On another note, Mark, I also struggle with God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. John Ciribassi’s explanation may shed some light, but for me, it seems like a stylistic convention of classical literature. I mean that it is something that Greco-Roman deities would do (influence people’s emotions and make them act a certain way). I thought it was a stylistic convention from Ancient Greek literature, which, in part represented religious viewpoints. This is the way that the origin of the Trojan War is explained (Aphrodite causes Paris and Helen to fall in lust with each other, so that Helen runs off with Paris while he is visiting her husband Menelaus). This convention is being used to explain why Pharaoh didn’t let them go right away.

Also, I’m disturbed by the image of God slaughtering the first-borns of Egypt. Looks like sheer vengeance for slaughtering Hebrew baby boys when Moses was a baby. Foreshadows Herod’s murderous orders at the time of Jesus’ birth, but those are the Holy Innocents. Their deaths are lamented and grieved, and looked at as an injustice. But no one bats an eye at the deaths of the Egyptians. Racism? Possibly. Justification of a group of people who can be killed, because somehow “they” are worse than “we” are, when we’re all human beings? That attitude led to the Holocaust! Slavery, Indigenous residential schools, Japanese internment camps, Khmer Rouge, and we’re still here with this situation around the world (e.g. immigrants’ detention centres in the United States).

How do the two points tie together? They were written in a particular context at a particular time for a particular audience (Mary Ortwein skillfully weaves that topic into her reflections). The attitudes of the day (including literary conventions) crept in to the Scriptures. Don’t get me started on Jesus’ “dog” conversation with the Canaanite woman who requests healing for her daughter.

The word of God says: Then Jesus said to his disciples. Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them. What good will it does for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life? The son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done. I can guarantee this truth. Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Matthew 16-24-28.

My Lord and my God help me to stand firm in your Word so when you came back Jesus again I will be worthy of your kingdom.

When we follow Jesus He always give us the desires of our heart.

There is always in our life time of sorrow, but standing firm with faith.
God always honor His Word.

Be strong in the Word of God and the suffering that now is part of your life if you continue with faith, soon will pass.

I testify of this.

Day by day I have seen the glory of God.

Thank You Father God.

I invite you to have a personal relationship with your Creator: Say Father I have sinned and I am sorry. Today I want to accept Jesus as my Savior and my God.

Bertha Gonzalez
11/17/2013
berthagonzalez@yahoo.com

This the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad. 1/31/2019

I’ve always found today’s first reading interesting. One of the cornerstones of our faith is free will. God lets us chose. We have no one to blame but ourselves when we sin. I remember Flip Wilson used to say, “…the devil made me do it…”. The devil may present it, but we chose to do it.
God seems to violate man’s gift of free will by hardening the Pharaoh’s heart, which isn’t the way God usually works. God appears to be stacking the deck against the Pharaoh and if God is against you, what hope do you have?

Mark