Exodus 14:4

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ClemtheCatholic

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“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so.” ~ Exodus 14:4

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s heard this before and felt a little uncomfortable! How do we interpret it?
 
Exodus 4:21 has a similar expression:
And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

On the above verse, Haydock’s Commentary says, in part:
I shall harden, &c. Not by being the efficient cause of his sin; but by withdrawing from him, for his just punishment, the dew of grace, that might have softened his heart; and so suffering him to grow harder and harder. (Challoner) (source)
 
On a similar expression in Exodus 7:3, Haydock’s Commentary also says, in part:

I shall harden, &c.; not by being the efficient cause of his hardness of heart, but by permitting it; and by withdrawing grace from him, in punishment of his malice; which alone was the proper cause of his being hardened. (Challoner) (source)
 
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