tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3452170266037097261.post6116726120881026781..comments2023-09-01T03:17:02.580-07:00Comments on Adventist Homemaker: Bible in 90 Days - Day 16Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09319901329438691914noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3452170266037097261.post-12330960510919487172010-01-17T20:40:53.603-08:002010-01-17T20:40:53.603-08:00Here is the part that pertains to what you were di...Here is the part that pertains to what you were discussing:<br /><br />Still the heart of Pharaoh grew harder. And now the Lord sent a message to him, declaring, "I will at this time send all My plagues upon thy heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. . . . And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee My power." Not that God had given him an existence for this purpose, but His providence had overruled events to place him upon the throne at the very time appointed for Israel's deliverance. Though this haughty tyrant had by his crimes forfeited the mercy of God, yet his life had been preserved that through his stubbornness the Lord might manifest His wonders in the land of Egypt. The disposing of events is of God's providence. He could have placed upon the throne a more merciful king, who would not have dared to withstand the mighty manifestations of divine power. But in that case the Lord's purposes would not have been accomplished. His people were permitted to experience the grinding cruelty of the Egyptians, that they might not be deceived concerning the debasing influence of idolatry. In His dealing with Pharaoh, the Lord manifested His hatred of idolatry and His determination to punish cruelty and oppression.<br /><br />God had declared concerning Pharaoh, "I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go." Exodus 4:21. There was no exercise of supernatural power to harden the heart of the king. God gave to Pharaoh the most striking evidence of divine power, but the monarch stubbornly refused to heed the light. Every display of infinite power rejected by him, rendered him the more determined in his rebellion. The seeds of rebellion that he sowed when he rejected the first miracle, produced their harvest. As he continued to venture on in his own course, going from one degree of stubbornness to another, his heart became more and more hardened, until he was called to look upon the cold, dead faces of the first-born.<br /><br />God speaks to men through His servants, giving cautions and warnings, and rebuking sin. He gives to each an opportunity to correct his errors before they become fixed in the character; but if one refuses to be corrected, divine power does not interpose to counteract the tendency of his own action. He finds it more easy to repeat the same course. He is hardening the heart against the influence of the Holy Spirit. A further rejection of light places him where a far stronger influence will be ineffectual to make an abiding impression.<br /><br />He who has once yielded to temptation will yield more readily the second time. Every repetition of the sin lessens his power of resistance, blinds his eyes, and stifles conviction. Every seed of indulgence sown will bear fruit. God works no miracle to prevent the harvest. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7. He who manifests an infidel hardihood, a stolid indifference to divine truth, is but reaping the harvest of that which he has himself sown. It is thus that multitudes come to listen with stoical indifference to the truths that once stirred their very souls. They sowed neglect and resistance to the truth, and such is the harvest which they reap.<br /><br />http://www.sandraentermann.com/images/Patriarchs%20and%20Prophets.pdfh2ovaporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00765364354849536772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3452170266037097261.post-78259520640315278312010-01-17T20:15:40.318-08:002010-01-17T20:15:40.318-08:00This issue is a very widely asked question. I goo...This issue is a very widely asked question. I googled it & most of the highest indexed websites make points that I disagree with. This article explains it the best of the ones that I looked at: http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=262&cat=8<br /><br />I also think you ought to read Patriarchs & Prophets. It really expounds on the subject. It is such a blessing, I hate to see you missing out on it. As many readathons as you have joined, I was surprised you did not join the Conflict of the Ages readathon. It's just one chapter per day of all 5 books & finishes in the middle of November, so it is not too late to join...h2ovaporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00765364354849536772noreply@blogger.com