Torah Tuesday - Exodus 7:3-5: Part 2

[@stephentaylor2051]

Another great episode of brilliant academia! Thank you Dr. Imes! R.I.P. Michael S.Heiser!

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Glad you enjoyed it! So sad about our collective loss of Dr. Heiser.

[@Wayne-lt7zv]

So helpful your sharing the Egyptian thought concept of the heart. Just adds more consistency to how our God has a perfect plan, and very much offers each an opportunity to follow. Like the first part of Isaiah 1:18, "come now let us reason together". Like any one of us could really reason. 🤔

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

So true!

[@steveandlorithomas]

This is the best explanation I have heard to date. Thank you. I like the idea of God sustaining the would-be god (Pharaoh) so as to fully reveal Himself in contrast to the pretender.

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Wonderful! Glad this was helpful.

[@bruceanderson8720]

Thank you!

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

You bet!

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thank you, Carmen. Goooood Stuff!!

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Glad you liked it, Brenda!

[@alfregomez]

THANKS

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

You're welcome!

[@Paulosofine]

I’ve watched all your TT videos so far on Exodus, so great! I had a sem teacher that asked us that when we read exodus to “look for the mercy”. (E.g. ex 34:6) You are showing us the pattern of the mercy of God to pharaoh brilliantly here.

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Wow, thank you!

[@ApologistInDetroit]

Guilty of injustice. That makes a lot of sense within OT narrative in general also.

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Yes it does, brother! So fun to see you this weekend.

[@nancyho5617]

I love it! Chinese also has a saying, , 硬下心来, literal translation is actually hardened his heart, we use it to describe when someone has decided to do something difficult, with great reluctance, and with a lot of pain, emotionally at least. Thank you for your teaching, now I know how to frame it better in my head. I always have a problem with this "hardening thing" because I feel that I need to "defend" Yahweh's character.

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@sharonjacob4782]

excellent contextual scholarship Carmen. 👏

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Thank you, Sharon!

[@drdebsministryhub101]

Very good. 👍

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Many thanks!

[@blakewidmer]

Wow, this is so helpful to see the scales of judgement and the Egyptian idiomatic use of a heavy heart. Even more nuance here than the Bible Project class on exodus ;) can’t wait for that full commentary in a couple years!!! 🎉

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Thanks, Blake! I keep learning more...

[@qcbtbx]

I subscribe to the latter paradigm as well with regards to understanding having of heart. It's a polemic!

[@whydowe1675]

That was a cool episode 😊 how the text pictures God, love it!

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Thank you! 😊

[@Ruth-sd3mf]

Thank you Dr. Imes. I am wondering if revelation 22:11 could be explained by what you taught here today. Because in a way Jahwe gives Pharaoh his hearts desire, He amplifies what he has set his heart on. Do I understand this right? Or am I totally off here? Kind regards, Ruth

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Thanks, Ruth, for your comment. That passage does seem related!

[@flematicoreformandose5046]

The fact that that tyrant Pharaoh did not know Joseph, indicates ignorance of YHVH's justice, as well as a royal education in paranoia, Egyptian witchcraft, and pride. A disastrous combination with social consequences.

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

Indeed!

[@troyyurchak3213]

So good. Moon knight anyone?

[@SeanRhoadesChristopher]

I 100% disagree, and so does Proverbs, and prophecy! First let’s look at Proverbs: Proverbs 21:1 (JPS) The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will. Next Prophecy: Genesis 15:7-15 (JPS) And He said unto him: 'I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.' [8] And he said: 'O Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?' [9] And He said unto him: 'Take Me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.' [10] And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other; but the birds divided he not. [11] And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. [12] And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread, even a great darkness, fell upon him. [13] And He said unto Abram: 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; [14] and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance. [15] But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

[@CarmenJoyImesPhD]

The fact that God CAN turn a king's heart doesn't mean he always does. And the fact that God knew in advance what Pharaoh would freely choose does not mean his lost his freedom. You are of course free to disagree (at least in my view. Maybe your view is that God already predetermined our disagreement?).