Crosswords1 min ago
Battle with the Pharoah
42 Answers
Why did god need to visit the ten plagues on the Egyptians in order to force the Pharoah to set the Israelites free from slavery? If he is all powerful and almighty, couldn't he have just freed them instantly without going to all that trouble?
Also, when he killed all the first born with the final plague, why did the Israelites have to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doors with its blood so that the Angel of Death would pass them by? Didn't god know where the Israelites lived?
Also, when he killed all the first born with the final plague, why did the Israelites have to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doors with its blood so that the Angel of Death would pass them by? Didn't god know where the Israelites lived?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Indeed, the whole bible is full of plot holes like these. This site has a whole ton of them: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/
naomi...this story always strikes me as odd. Why did god punish other people for the pharoah's actions? Why didnt god just bump off the pharoah?
But then we get the answers.Pharoah didnt have a choice in the matter because god had hardened his heart (so much for free will) And why did god do this? so that he could show off his power.
The god of the old testament was something of an exhibitionest it appears.
But then we get the answers.Pharoah didnt have a choice in the matter because god had hardened his heart (so much for free will) And why did god do this? so that he could show off his power.
The god of the old testament was something of an exhibitionest it appears.
Jenstar: Thanks for the link.
Llamatron: it's all there isn't it. Of course whether we mere mortals understand it or not is another question. I expect those who know better will tell us we don't.
Wizard: I would have thought he'd have shown his power much more efficiently by just magically zapping the Israelites out of there instantly, but as you say he was probably just showing off. I can't imagine why an almighty, all powerful god would need to send envoys to argue his case in the first place, and then think up a series of horrendous tricks to finally get his way. And after all that, when the fleeing Israelites were pursued by the Egyptians, god had more tricks up his sleeve - he parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, and the Egyptians to be left either drowning or cut off. You'd think he'd just send a lightening bolt (or whatever his favourite method of murdering people is) to strike the Egyptians all dead the minute they began their pursuit, wouldn't you. Would have saved a whole lot of stress for the Israelites.
Llamatron: it's all there isn't it. Of course whether we mere mortals understand it or not is another question. I expect those who know better will tell us we don't.
Wizard: I would have thought he'd have shown his power much more efficiently by just magically zapping the Israelites out of there instantly, but as you say he was probably just showing off. I can't imagine why an almighty, all powerful god would need to send envoys to argue his case in the first place, and then think up a series of horrendous tricks to finally get his way. And after all that, when the fleeing Israelites were pursued by the Egyptians, god had more tricks up his sleeve - he parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, and the Egyptians to be left either drowning or cut off. You'd think he'd just send a lightening bolt (or whatever his favourite method of murdering people is) to strike the Egyptians all dead the minute they began their pursuit, wouldn't you. Would have saved a whole lot of stress for the Israelites.
The answers are in the story.
God wished to demonstrate His power, and this was the method He used.
The lamb was an innocent sacrifice, without sin or blemish, its blood smeared on the doorposts as a sign that those within were free from the curse of death.
All of these things were for mans' benefit, as demonstrations of Gods' power.
God wished to demonstrate His power, and this was the method He used.
The lamb was an innocent sacrifice, without sin or blemish, its blood smeared on the doorposts as a sign that those within were free from the curse of death.
All of these things were for mans' benefit, as demonstrations of Gods' power.
And were the murders of all the firstborn (which would have included babies) for the benefit off mankind as well?
God wished to demonstrate his power by killing people?
I believe Hitler wished to demonstrate his power by killing people as well but we called HIM a despot.
Its also noticable Theland that you dodged the point (yet again) that pharoae didnt have a choice in the matter because god himself hardened his heart.
Do you actually read these stories in any detail or do you just take in what christian apologists tell you?
God wished to demonstrate his power by killing people?
I believe Hitler wished to demonstrate his power by killing people as well but we called HIM a despot.
Its also noticable Theland that you dodged the point (yet again) that pharoae didnt have a choice in the matter because god himself hardened his heart.
Do you actually read these stories in any detail or do you just take in what christian apologists tell you?
Yes God hardened Pharoahs' heart. Many people have said, "Poor old Pharoah, he didn't have choice." But the fact is, that God says that when we choose wrongly, he will give us up to a lie and a delusion.
Pharoah chose to keep the Israelites as slaves, despite the fact that he knew it was wrong, so God gave him up to that view, in other words, he hardened his heart. But don't forget that Pharoah was like the rst of us, in that he exercised his choice.
Pharoah chose to keep the Israelites as slaves, despite the fact that he knew it was wrong, so God gave him up to that view, in other words, he hardened his heart. But don't forget that Pharoah was like the rst of us, in that he exercised his choice.
From what I understand reading the story, God allowed Pharoah to become even more stubborn, even after several demonstrations of Gods' power. That's how I read it anyway.
I don't think you have to be a believer to read the same story and come to the same conclusion.
If you consider it to be a piece of fiction, then read it as such, and I think you will still come to the same conclusion, because that is simply what the text says.
I don't think you have to be a believer to read the same story and come to the same conclusion.
If you consider it to be a piece of fiction, then read it as such, and I think you will still come to the same conclusion, because that is simply what the text says.
That's strange. All of a sudden slavery is cruel. Yet previously you conspicously failed to condemn it.
God condemned the fact that His people were being held in cruel slavery, and freed His people from it.
Jesus was interested in every mans relationship with God, first and foremost. That is not to say that He condoned slavery.
Also, the term "slavery" has different meanings.
Somebody committing themselves to a fixed term period of work for a master in order to pay off debts, although ulimately free, would be termed a slave.
Jesus was interested in every mans relationship with God, first and foremost. That is not to say that He condoned slavery.
Also, the term "slavery" has different meanings.
Somebody committing themselves to a fixed term period of work for a master in order to pay off debts, although ulimately free, would be termed a slave.
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