I was teaching a class titled 'Exodus/Deuteronomy' to a group of students who represented numerous denominations. One of them was a very serious and devout young man. He had been taught the theology of John Calvin represented in the acronym 'tulip'. He was convinced by his church leaders to believe in the god defined in Calvinism. As a result, he had chosen not to father any children in case they were predetermined for eternal fire.

I was teaching on the hardening of the heart motif in the Exodus narrative. I carefully pointed out how each time Pharaoh's heart was hardened it was in contrast to God's mercy. For example, when the Nile was turned to blood, God allowed for the Egyptians to get on their knees and dig in the sand along the banks of the Nile to get water. Every good General knows if you cut off a people's water supply you win the war. But God was merciful to the Egyptians and of course Pharaoh never kneeled in the sand to get a drink of water! - You can read more in my book 'Interpretive Adventures' on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

So, this devout young man stood up and began to share his heart as the burden of an egregious teaching was lifted from his soul. As I taught he realized that God's acts of mercy are hidden from us because we are distracted by acts of power. He learned God did not control Pharaoh's heart by power, rather the hardening of Pharaoh's heart was his incompatible nature as a self-deified man to resist any power that collided with his status as Pharaoh. Pharaoh was simply a ‘strong man’ personality like all demagogues.

Today that young man in my class is one of the professors at The Institute for G.O.D. Int'l, teaches Hebrew, Exodus/Deuteronomy and other courses. He remains active serving people in Africa and also has a growing family!

Sadly, I've had other encounters with souls/persons who have been harmed by Calvin's absurd theology of a God who cannot act in history. The revelation of God is lost in Calvin's theology and the glorious adventure of life is reduced to a predetermined construction that is nothing less than cruel and absurd.