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Battle with the Pharoah

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naomi24 | 08:47 Sat 10th Mar 2007 | Religion & Spirituality
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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?
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Indeed, the whole bible is full of plot holes like these. This site has a whole ton of them: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/
Don't worry, I'm sure Theland will answer with some elaborate circular argument nonsense.

It's funny how evidence for the Bible comes from the Bible itself. And if that's not enough then well, God moves in mysterious ways and we're not meant to understand his plan.
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.
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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.
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.
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?
No doubt the christians on here that dont like these barbaric and frankley ridiculous tales will say that they are allogorical...
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.
Theland, that doesnt make sense. Pharoes hardened his heart and wouldnt let the israelites go.So god hardened pharoaes heart so that he wouldnt let the israelites go?
Why would god harden pharoes heart if it was already hardened?
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.
Anyway, even if pharoae exercised his choice why take it out on those that didnt have a choice? the children and babies had no choice whatsoever but they had to suffer.All because your psycho god wanted to show off
The children of the Israelites didn't have a choice, they were doomed to a cruel slavery.
Until God intervened.
I see. Two wrongs make a right then?
I'm not in a position to judge God, but to trust God.
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.
Typical christian double speak.
The israelites were ordered to TAKE slaves for themselves.
Dont see any voluntary servitude here in order to pay of debts. In addition, the children of slaves were considered the property of the owner.
We witness double standards regarding slavery today - look at agency workers on the minimum wage - put up with it or starve! Don't see many ASHes protesting in the streets about it though.
By the way...who is judging god? We are merely questioning your obediance to an ancient text. A text that has no merit amongst unbelievers, therefore we are not judging a god in whom we dont believe in.
I DO believe the texts. But I refuse to succumb to the temptation to judge God. I was answering your question about two wrongs etc, that was my response.

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