In Exodus, does God's partisanship for Israel and purposeful hardening of Pharaoh's heart leave him best described as just, merciful, or vengeful?
In Exodus, does God's partisanship for Israel and purposeful hardening of Pharaoh's heart leave him best described as just, merciful, or vengeful?
Possibly, or maybe not.
Voices mysterious far and near,
Sound of the wind and sound of the sea,
Are calling and whispering in my ear,
Whifflingpin! Why stayest thou here?
Vengeful, odious, bellicose, separatist, racist, imperialist, bloody and selfish, yes that is the God of all revealed scriptures.Originally Posted by isotopez
"The farther he goes the more good it does me. I don’t want philosophies, tracts, dogmas, creeds, ways out, truths, answers, nothing from the bargain basement. He is the most courageous, remorseless writer going and the more he grinds my nose in the sh1t the more I am grateful to him..."
-- Harold Pinter on Samuel Beckett
This was written in Romans 9:22-23 in part reference to Pharaoh
"What if God willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto"
We can see that people within the Old Testament that God executed judgement upon, received such only after a probationary period of mercy had run it's course. In reference again to the Exodus God is speaking to Abraham in Genesis 15:16
"But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full"
So here there is a waiting period and period of mercy whereby if the course of sin is not abated then God will pass judgement upon those who will not live justly.
"And also that nation whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance" Gen 15:14
"just and true are thy ways thou king of saints"
He was being faithful to His promise to Abraham over 400 years ago. The Isrealites were His people, with whom he had a bonding promise, so hardening Pharaoh's heart was a means of saving those he loved when the time was right.
Touché!
I might be repeating somethings already said, but here goes--
Was God partisan in his dealing with the Israelites?
No, He chose them when they were nothing, had nothing to offer. He made the promise to Abraham to make him a great nation and give him the land of Canaan, but the greater promise was that the Savior of the world would come through his line ("all nations will be blessed through you"). An undeserved act of favor intertwined the line of the Savior with the nation of Israel. Therefore anything that threated to destroy the nation, threatened God's plan to rescue and forgiven sinners. (Also, God was not blind. He knew his nation was a sinful one. He taught, warned and even disciplined them so that they wouldn't destroy themselves and the promise they carried.)
Okay: What about Pharaoh? Did God treat him with justice, vengefulness or mercy?
Well, first remember that God gave him so many chances. "Let my people go!" "No!" <plague> "Okay, Okay! Go!" <pause> "Wait, you can't go!" Read the account. Each time it says "Pharaoh hardened his heart" Pharaoh, in spite of seeing the very real power of God, despite knowing with whom he was dealing, repeatedly refused to change. Finally, the change happens, "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" God no longer gave Pharaoh a choice. Just? Yes. Patient? Yes.
Remember why all this happened--The entire world was made of sinners, people who didn't love God or do what was pleasing to him. They all deserved (as we all still do) to perish on earth and suffer in hell. BUT, God is merciful and choose to send his Son. His Son would live a life of obedience in our place and suffer the torment of hell in our place so that we might have a right relationship with God. Pharaoh was standing in the way. Pharaoh was threatening the souls of millions, billions. God's actions were merciful, because they insured the salvation which the world needed (needs).
"The entire world was made of sinners, people who didn't love God or do what was pleasing to him. They all deserved (as we all still do) to perish on earth and suffer in hell. BUT, God is merciful and choose to send his Son. His Son would live a life of obedience in our place and suffer the torment of hell in our place so that we might have a right relationship with God. Pharaoh was standing in the way. Pharaoh was threatening the souls of millions, billions. God's actions were merciful, because they insured the salvation which the world needed (needs)."
Bah. To suggest that Pharoah was standing in the way of God and threatening the souls of millions is just laughable. There was absolutely nothing to stop god from snuffing Pharoah, rather than an the firstborn of Egypt, if He had so chosen - nothing to stop Him from losing Pharoah's army in a fog, rather than drowning them in the sea, if He had wished to be merciful - nothing to have prevented Him from becoming incarnate in the first year of Ramses the Great, rather than in the fourth year of Augustus, if it had pleased Him to do so.
Is the Almighty to be called "just" if he says "Do as I say or I'll slay your innocent children?" No
Is the Ancient of Days to be called "patient" if He cannot not wait a generation or ten of human lives? No.
Is the description of God given in this story credible? Absolutely not.
Voices mysterious far and near,
Sound of the wind and sound of the sea,
Are calling and whispering in my ear,
Whifflingpin! Why stayest thou here?
``They all deserved (as we all still do) to perish on earth and suffer in hell.``
That's what I call unadulterated hate.
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