DAVE
<< It seems, as well, that this process of hardening one's heart,
was implied to be an action on the part of the one with the hard
heart - a conscious action? Or the result of an exterior influence?
My take on it is that, for example, Pharoah CHOSE to harden
his heart - or at least was the cause of it. >>
DARREL
While Exod 8:32, 9:12 and others say Pharaoh hardened his
heart, the following verses disagree with what Dave says:
And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he
hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
Exod. 9:12
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not
let the children of Israel go. 10:20
This seems to be a pastime of the bible god:
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they
should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart,
and be converted, and I should heal them. John 12:40
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they
should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them
utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might
destroy them... Josh. 11:20
O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and
hardened our heart from thy fear? Isaiah 63:17
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth,
but of God that sheweth mercy... Therefore hath he mercy on
whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom. 9:16,18
You can keep this god.
cheers,
Darrel
--------------------------
"The simple fact of the matter is, there is just as much proof that
Allah/Zeus/Thor/IPU, etc. exist, as there is that your Yahweh exists, and
that is something you do not wish to face." --Lord Myrddin 2/12