Thanks, James, very true insights. I picture God standing in front of every single person and offering them His grace but each time they freely choose to reject it, they turn slightly away from Him. The next call is harder and the same rejection happens and each time it becomes harder and harder until finally the person has committed the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit and can't be reached. Their back is completely facing God and He doesn't talk to backs. No one talks to backs. God hasn't moved, they have.
Like in Egypt, with the plagues in Revelation there's the constant refrain, 'And still they did not repent.' It's so very true that people do choose for or against God. So God gives them their choice. Very sobering thought! I think it was CS Lewis who said something similar. God's grace does end if it's continually rejected because it is the choice of that person's free will.
Thanks James for the excellent study, you have a special gift to discern and interpret scripture, and in a blessed position to boldly proclaim Bible Truths and the blessed hope of the Gospel of the Lord Saviour Jesus Christ!
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" - Jeremiah 17:9.
" Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3.
Loved this reading and commentary James...because it puts light on the mystery of God at work with Pharaoh, and explains the possible behaviour of individuals who don't relent from bad behaviour/choices. Something to think about. ...
Thank you again James - your intriguing insight into evil and the consequences are very helpful - especially the migrant analogy (I have also seen this with families and tenants) - scary, but a reality. Love your work James.
What a profound statement James … evil arrives as a migrant, stays as a guest and becomes a master … reminiscent of what is happening in our nation today. 🙏🙏
Great post James. I got to the end and was reminded of the scripture in Hebrews about not hardening your heart. It is a salutary warning for all of us as even His chosen people discovered for themselves. Much like the antithesis of drawing near to God and He will draw near to us, when we choose to harden our heart and refuse His mercy and instruction, eventually we are in a state where He will give us over to that which we choose (Rom 6: 16-22 To whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey. Whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.)
Hebrews 3:8-15.
"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
We did a Bible study where we wrestled with this one. The commentaries say just what you concluded. To have God cut off the means of redemption is a serious issue. A person to be a long way down the path of complete disobedience and rebellion against the demonstrated word of God. Judas iscariot is such another one.
Good reflection and insight into human behaviour James. I've long thought about the nature of clay and wax whilst reading this passage. In the presence of heat clay hardens and wax melts. It is in the nature of the heart as to whether it will harden or soften when it experiences the presence of God.
Thanks, James, very true insights. I picture God standing in front of every single person and offering them His grace but each time they freely choose to reject it, they turn slightly away from Him. The next call is harder and the same rejection happens and each time it becomes harder and harder until finally the person has committed the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit and can't be reached. Their back is completely facing God and He doesn't talk to backs. No one talks to backs. God hasn't moved, they have.
Like in Egypt, with the plagues in Revelation there's the constant refrain, 'And still they did not repent.' It's so very true that people do choose for or against God. So God gives them their choice. Very sobering thought! I think it was CS Lewis who said something similar. God's grace does end if it's continually rejected because it is the choice of that person's free will.
It’s Romans 1. God gives them over to what they want. Our world is there today.
Thanks James for the excellent study, you have a special gift to discern and interpret scripture, and in a blessed position to boldly proclaim Bible Truths and the blessed hope of the Gospel of the Lord Saviour Jesus Christ!
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" - Jeremiah 17:9.
" Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3.
Loved this reading and commentary James...because it puts light on the mystery of God at work with Pharaoh, and explains the possible behaviour of individuals who don't relent from bad behaviour/choices. Something to think about. ...
Thank you again James - your intriguing insight into evil and the consequences are very helpful - especially the migrant analogy (I have also seen this with families and tenants) - scary, but a reality. Love your work James.
What a profound statement James … evil arrives as a migrant, stays as a guest and becomes a master … reminiscent of what is happening in our nation today. 🙏🙏
Very good. I have often thought Pharaoh must not have been the first born in his family, because he stayed alive after the final plague
Wonderful insight.
Thank you, James.
Great post James. I got to the end and was reminded of the scripture in Hebrews about not hardening your heart. It is a salutary warning for all of us as even His chosen people discovered for themselves. Much like the antithesis of drawing near to God and He will draw near to us, when we choose to harden our heart and refuse His mercy and instruction, eventually we are in a state where He will give us over to that which we choose (Rom 6: 16-22 To whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey. Whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.)
Hebrews 3:8-15.
"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
We did a Bible study where we wrestled with this one. The commentaries say just what you concluded. To have God cut off the means of redemption is a serious issue. A person to be a long way down the path of complete disobedience and rebellion against the demonstrated word of God. Judas iscariot is such another one.
Interesting, thanks James.
Great analogies - thank you James.
Love this perspective
Good reflection and insight into human behaviour James. I've long thought about the nature of clay and wax whilst reading this passage. In the presence of heat clay hardens and wax melts. It is in the nature of the heart as to whether it will harden or soften when it experiences the presence of God.
Thanks James.