Hardened Hearts

I was reading in Romans 9 and 10 Monday night and began to question.  Verse 14 says “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  It speaks of God hardening Pharaoh's heart.  I started to look up commentary and websites on this issue.  Many talking about how can people be held responsible if God hardened their hearts...in other words, they didn't really have a choice.  So I questioned, I prayed.  And the answer didn't come.

Last night I continued to read, starting with Romans 11 and found my answer.

Verse 12 states:  Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

If you read through these chapters, you will see that it is not stating God chose to harden a heart just so they couldn't be saved, but because they were already transgressing and refusing to turn to God.  God hardened the heart so they would keep making mistakes to the point that they might decide to ultimately turn to God. 

Romans 9: ¹⁰ Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. ¹¹ Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

One may first read this and think that God chose to hate Esau before he was born, that it wasn't Esau's fault.  And yet, God knows the future.  So He knew beforehand what Esau would do.  He didn't harden his heart because He didn't chose him, but because He knew Esau wouldn't choose God.