a question of hardening

And the Lord told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.”         Exodus 4:21

 

Exodus 4 contains several issues that we might find difficult to deal with. Things that God says and does that may leave us feeling very uncomfortable. The first of which is found in Exodus 4:21. God seems to simply be saying, “I will decide for Pharaoh, he will not accept.”

 

Depending on your theological standing on the sovereignty of God this statement may either just be passed over without a second thought, or it may give you a deep desire to just ignore it and move on as fast as possible. But I think in the interest of true understanding of God and his Word we need to ask the question(s):

 

Did God make Pharaoh reject him so that he could use Pharaoh as a reason to display his power? Did God decide for Pharaoh if he would receive or reject the message of Moses—God’s message?

 

Now, please understand that I don’t wish to insight some sort of giant theological debate about free will versus God’s sovereignty with this post (when did that become an either/or issue anyway). And I have no intention of telling anyone how to come out on this. I simply wish to raise the question that this text begs us to ask and share some information I believe to be essential to coming to an understanding. And mostly I hope to nudge you into thinking more about God, who he is, and how he interacts with us. I guess I’m just here to stir the pot for you a little…in a good way of course.

 

So again, the question really is, what does it mean when God says, I will harden Pharaoh’s heart…”

 

Does God simply choose for us how we will respond to his calling, his message in our lives? It seems, at first reading that this is what he is doing with Pharaoh. Is that indeed the case, and if so, is that the way God works with everyone? Or is he only doing that with Pharaoh, or with select others?

 

Do see the dilemma that this can quickly become? How we see these verses in Exodus 4 has vast implications for how we see God, the gospel of Jesus, and our own role in the world.

 

Let me also say that if God chose to arbitrarily harden some hearts and soften some others and allow some to choose and others not to chose he certainly could do this. And I know that there are many within the Christian community who believe he does do this. I respect that position although in the interest of full disclosure I don’t believe it is what the whole of Scripture reveals about God and his offer of salvation. If you do, that is fine and I’m not trying to debate that here or convince you of something different here. What I do want to do is look honestly at the text we find ourselves with today: Exodus 4. We’ve been working our way through Exodus this month so we need to at least address what’s going on here.

 

Here is my brief finding and then I will simply wait to read your comments, thoughts or responses just to see your take on what is happening here.

 

At first read, as I said, this appears to be God unashamedly announcing that this gig is fixed. Pharaoh will be dis-allowed to make any choice other than the hardened, unbending, rebellious to God choice. But remembering that neither God, Moses nor Pharaoh originally spoke English (shock to us self-centered Americans!) and that the Bible was also not originally written in English (double scandal!!) is essential.

 

If we go back to the original Hebrew the word used for “hardened” is chazaq. While this word can be translated as “hardened” it has a broader meaning as well. So a good question to ask might be: how is this word chazaq used in the rest of the Old Testament?

 

This should give us some context for how the Biblical writers might have understood this word. Here are four examples. The words in all caps are the words translated from the original chazaq word. 

 

Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord ‘s sight, and the Lord GAVE King Eglon of Moab CONTROL over Israel because of their evil.       Judges 3:12

 

Then Samson prayed to the Lord , “Sovereign Lord , remember me again. O God, please STRENGTHEN me just one more time.    Judges 16:28

 

Instead, your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land. ENCOURAGE him, for he will lead Israel as they take possession of it.       Deuteronomy 1:38

 

Instead, commission Joshua and ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession. Deuteronomy 3:28

 

So for some reason the Bible translators who made the transition from Hebrew to English for us used the word “harden” in Exodus (it is done again several times in Exodus 7) but in other places such as Deuteronomy (same original author) and in Judges the word is translated as something more along the lines of encouraging or strengthening what is already there.

 

To me this does not mean that God just decides for Pharaoh that he will reject Moses—and ultimately God—but that he will simply handed Pharaoh over to the desires of his heart. God simply strengthened what was already going on in Pharaoh so as to use it for his own purposes. It reminds me much of the ideas presented in Romans 1 when God lets us go only so far and then just hands us over, essentially saying, “If that is what you want you can have all of it.”

 

I realize this is more of an academic approach to the Scriptures than we usually take and it’s not something I intend to do often, but sometimes it is needed for addressing some of the tougher questions.

 

Perhaps you agree with me on my take of what this means in Exodus 4 and perhaps you don’t. Either way, chances are high that you will think more about God today than you had intended. And you might even do some digging of your own. If that’s the case, then I’ve done what I intended!

 

I welcome your thoughts, questions and perspectives.

 

a question

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.                     Luke 18:18-19

 

Have you ever noticed that Jesus often answers a question with another question?

 

Why does he do that? Why not just speak clearly so people can more easily understand? Is he trying to get us to think of something specific? Is it just that he wants us to consider more? Is it just a challenge to dive beneath the surface and the superficial?

 

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?   Matthew 9:14-15

Is it perhaps simply that God dearly loves an honest question? Could it be that Jesus does not wish to simply dispense thoughtless answers? Is he trying to initiate deeper interaction?

 

Why does it sometimes feel like one question just leads to another which leads to another?

 

Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?        Matthew 12:10-11

 

Is Jesus just trying to avoid awkward conversations? Is this a tactic to change the subject? To bring things around to a topic he would rather discuss? Is he just trying to shift the attention off himself?

 

Is this a refusal? A distraction? Or is it an invitation?

 

Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” 

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight?           John 11:7-9

 

Do you ever wonder if his questions mean anything? Does it ever simply feel like it’s a game of verbal sparring that has not real point other than to confuse?

 

But could it be no more than that? Would the Son of God leave his heavenly home and distance himself from Father and Spirit simply to toy with our meager understanding and then suffer tragic death for us? Or could the questions lead to more? To much, much more?

 

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me?         John 13:37-38

 

Will we take time to consider Jesus’ questions? Will we pause and receive the questions God lays on hearts when we offer prayers filled with questions to him? What is Jesus asking you? Why not consider it? Where is it leading? Will you follow?

how do you read it?

The weekend offers a little extra time to consider, to perhaps dive a bit deeper into the Scriptures. Schedules can slow down a bit and offer more opportunities to think. So here is a topic and several scriptures to consider. Please share your own thoughts or comments.

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Jesus is always asking really probing questions and it pays to take the time to consider what He’s asking.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

 ”What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”             Luke 10:25-26

 

“How do you read it?” What a great question to consider. The man asks Jesus what the Bible says about something and Jesus’ response is to ask how the man reads the Scriptures.

Typically, as Jesus followers we tend to focus on on this question, but with a little twist. We give importance to the question “Do you read it?” and “How often do you read it?” But Jesus takes us to a whole new level of spiritual exploration when he phrases the question “How do you read it?”

 

Perhaps we haven’t thought that much about it but when we open the Bible to read it we all do so with preconceived notions or expectations. We all have a certain amount of baggage that we carry to the reading.

 

What do we bring with us when we read the Bible?

Whatever it is, it will effect the way we perceive what’s written there. It will—positively or negatively—have an impact on how we respond to what we are reading. Sometimes when I read the Bible I just know what it is going to say. Sometimes I’m angry or worried. Sometimes I’m open. Sometimes not.

My mood has some affect on how I read it. But my values, my world view, my agendas and goals…now these really impact how I read it. What do I want out of reading the Bible? Answers? Comfort? Guidance? To be rid of guilty feelings? What I’ve realized is that I’m always looking for something when I read the Bible.

And it’s not wrong to be looking, expecting, wanting certain things when I read, but how does that affect my ability to receive whatever the Spirit might be saying? How does my personal agenda enhance or detract from what God is saying in his Word?

 

When we open the Bible, how do we read it? Or maybe a better question is how should we read it?

Here are some other Scriptures to consider:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.    Hebrews 4:12-13

 

Oh, how I love your law!
       I meditate on it all day long.

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
       for they are ever with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers,
       for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders,
       for I obey your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path
       so that I might obey your word.

I have not departed from your laws,
       for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste,
       sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts;
       therefore I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119:97-104

 

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.    Joshua 1:8

 

So…how do you read it? How should we read it?

 

Please share your thoughts!

consider this: irrational Jesus?

Here is an event in the life of Jesus to consider for the weekend. What do you make of Jesus’ actions here?

 

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

 

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

 

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

 

Mark 11:12-14; 20-25

 

What in the world do we make of this scene?! Is Jesus really being so irrational as to expect fruit out of season? Shouldn’t he have known it wasn’t the season for figs?

This is one of those passages that feels like there is a lot going on beneath the surface, that there must be more than what meets the eye. But what is it? What is going on here? It sort of feels like this action flies in the face of the whole concept of grace.

Why would Jesus curse the fig tree? Has he lost his temper or is this a calculated move?

Don’t forget that in between when Jesus curses the fig tree and when the disciples see it as withered is the event of Jesus clearing the temple (Mark 11:15-19). Could this event be connected to the temple clearing?

It seems reasonable to assume that there is a deeper message here, that Jesus is trying to do more than just put an un-producing tree in its place. But what is he doing? What is the lesson?

What do you think? Consider the words, the actions, the message in this event. Share your questions, your thoughts, or your ideas.

Is there some deeper lesson? Or is Jesus just being unreasonable here?

consider this: questioning God

The weekend offers a little extra time to consider, to perhaps dive a bit deeper into the Scriptures. Things can slow down a bit and offer more opportunities to think. So here is a topic and several scriptures to consider.

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Why would the God of the Universe, the God who continually announces that there is none like Him, the God who is first and last, why would this God ever tolerate being questioned?

 

And yet he seems to. In fact I would go so far as to say that God loves an honest question. Even if the questions is with regard to his motives. Consider these examples:

Genesis 18

God is talking with Abraham and Abraham is concerned. God has revealed that he is planning to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because they are so evil. Abraham has family in the city and so is worried about this decision.

Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”            Genesis 18:25

 

Can this be right? Abraham is not only questioning God, but is implying that God isn’t planning to do the right thing!

And God’s response is to begin negotiating.

Exodus 32

 

God and Moses on the mountain. God giving Moses the Ten Commandments. They see the golden calf and the idolatry of the Israelites. God decides to destroy the Israelites.

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.            Exodus 32:11-12

 

Not only does Moses question God, but he tells God to relent…and God does!

God loves an honest question. But why? Why tolerate that from us?

One more example. Habakkuk. (I know, I know, everybody’s favorite book of the Bible!)

How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.              Habakkuk 1:2-4

 

These are not just questions, but these are accusations. There is judgment and projecting of motivation.

“How long must I call for help, but you do not listen.”

 

“Or cry…but you do not save.”

 

“Why do you make me look…?”

 

“Why do you tolerate wrong?”

 

 

God must love an honest question or else the next thing we would read in Habakkuk would include the words lightening and strike!

God goes on to answer Habakkuk, which is very interesting in it’s own right, but for today consider this:

Why does God love an honest question?

 

Why does God tolerate our questions when they are presumptive, accusatory, and just down right unfair?