Day 35

The first 2 verses of the reading really got me thinking. Chapter 10 verses 1-2 say, "...Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord."

I think it is interesting that God is the one hardening Pharaoh's heart. To me that implies that God controls who believes in Him and who does not! That gets into a little bit of a deeper debate than what I want to get into, but I find that interesting that it implies God controls man's heart and his acceptance of the word.

I do like God's reasoning though. He hardens the hearts of the Egyptians in order for Him to be able to show the signs of the 10 plagues. He is doing this in order for others and future generations to know that He is the Lord and is capable of anything.

I also believe that God uses unbelievers to display signs and work in believers to strengthen their faith and to show Christ to those believers who need it. This may be why non believers sometimes prosper while devout believers sometimes struggle.

There is a lot of controversial statements brought up in this passage and even in the first 2 verses, but, I believe that God works through believers and non-believers alike to strengthen one's faith and bring others to Him. I also believe the Holy Spirit has worked in my life and in my heart and has revealed Christ to me, and because of that, I will put my trust in and follow Christ for which I am forever grateful.