(April 2, 2016 at 6:08 pm)Mr.wizard Wrote:(April 2, 2016 at 4:58 pm)athrock Wrote: We're saying the same thing.
God would have preferred that Pharaoh simply accept Moses' initial request, but it didn't play out that way. God allowed or permitted Pharaoh to harden his own heart rather than FORCING him to let the Israelites go.
No we are not saying the same thing! If pharaoh's heart couldn't harden without gods permission that means his free will was already violated. Either god hardened his heart violating his free will or his heart couldn't be hardened until god permitted it which was also violating his free will.
Pharaoh's heart could be hardened on his own accord. He did not need God's permission.
Let me this in negative terms. God did not prevent Pharaoh from hardening his own heart. To do so would have violated Pharaoh's free will. God allowed Pharaoh to choose. As the events unfolded, it became obvious that Pharaoh had chosen to harden his own heart. God allowed him to do this.
