Question: If the Lord gives us free will and wants us to make the choice to follow Him – then why does Exodus state that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not listen to Moses? And why would He pass judgment upon Egypt when He made it so that Pharaoh would not listen?  (Exodus 7:3–4)

This question strikes at the heart at one of the most controversial topics that the church is facing today. It is the battle between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. This is a topic that will not be resolved until heaven because we see a holy tension in scripture between these two ideas. We see that God does elect people, but he also gives man a free will to choose. The debate seems to be which has the greater influence the sovereignty of God or the free will of man. I truly believe that the issue is not which one is greater, but that they both exist together and they must be in balance. I would encourage anyone who is wrestling with this topic to read the book “Chosen but Free” by Norman Geisler, this covers the topic very well and helps embrace the tension between these two biblical truths. Even though that is not your question and I seem to have a chased rabbit here, it is the basis for the question.

When we are looking at a confusing question in scripture we need to take into account the entire scope of what scripture says on this topic. What we have in Exodus is this: God says at the beginning that he will harden Pharaoh's heart (Ex 4:21, 7:4-5). The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is then described in several different ways:

•                Pharaoh's heart became hard (Ex 7:13, 23)

•                Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex 8:15, 32)

•                God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex 9:7, 10:20)

So it was more than just God hardening pharaoh’s heart, we see that pharaoh also hardened his own heart. So the question becomes how does this all fit together. In interpreting these texts as clearly as possible we need to take into consideration the use of language. In his work on biblical languages and figures of speech E.W. Bullinger listed several ways that the Hebrew and Greek language used active verbs to mean something other than their strict literal usage. One of the ways that active verbs  “were used by the Hebrews to express, not the doing of the thing, but the permission of the thing which the agent is said to do” (p. 823, emp. in orig.). In Hebrew sometimes-active verbs can be used not to express direct action but permission. This can be seen in several other passages. (Jeremiah 4:10-states God deceived his people-translated-God allowed his people to be deceived. Ezekiel 14:9-I have deceived the prophet-translated-I have allowed the prophet to be deceived) This explanation helps clarify the question of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. When the text says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, it means that God would permit or allow Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened.

We must also consider God’s foreknowledge. In Romans 8 we discover that God has used his foreknowledge to know who will and wont’ accept him as Lord and Savior. God is in no way bound by time or space so he can see who will say yes to Him and who will say no. So God knew in advance that Pharaoh would not believe and release the children of Israel. This is what he said to Moses in Exodus 3:19.

 “And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.”

So we can see that God knew in advance that pharaoh would not let his people go, long before he mentioned anything to Moses about hardening pharaoh’s heart.

We must also understand God’s purpose in the way that he delivered his people out of Egypt. God said himself in the book of Exodus that several things would happen when he delivered his people. In Exodus 3:20-22 God made his purposes clear.

1. That he would show his mighty works and there would be no question that he was the one and only God. What is amazing if you study the gods of Egypt each one was associated to one of the 10 plagues that were exacted upon the nation of Egypt. In each plague they would pray to their gods in a hope that the plague would be removed. When no answer came and it was only at the word of Moses that the plagues ended they knew that Israel’s God was the one true God.
2. That Israel would leave without lifting a sword. The Egyptians would ask them to leave.
3. That Israel would plunder Egypt. The Egyptians would willing and freely give Israel what they asked for just so the Jews would leave their country.

You see God did all of this to convince the Egyptians that he was the one true God so they could turn from their idol worship and have a chance to believe. That chance came in the last plague when God commanded that the blood of a lamb cover the doorpost of each home that believed in him. The Egyptians had to know at that point that the God of Israel was the one true God. For them to continue to follow their own false Gods was doing exactly what Pharaoh had done hardening their own hearts through disbelief.  Homes that did not believe did not cover their doorposts with blood and as the death angel passed over Egypt those who were not covered by the blood of the lamb were judged and the first born died in that home. This had nothing to do with nationality but belief.

The same model happens today. God’s desire is for none to perish but for all to believe. He became the lamb on the cross that was slain to take away the sin of all mankind. The only way to escape the death penalty on our lives is to put our faith in Jesus the Lamb of God. It is his blood that cleanses us from our sin and when we face death it passes over our lives and we enter into eternity our promised land.

What does Scripture say about eternal security?

This is an excellent question and one that many people wrestle with at some point during their Christian walk. Many people like myself were raised in a home and a church that taught eternal security, and it is part of their belief system. However, at the same time many struggle with knowing what the Bible says about this doctrine. So let’s look at some of the basic scriptures that support the promise of eternal security.

Jesus Christ clearly expressed his heart in the most famous verse John 3:16.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Notice God is the one that is making an offer of a gift of eternal life. One of the key words is “eternal”, this word means never ending. Much of our confusion concerning eternal security actually begins with our concepts of salvation. Many people are under the impression that we have something to do with our salvation experience. The truth is salvation rests upon the completed work of Jesus Christ. It is His sacrifice that has made the way for all of men to be redeemed. (Ephesians 1:4-6, 10-12) When Jesus died on the cross his death fully satisfied the laws requirement for a payment for man’s sin. You must accept the reality that you had nothing to do with salvation it was purely a loving act of a merciful God. It is a gift of God not of any work that you have done or could ever do to earn. Therefore, since you had nothing to do with obtaining salvation you have nothing to do with losing salvation. Salvation rests in the hand of God. Jesus actually assured us that there is no safer place than God’s hand in John 10.

John 10:27-30

New International Version (NIV)

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of eternal security in these verses. Picture with me the hand of God, when you believed you were placed in the hand of God and he closed his hand around your life. Then around the fathers hand is Jesus hand. Now in this example who is holding on to whom? Notice God is holding on to you, you are not holding on to God. Many people picture their relationship with God to be them hanging on to God’s finger with all their might and if they are careless or sinful enough that they can let go and the relationship is severed. You see just the opposite is true God is holding on to you and he promises that he will let nothing separate you from his grip.

Romans 8:38-39

New International Version (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Notice the emphasis nothing in all of creation can separate you from Gods’ love, stop and consider that verse for a second there is only one person who is not created and that is God himself. He is telling us that nothing that has been created can remove you from his Hand.

To help us know that we are saved God has given us a witness concerning our salvation, the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

This passage tells us two very important truths that we need to know concerning the Holy Spirit. He is our seal-The word seal is a very unique word taken from History it was an official mark of Identification that was placed upon a letter, document or other important Item. The seal stated that whatever was sealed was now under the authority of the person to whom the signet ring belonged. Notice in this passage when you believed-the moment that you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s seal guarantees certain things to the believer

a)            Security-The seal was a source of security that was to never be violated

b)            Authenticity-This seal means that we are a member of God’s family

c)             Ownership-We become God’s possession and entirely and eternally belong to God

This passage also says that the Holy Spirit is a deposit- a Down payment -The first installment. One of the best examples we have today is that of layaway. You put an item aside and make an initial payment with the intention of paying it off and redeeming it at the proper time. This payment was not the end but it was the beginning there are more payments to come. When the down payment is made there is only one question, “will the buyer have enough money to make the final payment”?

 Now in relation to the Spirit being the down payment for us many people think I cannot make the payments to complete my salvation, since when does the item on layaway pay for itself? So the only question is can God afford to redeem me? The good news is that the funds to redeem you have already been provided.  Do you remember Jesus final words on the cross “It is finished”. That phrase in Greek is “tetelasti” it is defined as “Paid in full”. Jesus paid the entire price on the cross to fully redeem you nothing else is owed. Your sin debt is paid in full. You have been redeemed the transaction is complete the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that your future is now secure in Christ.

If you have truly believed in Jesus Christ you can rest in the truth that you belong to Him and nothing can separate you.

For further information you can go to eagleheightschurch.net and listen to the January 8^th sermon entitled the “Security of the Spirit”.

Dear EHC Members
This blog has been created to help you answer any questions that may arise as you lead your families in family devotions. If you are asked a question that you cannot answer feel free to email me and I will do my best to answer your question on this blog. I will be posting weekly so please be patient as I work to make sure your question gets answered. God bless you as you lead your family in a weekly worship service in your home.

Brad S. Davis