There has always been confusion and debate within the church as to just how much and “if” God influences men to think and act a certain way in order to carry out the will and desire of God’s plans. For instance, did God harden Pharaoh’s heart so he would not let the children of Israel go? Or did God just “know” that Pharaoh would act a certain way on his on to carry out God’s plans?

            I think the following Scriptures will show, without doubt, that there are times when God influences men to act a certain way by using divine intervention in order to carry out His plans and His will. I do not mean by this that God causes men to do things that are contrary and against their own nature and creates in them a mindset to sin. But God uses the nature and personalities of men in ways that they are already influenced by their own desires. God uses these traits at times to cause them to act in ways to further the plans God intends to take place. .
Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)

9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.  

Exodus 4:21 (NKJV)

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

Deuteronomy 2:30 (NKJV)

30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.

1 Kings 22:23 (NKJV)
²³ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”  

Romans 9:17-18 (NKJV)

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

Daniel 1:9 (NKJV)

9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

Ezra 6:22 (NKJV)

22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.  

            So there you have several Scriptures that show, without doubt, that God can influence the hearts of men in order to do His own will. God can influence the minds and hearts of men in ways that causes them to act in ways that carries out His divine will and plans.

            Does the potter have power over the clay?

Romans 9:20-23 (NKJV)

20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,  

Carl O. Cooper