"Pharoah doesn't have a heart... Sora, get 'em!"
Okay, disclaimer: Any bias against an 'all-powerful' leader like Pharoah comes from living in American society.
It is sad to see how people can come to a position of great power and completely lose sight of who they really are. Especially Pharoah. Who wants to rule over a huge desert anyway?
Alright, to get serious...
Pharoah did harden his heart on his own over time, but God chose to harden it more after the 6th plague. As we discussed in class, this could be seen as God making it clear that Pharoah has reached a point of no return, or that God is just asserting His sovereignty. Either way, the message comes across loud and clear throughout each plague, but it takes a lot of time and a lot of problems to ever bring any degree of humility to Pharoah.
So why didn't Pharoah accept the clear fact that God was sovereign over him? The most common assumption I've heard is because he was too stubborn and big-headed to ever think that someone could overpower him. But I kind of wonder if a person can come to a point where they simply cannot come to believe something new that contradicts something they've believed in for a long time -- as if it were a fact of life. Obviously Pharoah was able to admit in his heart otherwise, and I doubt that God would have gone through all the steps of the Exodus if it would not have accomplished a set goal.
I don't know. To be honest, stories from the Bible are thoroughly burnt out for me, so touching on topics like this is old news to me. But I do wonder if God intended for there to be an important outcome for Egypt and its society following Pharoah's heart being hardened, even after He lead His people out of slavery. I'm not familiar with Egyptian history, but I am curious to know what happened there after God stepped in.
Hopefully I won't be burnt too bad for not knowing something that's probably common knowledge, haha.
P.S. Commented on Regis' blog 'Egyptian Misfortunes'.
Okay....so...I didn't read all of this yet, but I would totally give it an A for the Kingdom Hearts reference(If I was grading it this week, that is).
ReplyDeleteWait a minute...If he didn't have a heart, how could he be a Heartless...? Unless...he's already one, and he's a pure Heartless and not an emblem...
ReplyDelete/end geek moment.
Also, Egypt wasn't always a barren desert I believe. Now, it is, but back then I'm sure it was a very beautiful kingdom. In fact, did you know that he pyramids were ACTUALLY white? Like, one-look-would-make-your-eyes-hurt-white? As time went on, all that dust and sand discolored the pyramids like rust.
Props for the Kingdom Hearts reference. If Pharaoh was a heartless, who was his nobody?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I honestly don't believe that Pharaoh had a choice in the hardening of his heart. Not only was it God's will, but it would seem that hard-heartedness was also in his nature. Kind of like Achilles running from the battle wouldn't have been in his nature, admitting defeat wasn't in Pharaoh's nature.
Don't feel alone because I have no idea what happens in Egyptian history post-plagues either.
Benjamin :)