Why does the bible say that God "hardens hearts"? What does that mean?

I think it's mentioned several times, but the instance that stands out to me (actually several instances) is when Moses was trying to persuade the Pharaoh to release the Hebrews.

More than once, Moses speaks to God about the predicament, and more than once God tells Moses to beseech the Pharaoh, except "I [God] will harden [the Pharaoh's] heart; that he will not let the people go."

In this context, "hardening the heart" has nothing to do with physically solidifying cardiac tissue. It means one has a choice between acting beneficially or not. God hardens the Pharaoh's heart, meaning that God makes the Pharaoh choose not to release the Hebrews.

It means that the God which designed the human body, would KNOW which bit is the data processing unit, and which bit just pumps blood.

It means that the God which "inspired" the Bible, with its over 800 references to the HEART as the seat of emotions and memory, is not the God which designed the pump.

Humans, worldwide, have used the figure of speech "heart", because they FEEL a change in heart rate when emotions and memories are aroused.

By the time the function of the BRAIN was discovered (NOT divinely revealed), "heart" had become the common belief, the most-used figure of speech.

Hardens Your Heart, Blinds Your Sight and Reprobates Your Mind.

Alternatively one might be inclined to See, Learn and be Healed.

There is a reason for the former - usually to keep a greater or persistent evil in check or like Pharaoh keep one from changing its mind. Yet in weekness - is found Gods Strength. This I can testify is true. So it means that God exists and that he does get involved with your affairs- at least their is probable cause.

In his dealings with humankind, Jehovah God has patiently allowed individuals and nations, although deserving of death, to continue in existence.

Whereas some have responded favorably to this by putting themselves in line for receiving mercy, others have hardened themselves to an even greater degree against God and against his people.

Since Jehovah does not prevent persons from becoming stubborn, he is spoken of as letting them become obstinate or making their hearts hard.

When he finally does execute vengeance upon the stubborn ones, this results in a demonstration of his great power and causes his name to be declared.

It reveals the power of God for one thing.

But lets look at an example

When Moses told Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go, Pharaoh at first agreed.

But God saw an opportunity to show Pharaoh, the world, and you and me his great power and majesty. So he supernaturally hardened Pharaohs heart to change his mind and not to agree to letting the Hebrews go. Then GOD saved his own people by delivering them from Egyptian slavery and led them into the Promised land of Israel.

It means the Biblical god can't give a human being free will since free will and hearten one's heart are paradoxical.

A person can better know the true meanings of Bible stories if he or she meditates on them while carefully reciting Hail Marys.

It means He will make an example out of someone in order to remind the masses who's boss!

It's odd to me that the Bible clearly addresses this issue, and yet we see this question over and over:

<<What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory>>

it means that those who harden their hearts towards God, God eventually makes it irreversible