Pharoah's heart...

Okay, I'll just state it up front; I learn more from my students than I ever thought humanly possible. I mean, let's face it, not a single one of my students is over the age of ten, but their questions teach me so much.

So, before I go into today's question for pondering, I want to throw out this theory. Perhaps the reason I learn so much from my children is because they ask questions, they willinging disagree, tell me if my answer doesn't make sense, or ask another question after I answer their question. There is an environment that encourages discussion of God's Word, and questioning that which does not make sense. I work very hard to create an environment where my kids will ask questions, because I want them to own God's Word themselves, not just remember facts I tell them. But, where is a similar environment existent for most Christians today? Where do we gather to read, question, debate, mull over, chew through the Word of God? Hopefully you have a place like this, I know I have been blessed with such a place. It just seems to me that these places/environments are not all that common in American churches today.

Back to the question of the day....

My first class of the morning starts at 9 am, and it was in this class that a third grade boy, Joseph, asked a question that really stirred something up inside of me. (I won't mention that we were not even discussing Pharoah/Moses and this brilliant student of mine was making a connection between our story today with what we learned about Moses in second grade, because that would be boasting...so, I will leave those details for later!!!!)

Joseph says, "Miss Liddell, why did God make Pharoah's heart like that?"

Bewildered, I respond with, "Like what, Joseph?"

"You know, that way He made his heart...kind of mean or something. I think there is a word for it."

"Do you mean why did he chose to be mean?" A nod of his head prompts me to go into a discussion of free will and the choices God allows us to make. Upon my conclusion, Joseph again raises his hand.

"But why did God make his heart that way?"

"Joseph, I just don't understand what you are asking me."

"You taught us that God made his heart (searching for the right word, which I finally figure out and offer to him) Yeah, that is it, hard...why did God make his heart hard?"

Why would God harden someone's heart? Doesn't that (although somewhat by default) take away their free will?

In chapter 10 of Exodus it seems to show that God hardens God's heart to make His glory even greater, and so the Israelites will tell their sons, and grandsons of His greatness. So, is God willing to sacrifice the heart of one for the good of three generations?

And even more importantly (which I believe to be the real question Joseph was asking) if God was willing to hardened Pharoah's heart towards His glory, power, greatness, and love for His people, is He willing to do the same to me?

I really am not trying to initiate a pre-destination discussion, because honestly think it is bigger than that. If God clearly says (over ten times) He will hardened Pharoah's heart, this seems to beg the assumption that his heart was not already hard. So, why would God choose to harden a seemingly "reachable" or "open" heart?