The Hard Part of Hardening.

Ex. 4:21, 7:3, 7:13-14, 7:22, 8:19, 9:7, 9:12, 9:35, 10:1, 10:27,11:10, 14:4-5 and 14:8.
All of these verses talk about the heart of Pharaoh being hardened by God. That's 15 verses. I think it's safe to say that it's an important part of the story. Even though it has been addressed in a few of the blogs, I would like to address it further.

The problem that we have is this: How can we believe that God can "harden" people's hearts and still be a just God? I guess it's possible that we misunderstand "hardening"....but, I don't think so.

Just for kicks, how is it that God can allow people to go to Hell. Why does He allow suffering and pain and evil into the world at all? How is it that a 1 year old girl died 2 weeks ago, leaving a family that claims to follow Christ grieving and asking "why?" How is it that a man can be called "blameless" by God, and lose everything He has, except for his own life, in the time of one day? (Job)

I don't pretend to know the answer, but I'd like to give my opinion, though some might say its heresy.

First of all, can we consider that this life is not about us? Can we for once do as Christ instructed and give up our lives in order to find them? Can we carry the cross and die to ourselves, just for a minute? If not, we can continue to live in our current state, which is humanism. In today's society, our lives, our families and yes, even our faiths, all have the end result of human happiness.
Let’s for once follow Christ and let our lives go, and view this from the perspective that there is so much more than us. (John 12:25)

If we truly believe that God is just, then we have to realize that since He is God, then He is the most incredible being that has ever existed. He created EVERYTHING. If He is just, then He MUST bring glory to Himself. It’s just how it goes. And so therefore, in order for Him to get the most glory, He may harden the hearts of a few sinners who deserve to be eradicated from the earth anyway, in order for His chosen people to escape slavery and create a nation that will one day produce His son, who came to do His father's will. He may have to take an innocent child in order for His children to truly appreciate when one day, death is defeated for the last time. He may have to take everything from a blameless man in order to just prove that He is sovereign. Humans, while being created in God's image, are so far below the greatness of God that our lives are meaningless compared to His vast awesomeness. Therefore, if a few of us are lost, so that those that are saved may REALLY give glory to God, then isn't that Justice in the long run? Is it really any of our business to know WHY He does these things? Or should we just "be still and know that He is God"?

Commented on Jeffrey's blog.