Reading through the book of Exodus, have you ever wondered about God’s
role in hardening the heart of Pharaoh?
In Ex 4:21 the LORD, in commissioning Moses, stated that He would harden
the heart of Pharaoh so that he would not grant Moses’ request to let the
people of Israel leave Egypt. This statement about God hardening Pharaoh’s
heart is repeated in Ex 7:3-4 and practically demonstrated in his taking no
heed of God’s power evidenced by the first miracles performed through Moses and
Aaron i.e. Aaron’s rod turning into a serpent and the Nile turning into blood.
However, by reading Ex 3:19 we get a clearer understanding of this
important aspect of Scripture. Ex 3:19 reveals God’s omniscience; He knew
beforehand the extent of Pharaoh’s obstinacy.
Pharaoh was the proud monarch of Egypt, the greatest nation in the world
- a veritable superpower in its day. Pharaoh was revered by his people as a
god. Historical references reveal that the Pharaohs were believed to be the
sons of Ra, supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon. He was probably the son of
the Pharaoh that had commanded that all Hebrew baby boys be drowned in the
Nile! Pharaoh’s heart must already have been hardened for him to continue the
brutal slavery of the Israelites. His deeds were evidence of his already
hardened heart, devoid of compassion.
Pharaoh also lied to Moses and Aaron that he would let the people go if
they prayed for the plague of frogs to be reversed. After the frogs were
removed, he reneged on his promise, refusing to let the people go. This could
not be God’s doing, for God cannot coerce people into disobedience to His
commands; He is not a liar, neither does He advocate men should lie. Pharaoh
made his own choice to further harden his heart (Ex 8:1-15). Ex 8:15 clearly confirms this.
In Ex 8:20-31, Pharaoh again lied to Moses and Aaron that he would relent
if they prayed that the next plague, i.e. flies, would cease. However, verse 32
confirms that he once again chose to harden his own heart and break his
promise. When God struck Egypt with the plague of hail and thunder Pharaoh
again lied, pretending to acknowledge his sin against God and supposedly
repenting. However, no sooner had the plague ceased, than he declared his
stubborn refusal to let the people go, revealing that his was not a genuine
repentance. God, in His great forbearance and patience, let the hail cease so
that Pharaoh would know that the earth belonged to Him. Pharaoh, however, did
not yet know the LORD or accept His sovereignty (Ex 9:23-34).
The Scriptures reveal a pattern. Pharaoh’s heart was already hard. God
knew his heart, as He knows the thoughts and hearts of every man. When Pharaoh
hardened his own heart, God let him continue in his obstinacy in order to use
what Pharaoh intended for evil, for His own glory. As a result of Pharaoh’s
obstinate refusal to let the people go, many Egyptians would come to know the
LORD and a “mixed multitude” would leave Egypt when Pharaoh finally let them
go. God used Pharaoh’s proud, stubborn, rebellious heart to showcase his glory
and might among the nations of the world (Ex 12:38).
God does not take away anyone’s freedom of choice. That is precisely why
he gave Adam and Eve a choice in the beginning; they could choose to obey or
disobey. However, their obedience or
disobedience didn’t change who God is for in His great mercy, He wrought for
all mankind a plan of salvation. The promised Seed of the Woman would crush the
head of the serpent and restore humankind to fellowship with God (Gen 3:15-16).
