Did Pharaoh Have a Choice?
Listen to today’s passage – Exodus 7 – 9
Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 7
Second Milers also read – Mark 15 – 16; Proverbs 22; Psalms 106 – 110
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Proverbs 27:15
Read the “0122 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “Sin Stinks“
The Biblical Tension
“And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.” (Exodus 3:19)
“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.“ (Exodus 7:3)
“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 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. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.“ (Romans 9:14-18)
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Common Views in the Debate
I have listed a lot of verses above that are important for our discussion this morning regarding whether or not Pharaoh had a choice when he refused to let the children of Israel leave the land of Egypt. There are many more verses that could be used by either side of the argument, but I will use these just to start the discussion. It is my firm belief that Pharaoh acted according to his own free will when his heart was hardened, whether or not the Scripture states that it was hardened by God, or that he himself hardened his heart. Theologians on the other side of this argument would almost have us to believe that Pharaoh’s personal desire was to convert to Judaism (or volunteer to be the Sunday school superintendent), but God forced him against his will to oppose Moses and the Nation of Israel. Please do not misunderstand, I am not saying that God did not work in Pharaoh’s heart in order to achieve His goal of glorifying Himself in the sight of both His people and in the eyes of the Egyptians. However, God had a very willing participant. Pharaoh had already rejected God:
“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)
My Take: Pharaoh’s Initial Rejection + God’s Foreknowledge
I firmly believe that God wants all men to be saved, and he desires all men to serve and glorify Him, but He also has given man the free will to make his own choice about that. God did not create a bunch of robots that do exactly what He wants at all times. It wasn’t God that caused Satan to rebel against Him, and it wasn’t God’s manipulation that forced Adam and Eve’s choice either. Does God know who will be saved? Absolutely! But, He doesn’t make that choice for them. Pharaoh had already made his mind up about God and His people, Israel, and God knew that there was nothing that would change Pharaoh’s will about that. So, God used Pharaoh to help Him achieve His (God’s) goal. God is big enough and sovereign enough to use both the saved and the lost (and the myriad of free-will choices that they make) to achieve His purposes.
God’s Sovereignty and Our Responsibility Today
God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and He has chosen to have mercy on “whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord.” In my view, this makes God infinitely bigger and more powerful. He runs His creation, and will achieve all of His purposes, even though the people He created are acting according to their own will. He is absolutely awesome!
I’ve counseled people who felt their hearts were too hard for God to reach—yet Scripture shows us that God both hardens and softens hearts, and He invites every person to call on Him today.
If you have not yet received the forgiveness of your sins through God’s graze and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, do not put it off another day. God wants you to be saved. Check out the “Are You Saved” page at the top of this blog. Reach out to us if you have any questions. We would love to help you meet the Savior who shed His blood for your sins.
What do you think—did Pharaoh ever really have a chance to say yes? How does this affect the way you share the gospel with resistant people?
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged Election, Exodus, Exodus 7, Free Will, God's Sovereignty, Gospel Invitation, Hardened Heart, Human Responsibiliy, Pharaoh, Predestination, Romans 9, Salvation by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Sealed in: The Blessing of Eternal Security
Today’s Passage – Genesis 7 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Proverbs 3 ; Psalms 11 – 15
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
Read the “0103 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.“ (Gen 7:15-16)
“30 … ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30)
The Judgment of the Flood
In our text today, we read that the ark, which took one hundred years to prepare, was finally finished and ready to provide safety for Noah, his family, and all the animals as the great judgment of water that God had promised was imminent. God had warned Noah a century before that He was going to destroy the earth through a worldwide flood because the wickedness of the earth had become so “great,” to the extent that God determined that he would destroy every air-breathing creature.
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Gen 6:5-7)
The Ark of Grace
God promised, however, to spare Noah and his family because “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8), and Noah was “seen righteous” (Gen 7:1) by God, meaning that because he was a man of faith; because he believed God, God saw him as positionally righteous. His sin was removed and the righteousness of Christ was imputed to him. This is what happens to believers when they receive Christ. They become the children of God and receive the righteousness of God:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (Jhn 1:12)
“21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Rom 3:21-22)
This same principle of faith-righteousness applied to Abraham centuries later:
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Gal 3:6)
The Sealed Door Providing Safety
Just as the rain was starting and after everyone had entered the ark, we are told that “the Lord shut [them] in.” It is interesting that the Scripture tells us that God was the one who sealed them within the ark. I am sure the ark was designed with water tight mechanisms that would have allowed Noah to close the door himself and keep the water out. Yet, it clearly states that God was the one who shut them in. Now, to be truthful, I am not sure how God did that, but I am sure that whatever seal God placed upon the door provided the needed protection against the rising water and also from the people who had initially refused Noah’s invitations and pleadings as a preacher of righteousness (2 Pe 2:5). As the water rose, I am sure that people were trying to figure out ways to get on board the ark.
The Pictures Provided of Salvation and Eternal Security
Though on the surface this passage is merely teaching that God provided safety and protection for Noah, his family, and all the animals so that they would one day be able to repopulate the earth, there is also some vivid pictures that we can see from it.
- The Picture of Salvation
The door of the ark is a picture of salvation through Jesus Christ. Noah and his family had to choose to believe God, build the ark, and enter into it through the door. It was only inside the door that they would find safety. Jesus tells us that He is our door of salvation:
“7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (Jhn 10:7-10)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jhn 14:6)
- The Picture of Eternal Security
God shutting the door and sealing them in is a picture of eternal security. God sealed them into their place of safety:
“10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Pro 18:10)
“27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.” (Jhn 10:27-30)
“13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,“ (Ephesians 1:13)
“6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Phil 1:6)
Just as our salvation was a work of God’s Holy Spirit, apart from our own good works, our sanctification and eternal security are also works of God. We are completely secure in Christ. What a blessing it is to know beyond any doubt that there is a home awaiting me in Heaven and that my salvation is completely secure in Christ.
Have you entered through the Door—Jesus Christ? If you’re not yet sealed in Christ, trust Him today. Receive Him as your Savior—He promises eternal life.
Today, if you are trusting in Christ alone, rest in this truth: God has sealed you and nothing can separate you from His love:
“37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“ (Rom 8:37-39)
Read previous posts from today’s passage:
- It Doesn’t Take Long, Does It?
- A Token
- Too Old To Do Something for the Lord?
- The Law of First Mention Regarding Wine
- The Dove Flew Away
- Seen as Righteous.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Genesis and tagged Assurance of Salvation, eternal security, faith righteousness, Grace, Noah's ark, once saved always saved, Salvation, the Flood, the sealing of the Holy Spirit by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
The Saviour of the World
Today’s Passage – 1 John 3 – 3 John 1 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Ephesians 4:32
Read the “1225 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
I submit two thoughts for your consideration this morning from 1 John 4:14:
1 The Exclusiveness of Candidates for Saviour – Notice the definite article “the,” indicating that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, is the only Saviour for the world. There are not many ways to be saved, only one.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus once and asked Him if He was the one that they were waiting for, or “look we for another” (Luke 7:20). Jesus replied emphatically that He was the One who fulfilled all of the Biblical requirements for being the Messiah, and He also added that we should not be “offended” in Him. Jesus is “the” Saviour, and He is also “the” Lord.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
2 The Inclusiveness of Candidates for Salvation – Notice the word “world” – it is the same word that is used in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
The word, “world” (κόσμος [kosmos]), does not mean just a select few; it means everybody. God wants everybody to receive the gift of the Saviour. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pe 3:9). Unfortunately, not everybody will come to the Saviour for salvation because they reject “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), choosing instead to be the god of their own lives. What a shame.
What a gift God gave us when Jesus came to this earth 2,000 years ago to redeem us!
“13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Tit 2:13-14)
Thank You, Father for sending us Your Son, the Saviour; and thank You, Jesus, for being willing to come.
Cindy and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
Posted in Thoughts from 1 John and tagged 1 John, Christmas, Daily Devotions, Devotional, Salvation, Savior by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.