Was Pharaoh G-d's puppet? ~ Cross reference of Romans 9:16 to Exodus 9:16
Paul uses the verse from Exodus 9:16 to say that Pharaoh was a puppet and he had no free will. He had to keep Israel enslaved because G-d raised him up to show his power. He then takes this point to drive home a lie that all humans do not have much to say about their life as "god has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden"[ who will turn to Jesus and who will not turn to Jesus ] If you read the Exodus of Israel in context, you will realize that when Abraham asks for a sign to show that he will have many children, G-d tells Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14 that Abraham will have many children and they will be strangers in an alien land and will be enslaved, and after 400 years they will return to the promised land. This is what happens in Exodus, when Moses goes to free the Israelites from Egypt. G-d tells Moses in advance that Pharaoh will harden his heart and not let them leave and that G-d will bring them out with a mighty hand so that G-d c...