, not I. And so it is that "of all the Father gives Me, I lose none, but raise it up on the last Day." And "No one can snatch them out of My Hand." And "Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." He makes the blind to see, and the deaf to hear, and the dead to live. "He is able to humble the proud." The Spirit gives life to whomever He wills, revealing who Christ is. If this still does not settle in your heart, please reflect on the contrast between God's dealings with Pharaoh (Exodus 1-15) and with Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4). "Those who walk in pride He is able to humble." And please consider the Lord's words to His friend Peter, saying "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." Therefore Peter's faith failed in human terms that very night, but not in God's eyes. Peter was preserved and restored, just as the Lord had said. I pray this is helpful to those who are struggling or in doubt.

@gospelfreak5828

Жыл бұрын

The verses you wuote do not go against a free will interpretation. You’re reading Calvinism into the texts instead of drawing it out

@BillHirsch1417

Жыл бұрын

PREACH God be the glory!

@MikejHamel

Жыл бұрын

I agree...many times I fell away and only because of Gods mercy HE pulled me back to Him. Every time, unequivocally it was Him. I praise my God for His kindness and mercies. If people want to put a calvinist label on me so be it. But that is part of my testimony or experience and no one can tell me any different because I experienced it. I don't label myself other then a child of the most high God, and a repentant sinner. Thank you for that post brother.

@FellishBeast

Жыл бұрын

Many of the verses you shared here are stating that God saves who He wishes. I don't think anyone disagrees. But who does God wish to save? He tells us in scripture: those who humbly repent and believe in Him are saved. You must determine in your own heart to follow the Lord. This is the most consistent message of scripture. He has graciously provided us the means to come to Him. He has done all the work. But if we don't accept the salvation He's provided in Christ, He will not force Himself upon us. Love is nothing if not freely given, and that is what God desires.

@Ryan-yf7mv

Жыл бұрын

@@FellishBeast Nope, that is synergism. God's salvific plan will not be limited by man. God saves the elect, those whom He foreknew would choose Him. That is clear from Scripture.

Exodus 10:1 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

Exodus 7:3 tells us that God hardened pharoah's heart.

Pastor Mike, respectfully, there was one part that was not mentioned. In Exodus 4:21, God is speaking with Moses and this is what he says "And the Lord said to Moses, 'When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." This is the first mention of Pharaoh's heart being hardened in Exodus and it's clear that the following times that Pharaoh's heart being hardened as "God had said" refers to this time. God's will and Pharaoh' s will worked together in this according to God's plan. God willed for Pharaoh to harden his heart because this was time God would establish the first feast that would point the Israelites to Jesus...the Passover.

@hollybooth6946

Жыл бұрын

Completely agree!!

@1rotbed

Жыл бұрын

I agree too. So God could destroy Pharoah’s army and demonstrate his power.

@williamlkeating6410

Жыл бұрын

God says He WILL harden pharaoh's heart. You are assuming Him telling Moses what He will do is the point He does it. You're also assuming Pharaoh didn't already harden his own heart. Not a great assumption for someone enslaving people.

@kimrobinson1735

Жыл бұрын

Fully agree. I also believe as many have already stated, Paul makes it clear in Romans 9:17-18 that God was indeed the ultimate and ACTIVE Agent (though not the only agent)in the hardening and had a specific purpose for doing so which was to demonstrate His Power which Paul follows by stating that God therefore has Mercy on whomever He chooses and hardends whomever He chooses which clearly portrays God as the Active agent. Which we know was indeed the case because Paul then says: "you will say to me then is there injustice on Gods part" which is the normal response we tend to have when we learn that God was indeed ACTIVE in the hardening process and even goes as far as to say: "you will say to me then for who can RESIST His Will" which again is a normal response when we concider it to have been Gods Will to harden. Also when we look at the entire chapter of Romans 9 wherein we find this specific statement regarding hardened hearts, it is used in the context of explaining predestination which I believe testifies to the true meaning of what happened in Pharoahs case. It seems to me that allot of Christians battle with this complex truth as I did as well and end up trying to dodge the bullet by saying God was not the active agent but instead merely "allowed" the hardening to take place on its own, which obviously would make God look "better" and would make us feel allot better too. But I do not believe God took credit for something Pharoah did by himself, it seems pretty clear that God, unashamed ,made sure everyone knew that He was indeed active in the hardening and it was indeed His Will to do so according to His ultimate plan and purpose. I think the confusion comes in where the human understanding fails to reach, which is this: Can it be possible for God to remain the ACTIVE agent WHILE we in our "free" will actively participate? I believe this question not only gives the answer to Gods right and ability to be active in the process, but is likewise a key to understanding our own salvation process.

@yhelyengbacquiao1087

Жыл бұрын

God knows that Pharaoh will harden his own heart and not release the people so God hardened his heart to show his power and greatness and release the people.

I never quite thought of it that way! The analogy you used about a kid asking his parents for something really opened my eyes on how God hardened his heart,and even Jesus speaking to the Pharisees. Fantastic teaching!

What a great explanation! I never thought of it that way. I love listening to you teach! You make things so easy to understand. Thanks Pastor Mike!

My husband has had so much trouble with these verses. Thank you for the teaching, I’m excited to share this with him.

This is so helpful and insightful! thank you Mike 🙏🏻

Your videos have helped me so much. Appreciate it mike and crew

Wow!!! It makes so much sense. Thank you for this shortened version of explaining. Love it!!!

I was just reading this and had the same question. Perfect timing.

@Weissguys6

Жыл бұрын

Me toooo! Crazy

@tiffanylopez6072

Жыл бұрын

me too!

@BobbiMac08

Жыл бұрын

I was just talking to my husband about it, yesterday!

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

nfortunately Winger did not accurately break this down…. He forgot to include key scripture! ERROR from Mike again…. Did God not specifically raise up Pharaoh and harden him (all acts being done by God) so that God could demonstrate His power and His name be proclaimed???? “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

@aldencole6714

Жыл бұрын

@@clayweir9020 Brother, I don't see how those verses conflict with what he was saying. God put Pharaoh in power, and Pharaoh rejected God and hardened his heart. God hardened Pharaoh's heart by showing Pharaoh his glory, and in so doing, demonstrated his power. Grace and Peace in Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thanks Mike! Great little mini lesson, it’s always helpful to hear how you think through topics like this and helps me use the techniques to move through other difficulties and issues!:)

Great Mike! I have been thinking about this. You provided the key! Thanks! Christ love! ✝️

Thank you, I wondered about this and I appreciate the deeper dive on this subject.

Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen had a great analogy on this point, he said “sunlight shining on wax softens it, but sunlight shining on clay hardens it. There is no difference in the sun, there is only a difference in that which receives its light” Moses’ heart was like wax, pharaoh’s heart was like clay

How convenient, I happen to be getting ready to teach a class on Moses and this is just the type of video that I was looking for. XD But on a serious note, God bless you Mike. Your videos are always so insightful, and I really do learn a lot from them.

@joanhoffmann7478

Жыл бұрын

If heart is Harden and truth is found and wants to repent but can not is there mercy for that person

@Cuhpri

Жыл бұрын

@@joanhoffmann7478 What do you mean? How can a person desire repentance but cannot repent? If you truly desire to repent then you will, and mercy will be granted.

@elunico13

Жыл бұрын

Paul interprets waaay differently than Mike Winger. Paul says in Romans 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It literally says God did it in Exodus too. Mike read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

@DA-yd2ny

Жыл бұрын

And your going to parrot to your class what Pastor Mike said? If you are a teacher do your own studies, man, and teach your students how to study for themselves!! how in the world can the church raise mature Christian if the teachers learn nothing else but parroting the wrong doctrine taught for generations before them? For your students sakes, stop relying on other pastors and do your own walking before teaching other!

@StickFiguresCO

Жыл бұрын

@@DA-yd2ny I never said I was gonna parrot what Mike said. I never even implied that. All I said was that this video was helpful to what I happen to need. Critical reading skills are low these days, it seems.....

I was actually reading 1 Kings 12 today and I was confused about whether Rehoboam really had a choice when he refused to listen to the elders and treat the people badly so that the kingdom could fall into Jeroboam's hands. But this cleared up a lot and confirmed what I was thinking where Rehoboam DID have a choice but because God understood his heart, God knew that he would refuse wise counsel and so he could make that promise to Jeroboam. Thanks again Mike.

"I came so that those who are blind may see and those who see may become blind" John 9:39 Mind blown how ignorant I was in my own religiosity thinking I had it all figured out, until Jesus sent a nightmarish storm to my life that lasted 10 years to break my pride forcing me to call out to Him and finally, in the midst of that storm He opened my eyes....and I didn't deserve it. I praise you Lord because I still remember the day I was born again.

Agreed, Pharaoh started the process with his free will, God honored his decision and finished the job.

@jasonnoble7302

Жыл бұрын

Did God create Satan knowing he would create evil ?

@timetravlin4450

Жыл бұрын

@@jasonnoble7302 yes. what satan intends for Evil God intends for good. Similarly stated in Genesis 50:20 God planned everything but the motives for God are different from the motives of the one doing the action.

@dudenotsoperfect9366

Жыл бұрын

But do we have free will before we believe? Or do we get free will because we believe?

@jasonnoble7302

Жыл бұрын

@@timetravlin4450 What does it mean to say a motive is good or evil ?

@jsbrads1

Жыл бұрын

@@dudenotsoperfect9366we have free will

I remember dealing with this, like, a year ago, so before I watch I'll put forth what I theorised: it's less that God reached into Pharaoh's heart to harden and more so that what he caused to happen in Egypt lead to Pharaoh hardening his heart. Even if it was God's intent to harden his heart, it was still Pharaoh's choice. Especially since at one point Pharaoh hardens his own heart.

@ceelothatmane9421

Жыл бұрын

I agree

@Kidsgettinghurt2024

Жыл бұрын

I love how everyone just makes things up when they have a question the bible cannot answer.

@CLDJ227

Жыл бұрын

​@Dominican Dude Or they are just breaking down what's already there in the text. Something that scholars have done for thousands of years. Have a blessed one.

@proverbs2522

Жыл бұрын

@@Kidsgettinghurt2024 This is what happened though. God doesn’t interfere in our free will but He does manipulate all of His creation to get a desired response. If I stump my toe I’ll be mad. I could choose to not be mad but chances are I’ll be mad. If a crow steals a 3 Karol diamond ring and drops it off in my windowsill I have the choice to keep it or find its owner. The choice is mine but the way it happened is God’s. God uses if/then and cause and effect scenarios to interfere and interact with us. But under no circumstances will God change our minds spontaneously. Why? Because He said so, and He doesn’t have to. Humans are so predictable.

@ceelothatmane9421

Жыл бұрын

@@proverbs2522 with you saying that I’m just now noticing that leads to further showing WHY God created our brains to be electrochemical machines. They’re easily programmable by nature and repetition. He knows what we’re thinking so he could easily influence our surroundings to affect our brain chemistry as a means of contorting our will. Which is, in part, probably why people feel some sort of euphoria when they have a conversion experience. Just a hypothesis. But it’s a nice thought to ponder on.

EXCELLENT explanation! This directly opened my eyes and allowed me to reconcile this once difficult passage. Thank you, Pastor Mike!

@niroshangovinder4042

5 күн бұрын

God definitely hardened Pharoah's heart. The difference is - God gives you freewill to love Him. Not necessarily freewill to do as you please. Not a blade of grass moves without His sanction. We are all instruments of God, even those against us, and thus, we cannot hate anyone, but the sin. Hare Krishna.

I’ve wondered about that. Almost stopped me from accepting Jesus as my Savior years ago. Thanks for addressing this.

Romans 9:17-18 NIV 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.

God bless you, Pastor Mike! Finally my question has been answered!

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately Winger did not accurately break this down…. He forgot to include key scripture! ERROR from Mike again…. Did God not specifically raise up Pharaoh and harden him (all acts being done by God) so that God could demonstrate His power and His name be proclaimed???? “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

@@andrea.andrea23 Only 2 of those verses assign the hardening to Pharaoh and both point out that he did so by sinning against God. Consider that all of those 7 verses come after Exodus 7:3 Where God lays out to Moses how He will Harden Pharaohs heart and lead Israel out! Then it happens just like that… Where Mike errs is in his understanding of How God hardens a heart. He does so by simply lifting His restraining hand! Romans 1 discusses multiple times that “God gave them over to their sin”! This an Act that God performs upon man! God hardens whomever He wishes! But you will then say to me “How can God then find fault, for who can resist His Will” But I say “Be quiet foolish man, who are you to council God?” 😉 “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

@daveyboy6985

Жыл бұрын

@@clayweir9020 you must be a calvanist.😏

@jasonnoble7302

Жыл бұрын

@@andrea.andrea23 Did God create Satan knowing he would create evil ?

@Samy-sx6kn

Жыл бұрын

@@andrea.andrea23 On its on is not written in any bible.

So good. Reading scripture in context ..what profound truths we can discover!

Amen this is so good! When God exposes darkness with His light.

@jasonnoble7302

Жыл бұрын

Did God create Satan knowing Satan would create darkness?

_''Therefore God has mercy on whom He WANTS to have mercy, and hardens whom He WANTS to harden''_ ~ Romans 9:10 l remember when l was a kid a LONG time ago watching The Ten Commandments, and if there anything that jumped out it was God hardening Pharaoh's heart. Can't get away from the Soverign will of God.

@susiedyck4914

Жыл бұрын

Romans 9:10 Paul is referencing from the old Testament. Very verse has witnesses. Can you put it in context as to why Paul was referencing this to the Israelites.

@janedoe3648

Жыл бұрын

The correct reference is *Romans 9:18

@reecesouza8307

Жыл бұрын

@@susiedyck4914 “in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬ He does it to the Jews as well as the Gentiles .

@theresa42213

Жыл бұрын

@@susiedyck4914 ~ He was talking about predestination. :)

@theresa42213

Жыл бұрын

@@janedoe3648 ~ Yes you are right that is a type err. :)

Yes heart hardening happens every day - my adult children know the truth but if I venture to talk about a truth in Christ relevant to what’s going on today the shutters come down and I stop because I don’t want them to shut down totally - even telling someone of a fantastic book whom you know would enjoy the response is resistance - I have to admit that’s been me too

@xavierthomas5835

Жыл бұрын

I believe that God allows certain things to happen for a reason. The reasons they refuse you are because they know not the Lord whom you serve. That's the same as refusing God. As Jesus said, he that accepts you accepts me. And he that refuses you, refuses me. And he that refuses me, refuses him that sent me.

I love the insight you have in this... thank you for sharing!!!

i love discussions like this; i've always wondered about this

Mike, I appreciate your content. Just wondering if you have considered Luther's Bondage of the will? I'm currently listening to it on audible and finding it quite informing

@rdrift1879

Жыл бұрын

Great book! I think Mike stands with Erasmus on this issue.

@levifig

Жыл бұрын

That is a fantastic book and incredibly eye-opening! And I agree with @rdrift1879 in thinking Mike likely stands with Erasmus on this… :\

@bkleck1

Жыл бұрын

@@rdrift1879 thanks for your reply. I am aware that is the case as I also once of the same opinion. Although I did not even know who Erasmus was. My question was to inquire if Mike has considered Luther's writing in this matter

this perspective is very helpful. this exact topic came up in my bible study last week, we were in John 12 at the quoting of Isaiah 6 and 53. But though He had done so many signs before them, they still were not believing in Him, so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, '“He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and return and I heal them .” John 12:37-40

@timffoster

Жыл бұрын

That's a quote of Isaiah 6, of course. Bear in mind that Isaiah was supposed to preach to people whom God had hardened/deafened/blinded, and their blindness was to continue until the return of the Messiah (see v 11-13). So that's either 750 years (until Jesus' first coming) or 2,750 and counting (until Jesus' Second Coming). Either way, God is hardening their hearts for a very long time. (See Rom 11)

@elunico13

Жыл бұрын

​@@timffoster Paul interprets waaay differently than Mike Winger. Paul says in Romans 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It literally says God did it in Exodus too. Mike read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

@timffoster

Жыл бұрын

@@elunico13 it's easy to think that God works in an either-or fashion. If we reflect on the fact that "in Him we live and move and have our being", we get closer to seeing that God AND Pharaoh hardened Pharaoh's heart. We see this in the last few verses of Ex 9 and the first few verses of ch 10. Its one heart-hardening episode, and both God and man are working together to harden his heart. But God is the Primary Cause. That's why the Bible always summarizes it as God hardening.

Thank you, I had been wondering about this!

That was an interesting perspective on this topic. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!

Amen. I picture a person going to his or her tool box to find the best tool to accomplish his/her job. Pharaoh became,through his own hardness, the perfect tool for God’s glory and judgment to be shown. (“Ok, Pharoah, you want to be hard? I WILL MAKE YOU HARD AND USE YOU!)What kind of tool will our hearts be in His hand & will?

@YouTubehatesconservativespeech

Жыл бұрын

Excellent analogy, Amen to that. Sadly the Calvinist cannot see that plain truth that men are in fact free to choose and God allows us to rebel and stay in that rebellion and He will use it for His purpose and glory.

@SavingSoulsMinistries

Жыл бұрын

My only issue is Scriptures that describe Gods power and sovereignty over his creation. We plant the seed yet GOD gives the increase… God is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our Faith.. I was a satanist for a decade … I was amongst the worse of the worse I would presume… yet God gave me abundant increase to the point where he was undeniable… why didn’t he do that to Mrs Stacy down the street who spends her time volunteering at a animal shelter and helping the homeless.. yet she never had the thought to look into scripture? Well God hasn’t given her the increase ? There are plenty of scriptures that entail the Saints being Chosen … people want to argue and say “I’m just smart enough to accept to Christ, Free will is in effect” yet you get a Stanford neuroscientist who is way smarter than I who will cleave to the idea that there is no existence of God whatsoever… God hasn’t given him the increase. I’m not a Calvinist.. I just believe in Scripture. Free willers want to Say God isn’t in Control of everything and it’s all up to them.. they’re the special boys!! I’m not willing to say that God is not in control of Everything!!

@maryowen1722

Жыл бұрын

@@SavingSoulsMinistries HE IS THE POTTER & we are the clay. His thoughts & ways are not ours. I’m just SO THANKFUL to be saved!! GOD continue to lead and mold and have His Way in us both.✝️💟🔥👑🙏🏼🙏🏼

Oh my goodness, I was wondering about this just hours ago!!

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately Winger did not accurately break this down…. He forgot to include key scripture! ERROR from Mike again…. Did God not specifically raise up Pharaoh and harden him (all acts being done by God) so that God could demonstrate His power and His name be proclaimed???? “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

@HopeKuhn

Жыл бұрын

@@clayweir9020 Please stop copying and pasting this response in the comments.

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

@@HopeKuhn please give me a biblical reason as to why? Error about God must be corrected, unless you desire to suppress the truth in unrighteousness?

@HopeKuhn

Жыл бұрын

@@clayweir9020 I’m a moderator, you’re spamming, that’s why I told you not to do that. Your opinions are fine, but engage in a better way.

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

@@HopeKuhn I only did it to 6 or 7 comments!!! And I hardly would consider that spamming as I am not peddling anything,,, just freely sharing the truth! In order for it to be spam, it must be unsolicited and random! I purposely chose to address each comment I responded to because they showed to have been led astray by Mike’s error on this video. If you are a moderator, perhaps you should be more focused on the error taught here instead of suppressing comments that are filled with the TRUTH!!! By the way, I was thankful Mike responded to my first comment but he just obfuscates by directing to another video and blames me for not understanding! 😳 I understood quite well what he was saying and it was wrong! There are over 200 comments on here that show this! I followed up to his comment but now he went dark! He must be okay with leading people astray! 🤷🏼

Thank you so much Mike that was a really good explanation of hardening hearts!!!

The sun melts butter, hardens clay; it is how WE react to His light: For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion In proportion to His abundant mercy. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of mankind. - Lamentations 3:31-33 God is NEVER malicious. Tough love is better than a soft ride to Hell. "The kindness and severity of God" (Rom 11:22).

Every time God showed mercy to Pharaoh, Pharaoh responded by hardening his heart

@katierucker2870

6 ай бұрын

Exactly! Like Mike said, God did not directly harden Pharaoh’s heart. Pharaoh hardened his own heart and God still miracles in pharaoh’s sight and still offered him mercy when Moses prayed for pharaoh. If we harden our hearts, God will give us over to a depraved mind and that’s what happened to pharaoh because he continually rejected God.

@rjones2000r

6 ай бұрын

@@katierucker2870 So when the bible says God hardened his heart and Pharaoh hardened his heart it's not a contradiction as some critics say because both are true

You forgot Exodus 4:21: 21 "And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son." it was pre-determined, pre-arranged that God would harden Pharoah's heart. "I will harden his heart" does not say he will not listen, he will harden his heart, no it's precise "I will". It Seems like you are taking the "I will" away from God's mouth brother. The passages that follow and that you mention CONFIRM what God has done, not go against it.

@stove2717

Жыл бұрын

That is an acceptable point, HOWEVER !!! Pharaoh already burdened Israel with major abominations like the genocide he committed upon them and the hard labor they were in. The Word does not say anything about God causing Pharaoh to do those things and yet we see the hardening that God said He would do upon Pharaoh to be a parallel to what Pharaoh already did ON HIS OWN. Therefore even if God did this we see that it is still a response parallel to Pharaoh’s heart condition that he had showed towards Israel prior to that point where God hardened his heart. You are correct in noticing that and it’s a very good observation, but we have to carefully guard this text from being yanked all the way to the extreme like the error of Calvinism’s systematic, by making sure we are seeing the whole picture, which you also helped us to do here.

Thank you I've actually been wondering about this piece of scripture

Thanks for answering a question I've had for most of my life.

Mike, I have had many dialogues with Christians over the years on the subject of Pharaoh and hardening of his heart. Folks say, well, Pharaoh hardened his own heart so God hardened his heart. That seems redundant. If Pharaoh hardened his own heart why is even necessary for God to harden his heart? I have yet to come across someone that has gone back before the actual events in Exodus and explained something very important. You need to look at Exodus 4:21 & 7:3 which are both prior to Moses going to Egypt to demand the release of the Hebrews. In these verses God definitively stated that He is the agent of Pharaoh's hardened heart prior to anything happening. I am certain that Paul is thinking about this precisely when he says the same in Romans 9:18.

@Vitamortis.

Жыл бұрын

God is eternal so if He made the judgment to harden Pharaoh's heart He was equally aware of it both when Moses was in the desert and when Moses was in Pharaoh's place. God knew equally that Pharaoh would harden his heart, before Pharaoh hardened his heart, and when Pharaoh hardened his heart.

@thomasfryxelius5526

Жыл бұрын

Hello! I think you might find Mike´s teaching on hardening very helpful then. The risk we have is that we take a term like "hardening" and think we understand it without looking at what the Bible says about it. When I studied the subject this is what I found in Bible about hardening: 1. It´s a judgement on already rebellious people. 2. You can still repent even if you are hardened (this is Pauls hope for his people Israel after they had been hardened, if they repent the veil will be removed) 3. Hardening as a word implies strengthening someone in their resolve, not changing their resolve. So Pharao was rebellious and God made Him more rebellious. 4. Hardening is done by external means. In the Bible, God is said to be hardening Israel by the use of Jesus´ parables. So the place where we know hardening is taking place and we know how it was affected, it was external. God knew Pharao was a proud man, so how do you think Pharao would respond to being ordered around by Moses, a shepherd? Or how do you think Pharao would respond to being humiliated by miracles that shows how powerless he is? "If Pharaoh hardened his own heart why is even necessary for God to harden his heart?" Moses tells him to let his people go, and Pharao is obstinate and hardhearted and will not. Then God strikes Egypt with miracles, and most people would now crumble and let them go, not from repentance, but from fear and terror. God now steps in and gives Pharao the resolve (courage of a sort) to keep resisting. This is what hardening as a word means, in many places the same word is translated as strengthen. Later Pharao follows the people to the Red Sea, and he sees the ocean open up before the israelites. Most people would give up in fear at this point. He wants to kill the israelites, but you would have to be mad to go into the sea at this point. So God hardens his heart, makes him even more stubborn and foolish and leads him to his destruction.

@Saratogan

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comments. I think that you miss the chronology of things and your thoughts don't harmonize with Romans 9. Also, your comment on the redundancy issue fails due to circular reasoning. Perhaps I was not clear in my point. God's hardening of Pharaoh is not redundant. It is prior to Pharaoh's personal hardening and is sovereign and immutable. What is the purpose of Pharaoh's hardening? Well we have a scripture that tells us why. YHWH says: "I will glorify myself in Pharaoh and in all his host...". God's "eternal power and divinity" (Romans 1) is made know to all mankind. BTW, I have listened to Mike for years and find him very helpful on many things although I disagree with him on soteriology. The Lord bless you today!

@thomasfryxelius5526

Жыл бұрын

@@Saratogan And may the Lord bless you brother! Greetings from Sweden, I hope you are well. I didn´t think you believed the hardening was redundant but I tried to explain how it is not redundant even on a free will view. I have studied Rom 9 a lot and I think this view fits very well, mostly since I see that Paul is making a parallell between hardened Israel in Jesus´ day and the hardening of Pharao. When Paul says God hardens whom He wants, who is he speaking about? His jewish people that rejected Jesus, right? And we know they were hardened for their sin, many texts say that, and we know they can still be saved if they repent as Paul says in Rom 11: 23 "And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again." "Also, your comment on the redundancy issue fails due to circular reasoning." Maybe it does, but I don´t see how that is. You would have to explain what you mean. "God's hardening of Pharaoh is not redundant. It is prior to Pharaoh's personal hardening and is sovereign and immutable." How do you know it is prior? What is prior in the text is the declaration that He will harden the heart of Pharao, future tense. As Mike shows, in the description, Pharao´s hardening of his own heart comes first, and God´s hardening comes later. And even so, we have no indication that Pharao´s heart was not already hard at this point. You also say it is sovereign and immutable. Where do you get that? What does it mean? God is sovereign and can do whatever He wishes, but where in the text itself does it claim this decision was unstoppable? As Stephen says in Acts, people resist God all the time. And is it immutable? It doesn´t say. But one thing we can know for certain is that Paul considered hardened israelites to be saveable. As he says: "But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." (2 cor 3:15-16) So being hardened does not mean it is impossible for you to repent.

@Saratogan

Жыл бұрын

@@thomasfryxelius5526 "How do you know it is prior? What is prior in the text is the declaration that He will harden the heart of Pharao, future tense. " As I stated in my first comment, the Bible student must look to Exodus 4:21 and 7:3&13 all of these events are BEFORE Moses went to Egypt and BEFORE we hear that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. It was already in the Divine plan. YHWH relays it to Moses so that he will not be discouraged when Pharaoh is so difficult and refuses to let the Hebrews go. The point is everyone on the Arminian side of the discussion starts with Pharaoh and his personal hardening of his heart. Those of us on the Divine sovereignty side start farther back when the Divine plan is disclosed to Moses. YHWH says "I WILL (future tense) harden Pharaoh's heart." Exodus 4:21; 7:3. I hope that this helps you understand the perspective. BTW, I do understand your perspective as I used to hold it. 🙂 Maranatha!

I came here to enjoy the tap dancing, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was a gymnastics meet instead. Gold medal!

Mike, thanks for making this an actual clip! This is such an important topic for people who've been pulled into more Calvinistic teaching. I'm really glad you covered it, and put it into a short clip that can be shared easily. I really went down that rabbit hole for several years. And I was kind of ...not sure how to say it, other than major cognitive dissonance. Huge implications for the nature of God, in my opinion. Thanks, as always!

On my Watch Later list. I love your thumbnail! The 10 Commandments was an epic movie for its time. It's still my favorite version.

I like your interpretation of this subject. I always had a hard time understanding why God wouldn't give Pharaoh a chance to choose him.

@FRN2013

Жыл бұрын

Sunlight softens butter but hardens clay. God was doing the right thing. Pharaoh chose to be clay.

@michaelpark5764

Жыл бұрын

Pharoah never wanted to choose God in the first place. It's not that Pharoah wanted to free the Israelites and God made him harden his heart. Pharoah wanted to keep the Israelites, that was what his desire was.

@FRN2013

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelpark5764 indeed.

@timffoster

Жыл бұрын

God's desire was not for Pharaoh to choose Him or for Pharaoh to be forgiven. God's desire was to show He was superior to Pharaoh and his gods, and destroy them all. [+] And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart ***so that*** he will not let the people go. “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My first-born. “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go, that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your first-born.”’” (Exod 4:21-23) [+]‘For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments-I am the LORD. (Exod 12:12)

@FRN2013

Жыл бұрын

Right, Tim. God FOREKNEW that Pharaoh would choose to fight him. God used his foreknowledge to accomplish his will: to destroy Pharaoh.

I agree, Mike. We should always put the onus on ourselves rather than passing it off to God. Yes, we can't do anything without God's grace; it is what we all require, but God says that He gives His grace _to the humble,_ yet He opposes the proud. The Bible says "humble YOURSELVES under the mighty hand of God" and then in response to us humbling OURSELVES, God promises to lift us up. ✝👑📕

Thank you Mike. Your teachings have really blessed me. Monitors thank you for your work. Please review a post from “Larry” around 4am today. Thanks

@bufficliff8978

Жыл бұрын

Moderators are unable to know what time something was posted and would have to scroll through every comment to find someone of a particular name. If you have a concern with a post you can report it to KZread yourself by clicking the three dots on the right side of the comment and selecting the appropriate offense.

I have been in situations where someone is against me so when i pray that same person and suddenly they change. So God can change someone's heart it's not impossible he can do it. I myself came to repentance but i still needed God to help me to change my heart because it's not easy.

Recently, the psychologist Jordan Peterson gathered a bunch of scholars to have a deep discussion on the book of Exodus. One of those was Dennis Prager, (though I know him more for his political work than for scholarship) who is a practicing Jew. When they came to this passage in their discussion, he had an interesting insight that I'll try to paraphrase here. If I recall correctly, I believe he said that the Hebrew word used for "harden" could also be interpreted as "strengthen," and that his interpretation of this passage is that God strengthens Pharaoh's resolve. Basically, rather than being moved by the plagues as they happened and having God twist his arm, Pharaoh's heart was 'hardened,' or 'strengthened,' so that he would be more likely to do the thing he actually wanted to do. By hardening his heart in such a way, God was emphasizing Pharaoh's free will and making the plagues less of a coercive influence in his decision-making.

@timffoster

Жыл бұрын

This explanation doesn't fly because Pharaoh repented twice, yet God still hardened Pharaoh's heart so that Pharaoh would disobey God. If the 'strengthening' theory was true, then God would have helped Pharaoh repent. And He didn't. God's desire was not for Pharaoh to choose Him or for Pharaoh to be forgiven. God's stated desire was to show He was superior to Pharaoh and his gods, and destroy them all. [+] And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart ***so that*** he will not let the people go. “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My first-born. “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go, that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your first-born.”’” (Exod 4:21-23) [+]But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. (Exod 9:16) [+]‘For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments-I am the LORD. (Exod 12:12)

@labae8728

Жыл бұрын

Hmmm both comments are interesting

@theeternalsbeliever1779

Жыл бұрын

This explanation ignores all of the passages that shows God telling Moses that He would harden the Pharaoh's heart, so using Dennis Prager's commentary on Exodus is suspect at best. As an Orthodox Jew, Prager's commentary relies heavily on man-made traditions nd interpretations that require him to ignore what the Bible actually says.

There is another good way to understand this. Another meaning of harden is to strengthen. So in this case Pharaoh wanted to oppose God and had numerous times “fortified” his own heart. As it became painfully obvious that God was all powerful this could have resulted in Pharaoh relenting out of fear alone. In order to fully display his power and visit justified punishment against Egypt collectively. God gave Pharaoh courage to continue doing what he wanted to do. A beautiful example of God working out his plan while leaving man’s free will in tact.

@hollybooth6946

Жыл бұрын

This is what RC Sproul and a lot of other reformed folk believe! 😊

@timffoster

Жыл бұрын

I don't think this flies. When Pharaoh repented twice, God still hardened his heart. Basically, the kitchen got too hot for Pharaoh, but God dragged him back in. God didn't help Pharaoh repent at all. Because Pharaoh's repenting was not God's objective. Destroying Pharaoh's gods and Pharaoh's son was His objective. He says so even before the conflicts started: [+]And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart ***so that*** he will not let the people go. “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My first-born. “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go, that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your first-born.”’” (Exod 4:21-23)

@oldschool5

Жыл бұрын

Exodus 7:3-5 (NLT) But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces-my people, the Israelites-from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” Exodus 10:1-2 (NLT) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them-and so you will know that I am the LORD.”

@theeternalsbeliever1779

Жыл бұрын

Pharaoh himself said "who is [the Eternal] that i should obey His voice to let Israel go? _I do not know [the Eternal]_ , nor will i let Israel go." The inherent problem with this argument is that Pharaoh admitted that he didn't know God, so it is illogical to argue that his intent was to willfully oppose God from the start.

“And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬ It definitely says somebody hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

This is a really great explanation! Thank you.

Let me end this discussion with one verse. EXODUS 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. Before Pharaoh even heard the words let my people go God had decided he would harden his heart. This concept makes people uncomfortable

@Lanaioahu

4 ай бұрын

Wrong. It makes Calvinists arrogant.

Love your content, keep doing the Lords work!

@DiggitySlice

Жыл бұрын

Kindness isn't avoiding criticism

Perfect MIke, you nailed it exactly. Well done. Thanks

Excellent explanation of how pharaohs heart grew hard. Thank you thank you thank you. Love the thumbnail.👍😊

Free will doesn't really exist in the first place.

@Vitamortis.

Жыл бұрын

thats a slicey statement

@ayybeealternative1999

Жыл бұрын

Yep.

Yes, of course, Pharoah had free will. ❤❤❤ It’s so human of us to presume that God’s thoughts are the limited understanding that WE have.

@YouTubehatesconservativespeech

Жыл бұрын

If we did not have free will then there is no reason to praise or punish anyone. Sadly the Calvinist do not understand that simple logic men are chosen but free.

@ShepherdMinistry

Жыл бұрын

@@KZreadhatesconservativespeech Calvinism, that is confessional based, does not deny free will.

@Andrew_the_Worthy_Shield

Жыл бұрын

​@@ShepherdMinistry Not blatantly, but it does. If you don't believe me, take it up with McArthur, Bachmann, Sproul, Piper, White, and Pink.

@kellyhudspeth1736

Жыл бұрын

@@ShepherdMinistry thanks for commenting. Can you explain the Calvinist doctrine of predestination in that context? That is something I have always pondered.

@ShepherdMinistry

Жыл бұрын

@@Andrew_the_Worthy_Shield I’m not speaking of any men, I’m speaking of the confessions these men get Calvinism from. However, MacArthur does believe in free will he just doesn’t claim to understand how it works with Gods sovereignty.

Except God tells Moses he will harden Pharoahs heart and then explains why he will do this

Good insight. I've always understood that God hardened Pharaoh's heart by turning away from him, but your take on it makes more sense.

I have thought long and hard about this. It's been a struggle for me when understanding the character and nature of God. I'm glad to find someone cover this seriously and not just hand wave it away

Duh, we all have free will

@williamdunhan341

Жыл бұрын

You'd think "duh" but a growing amount don't believe in Free Will. Which is ironic, because they freely will themselves to believe that.

@ayybeealternative1999

Жыл бұрын

Free will doesn't exist if you have to threaten your creation with eternal torment.

@ennuiblu

Жыл бұрын

​@@ayybeealternative1999Eternity separated from God IS eternal torment. People choose separation when they reject Him. He didn't threatened us. He warned us AND provided an escape. But ppl still choose to not follow Him and He allows it. Free Will.

@TheTenCentStory

Жыл бұрын

@@ennuiblu Exactly, to think that one choice is positive and the opposite is negative means you don't have a choice is simply bad logic. The same in life. If you choose to do unhealthy activities and become unhealthy, you choose to be this way. Don't tell your doctor that "you threatened me with torment because I had to eat my vegetables." Life and the afterlife have responsibilities and you have to account for your actions.

@ayybeealternative1999

Жыл бұрын

@@ennuiblu He knows everyone who will rebel against him. God creates people he know will rebel against him.

Thank you for always reminding us that context is King.

@oldschool5

Жыл бұрын

Explain this: Exodus 10:1-2 (NLT) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them-and so you will know that I am the LORD.” Exodus 7:3-5 (NLT) But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces-my people, the Israelites-from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”

Thank you for clarifying this

Uh oh, you're gonna need a disclaimer warning for Calvinists on this one! 😄 That was good, thanks Mike! I came to the same sort of conclusion this king this one over in the past.

@Laugical

Жыл бұрын

The Calvinists were predetermined to watch the video with or without the disclaimer anyway ;D

@unkwn6

Жыл бұрын

Mike and IP are two of my favorite non-Calvinist Christian KZreadrs. I respect the ministry and what God is doing through them. Obviously as a reformed Christian I love this passage 😂, but loved hearing Mikes take on this. Good stuff as always.

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately Winger did not accurately break this down…. He forgot to include key scripture! ERROR from Mike again…. Did God not specifically raise up Pharaoh and harden him (all acts being done by God) so that God could demonstrate His power and His name be proclaimed???? “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

@clayweir9020

Жыл бұрын

@@LaugicalThe Calvinist has arrived to expose the Error Winger has presented. No need to worry, we are always close by to correct biblical illiteracy and contend for the Truth! 😉

@hollybooth6946

Жыл бұрын

Hi! As a Calvinist, this is what we believe about this: RC Sproul taught that God hardened pharaohs heart, not by actively making pharaohs heart hard when it wasn’t before, but by simply strengthening pharaohs will. God does not make pharaoh act contrary to his will, but rather gives him the courage to do what he has already chosen to do. It is clear that God used pharaoh to accomplish His plan which was to show His power that they may know that Yahweh is God, yet pharaoh is still 100% guilty of his sin. God could have had mercy on Pharaoh, but He didn’t, which is what Paul is speaking about in Romans 9. God used pharaohs hard heart for His own glory to demonstrate His wrath and make His power known (Rom 9:22). And then He shows His mercy on those who believe (Rom 9:23), all for His glory! If God would have had mercy on Pharaoh, Gods wrath and power wouldn’t have been made known to Egypt and Israel. 🙂

Sorry brother... God raised him up for this purpose...anything else is reading in to the scripture Rom 9:17 "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I RAISED THEE UP, that I might shew my power IN THEE, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom HE WILL he HARDENETH.

@MikeWinger

Жыл бұрын

That’s completely consistent with my view.

@BrianHoeche

Жыл бұрын

@@MikeWinger okay sorry bro 😆...

@TheDSMIVTR

Жыл бұрын

Yep. God raises kings and kingdoms. And did harden Pharaoh's heart - by giving him over to what he wanted.

Romans 9:17,18 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.”[g] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

My wife is one of the six Cherubs that brought about the Plagues Of Egypt. That song from Prince Of Egypt is her song. Also in Exodus Gods and Kings you see Akhenaten , who was Moses and posessed vast Cosmic Power bargaining with God's representitive, her. Who can forget that.

😂 Who hardened Pharaoh's heart? God. There's no way around it within the mythology.

@noahcole6856

5 ай бұрын

What

@joelschama1735

5 ай бұрын

@@noahcole6856 If you read the Bible, Pharaoh was willing to set free the Israelites but to make a show of power god hardened his heart so that Pharaoh didn't want to free them until god stepped in and freed them in some insane show of a power play. Of course it didn't actually occur because there was no Exodus.

@noahcole6856

5 ай бұрын

@@joelschama1735 where does it say pharaoh was willing to let God’s people go?

@joelschama1735

5 ай бұрын

@@noahcole6856 1. Exodus chpt. 1 " Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land." Get them up out of this land... That is, to let them go. Moreover, why would god need to "harden his heart" if he wasn't going to let them go. That would be nonsensical and ludicrous. Yet here it is: "Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. Exod.7 [3] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. [13] And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. [14] And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go." You really should familiarize yourself with the Bible rather than asking others to do your homework.

@joelschama1735

5 ай бұрын

@@noahcole6856 God wouldn't need to.harden his heart of he WASN'T already go to set them free (see Exodus 1). "[3] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. [13] And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. [14] And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go."

I never thought to think about it this way!

Love your videos Mike. I wish everyone would take a look at an interview Frank Turek did with Dr. Titus Kennedy on this. He (Kennedy) is a biblical archaeologist who believes that the “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart has more to do with the Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife and the weighing of a kings heart to see if he is worthy of paradise. Total eye opener.

Thank you for this. I always wonder how and you beautifully explained it.

@SavingSoulsMinistries

Жыл бұрын

My only issue is Scriptures that describe Gods power and sovereignty over his creation. We plant the seed yet GOD gives the increase… God is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our Faith.. I was a satanist for a decade … I was amongst the worse of the worse I would presume… yet God gave me abundant increase to the point where he was undeniable… why didn’t he do that to Mrs Stacy down the street who spends her time volunteering at a animal shelter and helping the homeless.. yet she never had the thought to look into scripture? Well God hasn’t given her the increase ? There are plenty of scriptures that entail the Saints being Chosen … people want to argue and say “I’m just smart enough to accept to Christ, Free will is in effect” yet you get a Stanford neuroscientist who is way smarter than I who will cleave to the idea that there is no existence of God whatsoever… God hasn’t given him the increase. I’m not a Calvinist.. I just believe in Scripture. Free willers want to Say God isn’t in Control of everything and it’s all up to them.. they’re the special boys!! I’m not willing to say that God is not in control of Everything!!

God hardened Pharoah’s heart according to His plan and purpose. “The Lord instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he won’t let the people go.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

@oldschool5

Жыл бұрын

Exodus 7:3-5 (NLT) But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces-my people, the Israelites-from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” Exodus 10:1-2 (NLT) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them-and so you will know that I am the LORD.”

I believe so, yes. Just because we want something and don't do it doesn't mean we didn't have the choice, we don't have the will. Pharaoh wanted it, he just didn't have the balls. Like Jesus said, "if you've done it in your heart, in the spiritual, you've done it for real."(paraphrased) God simply gave him the fortification of will to do his heart's desire. If it were for God, it could've been the other way. In fear of losing his power, it did the opposite and he selfishly served his ego and the spirit that dwelt within him.

Mike. This one is gold!! Thank you!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Amen! It’s so critical to examine Scripture in context of the rest of Scripture.

”And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.“ ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬, Praise The Lord!

Great interpretation! Thank you for sharing!

I like how one point this is and no time is wasted

Thank you! I learned something new.

I could be wrong, But whenever I read this passage, I interpreted it as not an "action" of hardening pharaohs heart. But the "Reason". How when God said "I will harden the heart." It was because pharaoh was constantly dealing with Aaron and Moses, and his heart grew hard, the reason behind it was God. So when his heart was Hardened, pharaoh did it himself, because he was sick of God.

I read this recently and finally understood. Matt 13:15 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' NKJV

That's a great way to look at it!

It came to me years ago. Pharaoh heart grew hard. in todays terms ( disobey God). The final hardening of pharaoh by God was to prevent him from repentance. God is a forgiving God. And forgive all. However, if you're not allowed to repent , you're damned. This is to say, you can continue to disobey God, knowing if you decide to repent, you'll be forgiven. But they don't teach you. There comes a time when your heart would reject any desire to pray or repent. Thats when God has hardened your heart.