If you listen to Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that God does not cause him to harden his heart….Pharoah hardens it himself and God allows it.
“Perhaps God is hardening the heart of Putin or others so that Russia will be a chastisement upon us.” I agree with Heidi, God allows the hardening of Putin’s heart. He knows the outcome. Sin is what hardens Putin’s heart, not God.
https://odysee.com/@The_uncomfortab...08.01.2023-Diane-Sare---Helga-Zepp-Larouche:b Gloomy forecast by Scott Ritter: According to ex-U.S. Marine intelligence officer and former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter, the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine are nonexistent: the United States and the West have by now completely gambled away their political credibility. Russia would have no choice but to win on the battlefield.
Thanks, Carol. This is so bothersome! How can CP keep all of this information straight? He’s excellent.
Heidi, you seem to have skipped my later post on this. I dont want to risk labouring this point or be too combative or adversarial. However, the problem is that it says the contrary in scripture - a total of 8 times in Exodus. One could say that, well, it says 7 times in Exodus that Pharaoh hardened his own heart - so God hardening Pharaoh's heart is clearly just a form of speech. See below on this. It does seem that I am in the minority on the view that God actively intervened; the majority view being that Pharaoh hardened his own heart because of his own sins. It does not seem unrealistic to me that God would actively intervene. When one considers the great lengths God went to in order to establish His plan of salvation. Furthermore, He actually tells us why He intervened directly - "to display these signs of mine among them." Or as it says in Matthew Henry's Concise Biblical Commentary: God glorifies Himself. Thanks to Sam for pointing out that active intervention by God could occur by directly hardening Pharaoh's heart or by withdrawing His grace. In fact this could be the key piece of understanding which also explains Pharaoh hardening his own heart. Which could make for some the whole debate seem academic, like arguing how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. My apologies if all this is off topic or distracting us from our essential task of becoming Saints in waiting! I am aware of Fr. Mike Schmitz's commentary. I am on day 161 of his Bible in a year podcasts. However, in my case it is more like Bible in 3 or 4 years. I started in Jan 2021 and was lapped last year by the 2022 entrants, and may well be lapped by the 2023 entrants this year. I am slow, missing lots of days and I like to do each passage twice - once on my own and once with Fr. Mike. Anyway, just to be fair to both sides of this controversial subject, I give 2 good comentaries on either side. This is from Ellicott's Bible Commentary: (Ellicott was a priest in the Anglican Church in England). I was unaware of this commentary when I formed my opinion on this. I will harden his heart.--The hardening of Pharaoh's heart has been the subject of much controversy. It is ascribed to God in this place [Exodus 4:21], and again in Exodus 7:3; Exodus 9:12; Exodus 10:1; Exodus 10:20; Exodus 10:27; Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:8; to Pharaoh in Exodus 8:15; Exodus 8:32; and Exodus 9:34; to the action of the heart itself in Exodus 7:13; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 9:7; Exodus 9:35. It is conceivable that these may be simply three forms of speech, and that the actual operation was one and the same in every case. Or, three different modes of operation may be meant. It is in favour of the latter view, that each term has a period during which it is predominant. In the narrative of what happened, the action of the heart is itself predominant in the first period; that of Pharaoh on his heart in the second; that of God in the third. We may suppose that, at first, Pharaoh's nature was simply not impressed, and that then his heart is said to have "hardened itself," or "remained hard;" that after a while, he began to be impressed; but by an effort of his will controlled himself, and determined that he would not yield: thus "hardening his own heart;" finally, that after he had done this twice (Exodus 8:15; Exodus 8:32), God stepped in and "smote him with a spirit of blindness and infatuation," as a judgment upon him (Exodus 9:12), thus, finally, "hardening" him (comp. Romans 9:18). This divine action was repeated, on three subsequent occasions (Exodus 10:20; Exodus 10:27; Exodus 14:8), Pharaoh's time of probation being past, and God using him as a mere means of showing forth His glory. There is nothing in this contrary to the general teaching of the Scriptures, or to the Divine Perfection. . . . This from the Pulpit Commentary: I will harden his heart. This expression, here used for the first time, and repeated so frequently in chs. 7-14, has given offence to many. Men, it is said, harden their own hearts against God; God does not actively interfere to harden the heart of anyone. And this is so far true, that a special interference of God on the occasion, involving a supernatural hardening of Pharaoh's heart, is not to be thought cf. But among the natural punishments which God has attached to sin, would seem to be the hardening of the entire nature of the man who sins. If men "do not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them up to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:28); if they resist the Spirit, he "takes his holy Spirit from them" (Psalm 51:11); if they sin against light he withdraws the light; if they stifle their natural affections of kindness, compassion and the like, it is a law of his providence that those affections shall wither and decay. This seems to be the "hardening of the heart here intended - not an abnormal and miraculous interference with the soul of Pharaoh, but the natural effect upon his soul under God's moral government of those acts which he wilfully and wrongfully committed. If as I have argued, God intervened and hardened Pharaoh's heart, one could argue that this was an extraordinary intervention necessary by God (which did not compromise Pharaoh's free will because God is all-knowing), and that it did not happen again, in Christ's time or indeed now in our present time. I do not know the answer to this but we should be aware of these words of Scripture: John 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them." Romans 9:18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. On a similar theme to the hardening of hearts are the words of Jesus in Mark 4:11-12 where he quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 : 11He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, 12so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’a” And this from the Pulpit Commentary on Mark 4:11-12. Our Lord here explains why he spake to the mixed multitude in parables; namely, because most of them were as yet incapable of receiving the gospel: some would not believe it, others reviled it. Therefore our Lord here encourages his own disciples to search out his words spoken in parables, and humbly to inquire into their full meaning, that so they might become able ministers and efficient preachers of the gospel. Moreover, by this he shows that this efficiency cannot be obtained by our own strength, but must be humbly sought for from God. For it is his own gift which he bestows on the disciples of Christ, and denies to others, whom he leaves to the blindness of their own hearts. It is as though he said, "To you, my disciples, my apostles, it is given, since you believe in me as the Messiah, to have continually more clear revelations from me of the mysteries of God and of heaven, by which you shall day by day increase in the knowledge and love of him. But from the scribes and others, because they will not believe in me as their own Messiah, God will take away even that small knowledge which they have of him and of his kingdom. Yea, he will deprive them of all the special privileges which they have hitherto posessed." But the words are not limited in their application to those who were living on the earth when Christ sojourned here. He says to all in every age who come within the reach of his gospel, "Those who come to me with a sincere heart and a simple desire to know the truth, as you, my apostles, are doing, to them I will reveal the mysteries of my kingdom, and I will help them onwards in the path of holiness, by which they may at length attain to the heavenly kingdom. But they who have not this pure desire of truth, but indulge their own lusts and errors, from them that little knowledge of God and of Divine things will by degrees be taken away, and they will become altogether blind."
International abortion rates Russia - 53.7 (2004) Vietnam - 35.2 (2000) Kazakhstan - 35.0 (2004) Estonia - 33.3 (2005) Belarus - 31.7 (2004) Romania - 27.8 (2004) Ukraine - 27.5 (2004) Latvia - 27.3 (2004) Cuba - 24.8 (2004) China - 24.0 (1998)
"As of 2021, the abortion rate was 12 abortions per year per 1000 women aged 15–44 years.[35]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Russia
That's an interesting question Carol; I live on the UK border, actually about 500 yards from it, here in Ireland. If I look around, no one seems remotely to care about the war in Ukraine (apart from there being much concern over the massive influx of refugees - all fighting age, dark skinned men, and quite obviously not from anywhere near Ukraine - but that's another story). Personally, I think one of two things are at play here. 1. Putin is in league with Western leaders, and the entire thing is a high-stakes charade (aimed at increasing immigration into Europe and of course, "funding" a war where profit is one of (but not the) main goal. Wherein "confusion" and "chaos" are both encouraged and sponsored. Where the eites seek to take our eyes off the fact that the financial global system is collapsing. And they're aiming at a "reset" by stealth. 2. The other angle is that the main players are genuinely at war. Though quite why the West (driven by the current insane American leadership) wishes to take on a superpower in war; borders on insanity. But nonetheless has its roots in the culture of death that currently has the world in its grip. Which of course, in my opinion, can only be satanic at its core. Either way, the world has entered (and this is not news to anybody here) a dangerous, dangerous era. I can't help thinking that satan's 100 years has come, or is coming, to an end - and he is rolling his last dice via his minions, these so-called elites.
Ireland has recently started working on a bill to extend the upper limits on abortion to 9 months. This culture of death that pervades the West will, as you rightly say, bring us down. And as you rightly say also, it'll be good enough for us!
We're just about in Northern Ireland geographically, and the issue hasn't gotten to us yet. But Dublin, Killarney, Cork in fact all of the bigger cities - as well as a lot of the town's and villages are reaching saturation point. For instance, we often visit 2 little villages called Moville and Malin Town, in County Donegal. Movilles population is about 400 people; and the only hotel in the village houses upwards of 60 Ukrainians. Whilst Malin has a population of about 200, and houses approximately 50 "Ukrainians" in the local hotel . They've already been done for running a prostitution ring in Malin. I mean, this is absolutely unheard of, in rugged and sleepy Donegal. They are deliberately destroying our country. The hotels are packed with refugees up and down the country. Their goal is clear: they will make a move on pivate property soon. With the heart strings of the population being pulled on 'why people have to live crowded in hotels'. They're currently rushing through legislation changing the right to private property - TO - 'the right to appropriate housing '. The difference is massive! I think Ireland is one of the test centres for the new world order; to see how the theft of private property will go. Before they instigate it elsewhere. We are crazy times. Our leaders are insane!!
I agree -- Martin & Varadkar should be before the Irish courts for treason - So sad to hear of Inishowen being saturated and destroyed one of my favourite places in the world -- and one of my favourite pub/restaurants McGrory's of Culdaff. I am mourning over the state of my beloved Ireland. That lot in charge have destroyed Ireland quicker in 20 years than the English did in 7 centuries (I know Derry quite well I used to run for a club called Sparta AC many years ago - used to train at Templemore Sports complex and also in the city - the stiff hills of the city were demanding - I couldn't run out the door now lol)
Our system of government in Ireland has turned into a strange mix of laissez-faire Capitolism for the elites and soft-communism for the rest of us. My father was a policeman. When we were young children back in the sixties, I remember my father raising some concerns at the dinner table. Lets just say that he had insider information in the sense that he and his colleagues had their finger on the pulse of the city and the nation. Looking back on it now, he seemed very worried indeed. He said that they had been chatting with some of the detectives and these detectives were adamant that many of the schools had been infiltrated with 'communists'. These weren't exactly his words but that was the meaning of it. I hardly even knew what a communist meant. He said they were spreading their 'ideas' and introducing drugs to the school kids. He kept asking us if we had any knowledge of this or of drugs circulating. He was very concerned. Looking back, maybe he was right and that was the start of the decline. We thought he was being a bit 'mad' and forgot all about it. But maybe, like the frog in the heating pot, we and the guardians of our society just became blind to the changes that were slowly underway until it was too late. https://rumble.com/v26bjne-patriarc...roying-russia-will-mean-end-of-the-world.html
Lol I had a pint recently in McGrorys, stayed a couple of nights up there in Culdaff. We walked into McGrorys of a lovely sunny, summers evening and the backroom had a full choir on stage, it was beautiful... I know Sparta well, my kids used to run with them. And I'm a member of the sports complex gym. Its a very small world.... I'm a member of Greencastle golf club too. Have a place in Moville. I love inishowen. But like the rest of Ireland these traitors in power in Dublin are attacking and trying to destroy it. I keep telling friends that Darth Vader and Martin and the other cronies in Dublin will one day face justice for their treason to this land, be it in this life or the next. The martyr's and saints must truly be dismayed at their behaviour. I know Tredeau and Ardern and others have done similar to their counties; but the blood of the many, many martyr's purified and bound this land to God, and as you rightly say - these scumbegs gave it over to the enemy in a few short years. They have abortion, and are seeking no-term limit abortion. They have their gay marriage. They're seeking to teach pornography in schools. Left wing political correctness pervades everything. I'm absolutely disgusted at them. On the up side, the people are kopping-on. There's protests rising up and down the country. Just to be clear: these are not refugees. They arrive with no passport, no identification. And are not vetted. The borders have been flung open. They even sent 100 people to reside in Croke Park the other day! What madness!! They'll come for private property next. We really need God to intervene.
Your father is a very wise man. His words and actions remind me a lot of what's happening today. For many people don't even see it. And those that are trying to raise the alarm are looked upon in some ways, as your father was......as eccentric or out if touch. God almighty! ...what they are doing and have planned (and have been planning for so many years) is absolutely and completely diabolical!! I'm dreading its unfolding. My father passed recently, I'm glad he won't see it.
I am sorry to hear that jackzokay. I loved my father dearly but he passed away some years ago. I think in some ways he felt defeated by the rising tide of abominations he experienced. Lord have mercy upon them. May they rest in peace. I am not a fan of militant republicanism but like the sentiments expressed by De Valera is his famous speech.
