Exodus - 30 - Exod. 11:1-11:10 THE HAMMER OF GOD

In Exodus 34:6-7 Adonai, the Lord our God, teaches Moses on Sinai what He is like.  Among the rabbis these verses are called the 13 Attributes of Adonai.  

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." (Exo 34:6-7)

Two attributes really stand out when it comes to the Pharaoh of the Exodus.  God is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness.  These attributes along with John 3:16, say that God loves the whole world (even Pharaoh).  And this along with the Hebrew (NOT ENGLISH) give us an alternative view of the phrase "God hardened Pharaoh's heart."  We have learned from credible Jewish and Christian scholars that it seems IN THE HEBREW that God was trying to help Pharaoh make the right decision, to chose the path of righteousness of the God of Israel, and to turn from his immovable and strong commitment to his gods.  This is clear when we actually learn that the phrase "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" needs to be corrected!  There are three unique Hebrew words that our translators said meant hardened!  How did this happen?  Their translation seems to be based upon their bias and has clouded the deeper and more enhanced meaning. 

There is a verse in the King James version that is an example.  It shows the traditional view that has come down to us through the ages.  It is ... "And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land." (Exo 11:10)  Thus we learn in this translation that God caused Pharaoh to bring upon all Egypt the 10th awesome and terrible plague.  However, the Hebrew shows us something quite different.  The English of the verse from the Hebrew is ...  "And Moses and Aaron did all these signs before Pharaoh and gave courage (NOT STIFFENED OR HARDENED- mistaken translation) the Lord the heart of Pharaoh and he did not let out the sons of Israel of his land." Exod. 11:10 (translation from "Hebrew Study Bible" from the Westminster Lenigrad Codex).  The Hebrew shows us that it is very possible that time and again as we have seen in lessons 12 till 30 in this series that God was trying to help Pharaoh make the right decision and turn from his gods without forcing Pharaoh's hand and taking away Pharaoh's free will.  The Hebrew, and NOT our traditional views based upon the translators' beliefs, gives us an alternative view that seems to be more correct.  This alternative view then supports what God is like by His own words as we read above in Exod. 34:6-7 and John 3:16.   

I urge you to study the videos entitled "His Highnesses' Heavy Heart."  In these videos it is shown that there is an alternative equivalent meaning to the phrase in our English Bibles, "God hardened Pharaoh's heart."  The material presented is backed up with solid Jewish and Christian scholarship.  If you are serious about your Bible study these videos are a must so that the Ten Plagues and Pharaoh are understood in a deeper and more enhanced way.  Links -

Part 1 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNw1742eiWc&list=PLvcIXun2BQDIw6myuMPTvlWHUu9AJqXip&index=21

Part 2 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZSsExt9Hbw&list=PLvcIXun2BQDIw6myuMPTvlWHUu9AJqXip&index=20 

But, one thing we know of the Lord, He knows all.  He knew right from the "get go" that Pharaoh would not do the right thing.  The Lord told Moses this at the burning bush.  Remember? "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go." (Exo 3:19-20)  The actual Hebrew for "under compulsion" is " a strong hand."  The Hebrew does not say God will force Pharaoh to free Israel but that God will war against Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt with a "strong hand" which will finally convince Pharaoh to relent and let the people go.  It is almost as if God is teaching us that He knew the end, He knew what Pharaoh would bring upon himself and all Egypt.  God shows us that He'd try and help Pharaoh do the right thing.  God seems to be teaching us about the power of evil and wickedness and that the final result is the evil and wicked will bring themselves to the brink of destruction and not the Lord.  Pharaoh's story is our story.  Pharaoh's strong stubborn evil worldview is just like us.  Thank God that we have this promise ... "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (Joh 3:16-17)  In 1446 B.C. the Hebrew shows us that the Lord was being a SAVIOR to Pharaoh and to try and encourage his mind to do the right thing.  And it is true now, we too need a SAVIOR.  He has come in the flesh and we all can now proclaim Jesus is our Lord, Jesus is our God, Jesus is the ONLY God.  And through the Cross we are redeemed and saved from our sins and delivered from His wrath coming upon all nations.  So we cry out, "Maranatha Lord Jesus" which comes from the Hebrew מָרָנָא אֲתָה - marana attah - the Lord will come!  

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0