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I say virtually, of course, because God cannot lie, He cannot be unfaithful to His holy word and His promises, and most significantly, He cannot think, say, or do anything which is not in keeping with His holy and perfect will, Being, and character. God can do, say, or think virtually anything and everything He wants to do, say, or think.
#What does pharaoh mean free
Having talked with my friend just today, I think he is saying that God has not given an absolutely free will to those He created in His image rather, He has given them the ability to choose, or to make choices. Now no one would likely even suggest she or he were on the same level as God, but does not attributing "free will" to human beings, simply because they are created in the image of God, imply that? Perhaps a far better expression than "free will" would be "the ability to choose." Now I can live with that! Unfortunately, many Christians tend to bandy about the words "free will," as if we are somehow on the same level as God in this regard. What did my friend say? I'm glad you asked that! He said, and I paraphrase: At this point (as of today, that is) I'm beginning to think that what my friend had to say-thanks, in part, to Calvin-is probably closer to the truth than what I believed previously. Is this contradictory to God's claimed character or is there other meaning to it when God 'hardens' a heart? Because by itself it seems as if God is pushing people to wage war, or to do things outside what could have been an individual's free will.Ī friend of mine who has been reading a great deal of John Calvin's Institutes said something to me a couple months ago which has been resonating within me ever since. This is very clear that the LORD himself hardened their hearts. Joshua 11: 20 saying "For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses." This kinda complicates things, God - loving, kind, and who has given us free will, is the same God who hardens hearts. but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country." God gives us free will to be able to genuinely love Him, to genuinely obey. ".and without choice, there can be no true obedience, or true love, only mindless followers with no will of their own."Īnd I do believe so. I love the answer in this question regarding God giving us free will saying :