19: A Strengthened Heart

In this episode of The BEMA Podcast, Marty Solomon and Brent Billings delve into the story of the Passover and the Exodus, focusing on Rabbi David Foreman's teachings from "The Exodus You Almost Passed Over." They explore complex questions about the significance of the Passover name, the emphasis on the firstborn, and the purpose of the ten plagues. The discussion highlights the nuances of God's interaction with Pharaoh, distinguishing between the two Hebrew words for "hardened heart"—*kavod* (heavy, unseeing) and *chazak* (strong, resolved)—revealing God's pursuit of Pharaoh's heart alongside the liberation of the Israelites, and the invitation for the Isrealites to be God's firstborn.