Why Did God ‘Harden’ Pharaoh’s Heart in Exodus?

In Psalm 10:4 , the psalmist says, “ In his pride the
wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts
there is no room for God.” Pride was the root of
wicked Pharaoh’s problem in the book of Exodus
—a sin that hardened his heart over time, but the
Bible tells us God also hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
What can we learn from this Egyptian ruler’s
downward spiral into destruction?
What Role Did Pharaoh Play in the
Story of Moses and the Israelites in
Egypt?
The Pharaoh who oppressed Israel was not the
ruler Joseph knew (Exodus 1:8 ). Some believe
this new Pharaoh was Rameses—also spelled
Ramses or Ramesses. Rameses is the name of a
city during the exodus (1:11 ). But the Bible does
not give us this ruler’s name. Archaeology gives
some clues, but ancient Egyptian history is
confusing and unreliable. Egyptian records
include contradictions and sometimes leave out
historical events—especially if they shed a bad
light on a particular Pharaoh.
It appears the Pharaoh who ruled in the early
chapters of Exodus was dead by the time Moses
sought to free Israel (Exodus 2:23; 3:7-9 ).
Rameses II may have been the early oppressor of
God’s people, and his son, Merneptah, would
have ruled during the exodus. But Amenhotep II
is also identified as the exodus Pharaoh by many
biblical interpreters—the most popular choice.
However, if dates of Egyptian dynasties are
shifted in Egyptian chronology—which is often
inaccurate—Neferhotep I may also be a
possibility or even Tutankhamun. There simply
isn’t enough detail to positively identify the
correct Pharaoh.


What can be known is this: The Pharaoh of the
exodus was incredibly resistant to letting the
Israelites leave Egypt! The pharaohs had
enslaved the Israelites—the number of which is
disputed by Bible scholars—for 430 years
(Exodus 12:40-41 ) before the exodus. Ancient
Pharaohs were considered gods, which
contributed to their arrogance. The pharaoh of
the exodus was an evil, totalitarian dictator—
cruel and vindictive, brutally abusing and
oppressing the Israelites (Exodus 1:9-16; 2:23;
3:9; 6:5 ).
What Is a Hardened Heart—and
Can it Get Harder?

The writer of Hebrews warned, “ Do not harden
your hearts ” (Hebrews 3:8 ) for good reason. A
hardened, obstinate, and calloused heart dulls a
person’s ability to understand truth (Mark
8:17-18 ). It can cause people to resist and
disobey God. This was certainly Pharaoh’s issue,
seated in his willful sin and lack of repentance. A
deeply hardened heart is like the “ seared
conscience” in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 . God gives such
people over to their sinful desires, emanating
from a debased, reprobate mind ( Romans
1:18-24, 28 ). Pride and arrogance certainly can
deceive and harden a heart ( Obadiah 1:3-4;
Daniel 5:20-21 ).
The Bible speaks both of Pharaoh hardening his
own heart and God hardening Pharaoh’s heart.
Before we deal with those two seemingly
contrary truths, it’s helpful to understand what
the word “harden” means and how a heart
hardens. In “God’s Hand and the Pharaoh’s
Heart,” Pastor Joe Rigney writes about three
words for “harden” in the Hebrew language.
These words indicate a progression.
First, Rigney says, “harden” can mean “to
stiffen.” This happened long before Moses met
with Pharaoh. The ruler was already stiff-necked
and cruel. Second, “harden” means “to
strengthen.” This word occurs numerous times in
the storyline. Sometimes it is ambiguous as to
who is causing the strengthening, and
sometimes God actively does it. This
strengthening is a reinforcement in the direction
a person is already moving. Third, “harden”
means “to make heavy; to deaden.”
In other words, Pharaoh was already stiff-necked
and rebellious. He continued to dig in, doubling
down in arrogance, and God strengthened or
reinforced that direction. Finally, all ambiguity
disappeared. Pharaoh crossed the line, refusing
to repent “even when his servants urged him not
to ruin Egypt (10:7 ), Rigney said. The king’s heart
was set like stone against God, so God deadened
it.
Did Pharaoh Harden His Own Heart?
Pharaoh’s pride and arrogance caused rebellion
against the Word of God spoken through Moses.
When Moses tried to give him a proper, humble
view of God, Pharaoh refused to consider his
words. In “Danger in Pride,” Jamie Wood wrote,
“Pride beckons you to buy into a lie that you are
something you are not. … Pride is a rebellion
against God because it attributes to self the glory
and honor of God alone.” But also, she said,
“Humility forges the way for wisdom.” Pharaoh
was far from being humble. He wanted all the
glory, honor, and authority in his kingdom, so he
made the foolish choice to defy the God of Israel.
Pharaoh selfishly put his own reputation above
the Egyptians’ welfare. When his leaders and
magicians understood the terrible plagues were
from the God of the Israelites—the leaders and
people highly regarded Moses—the king ignored
their concerns (8:19; 10:7; 11:3 ). His authority
would not be challenged, and his glory would not
be shared.
In the first five and the seventh plagues God sent
on Egypt, the hardening seems to come through
Pharaoh’s will, or the source is ambiguous.
After the plague of the blood, his heart “ became
hard ” (7:22 ). After frogs covered the land, he
“ hardened his own heart ” (8:15 ). When Egypt was
infested with gnats, his heart “ was hard ” ( 8:19 ).
When the flies came, “ Pharaoh hardened his own
heart” (8:32 ). When the Egyptians’ livestock died,
Pharaoh’s heart “ was hard ” (9:7 ). When the
heavy hail came, Pharaoh “ hardened his own
heart” and it “ was hardened ” (9:34-35 ). In “When
Pharaoh’s Heart Grew Harder,” Tim Mackie
wrote, “God called Pharaoh to humble himself
and acknowledge that God is his authority and
that he cannot redefine good and evil on Egyptian
terms.” Pharaoh refused.
Why Did God Also Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?
Suddenly, the pattern changes. With the plagues
of the boils (9:8-12 ), locusts (10:13-20 ),
darkness (10:21-27 ), and death of the firstborn
(11:1-10 ), the Scriptures say God “ hardened
Pharaoh’s heart .” That hardening continued even
as he pursued the Israelites leaving Egypt
(14:4-8 ). God hardened Pharaoh’s heart because
1) Pharaoh was ungodly, not innocent; 2) he was
already hardening his own heart; and 3) God
sovereignly purposed to demonstrate His power
and glory even through Pharaoh’s hardening
(Romans 9:17-18 ).
God predicted Pharaoh’s resistance in Exodus
3:19 : “ I know that the king of Egypt will not let you
go unless a mighty hand compels him .” Early on,
Pharaoh rejected God (Exodus 5:2 ). God
extended mercy with warnings throughout the
plagues—giving Pharaoh opportunities to humble
himself, repent, and change his evil ways—but
with increasing rebellion, Pharaoh chose to bring
more judgment on himself and Egypt.
Some might ask, “If God hardened Pharaoh’s
heart, how can Pharaoh be morally responsible?”
Can both God’s sovereign choice and man’s
responsibility be true? In “Why Did God Harden
Pharaoh’s Heart?,” Daryl E. Witmer referenced
Romans 9 : “God is in such total control that He
can and does sovereignly elect to show mercy to
some people while hardening the hearts of
others. And He is just in doing so.”
In the same article, Dr. John Piper wrote, “There
is a genuine inclination in God’s heart to spare
those who have committed treason against His
kingdom. But his motivation is complex, and not
every true element in it rises to the level of
effective choice…. There are holy and just
reasons for why the affections of God’s heart
have the nature and intensity and proportion that
they do.” God’s hardening of Pharaoh was not
capricious or manipulative. Neither did it mitigate
Pharaoh’s culpability. People are fully
responsible and accountable for their actions and
choices.
Erik Raymond wrote in “Why and How Did God
‘Harden’ Pharaoh’s Heart?” that God hardened
Pharaoh’s heart as He simply revealed himself.
“He revealed his power, supremacy, love for his
people, hatred of sin, etc. through the signs and
wonders of the plagues,” Raymond said. “It is a
biblical axiom that revelation devoid of
illuminating grace hardens sinful hearts” (see
John 8:45 ). God does not desire anyone to perish
(2 Peter 3:9 ). He gave Pharaoh numerous
opportunities to repent, but his depraved,
unbelieving heart bucked against the knowledge
of God and suppressed the truth in
unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-19 ). God judges
all people justly; and neither Moses nor Paul
suggest God was unjust or immoral in his
dealings with Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16; Romans
3:5-8 ). At some point, God “hardens,” leaving the
reprobate to pursue their sinful, rebellious ways.
What Lessons Can We Learn from
the Story of Pharaoh?

Both good and evil begin in the heart (Luke
6:43-45 ). Pharaoh’s responses teach us much
about a hardened heart.
Consider the cause. Pharaoh’s heart didn’t just
happen. Jesus told His disciples hardness of
heart comes from a sinful, unrepentant heart
(Mark 8:17-19 ). Sins build up and can cause an
inability to distinguish between right and wrong.
The conscience can be desensitized or
“seared” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 ). Just as King
Nebuchadnezzar was deposed because of
arrogance and a heart hardened with pride
(Daniel 5:20-21 ); those sins were at the root of
Pharaoh’s hard heart. God detests and opposes
pride, and Christians must guard against it
(Proverbs 16:5, 18; James 4:6-7 ).

Read Also
4 Faithful Lessons We Can Learn From When Paul And Silas Were In Prison


Consider the consequences. A hard heart can dull
the senses so people cannot see or understand
truth. Dr. Charles Stanley wrote in “The Danger
of a Hardening Heart” that Pharaoh “chose to
ignore the obvious” even as his magicians came
to their senses and acknowledged God’s work
—“This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19 ). The
desensitized conscience—debased and immoral
(Romans 1:18-24 )—is not trustworthy for making
wise choices, because it ignores or rejects God’s
wisdom. God warns believers not to be wise in
their own eyes, but to fear God and turn from evil
(Proverbs 3:7 ).


Consider God’s solution. Sadly, Pharaoh
continually rejected Jehovah ’s remedy for his
hard heart, failing to recognize his prideful
spiritual condition. God knew this wicked ruler’s
heart—that he would reject His mercy. Unlike
David, who prayed for God to search and know
his heart (Psalm 139:23-24 ), Pharaoh spurned
correction. He refused to repent. Christians know
the Lord offers life and hope through confession
of sin and obedience to His Word so they will not
develop a hard heart (1 John 1:9; Psalm
119:9-11; 2 Timothy 3:16 ).
If those developing a hard heart would only come
to God, He would pour out His love and offer
mercy and hope. In “When Does God Harden a
Sinner’s Heart?” John Piper wrote, “there is no
hardness in the human heart against God, either
from God’s decree or from human depravity,
which is so hard that God himself cannot
overcome it and save the hardest sinner” (Ezekiel
11:19; Jeremiah 32:17 ). The writer of Hebrews
appeals to us: “ Today… do not harden your
hearts” (Hebrews 3:7-8 ). Regarding that, in “The
Danger of Unbelief,” Dr. Robert Jeffress wrote,
“To delay trusting God when you are tested, to
delay obeying God when you are ordered, is to
risk developing a hard heart and falling away
from the living God.” When it comes to dealing
with a hard heart, “tomorrow” is a deceiving,
dangerous word!

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