THE HARDENING OF PHARAOH’S HEART

One of the more interesting statements found in the Old Testament is made by God to Moses
prior to going into Egypt to seek Israel’s release. In Exodus 4:21, we read the following: “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 you hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.’” A
similar thought is expressed in Exodus 7:3 – “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My
signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” And during the course of the various plagues, we see
the Lord hardening the heart of Pharaoh (Exodus 9:12, 10:1, 10:20 and 11:10).

Yet, on other occasions we read that it was Pharaoh who hardened his own heart. For
example, when Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and it turned into a serpent and was
ultimately swallowed up the magician’s rods/serpents (Exodus 7:8-12), we read that “Pharaoh’s
heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said” (verse 13). We also see similar
instances of Pharaoh hardening his heart in Exodus 8:15, 19 and 32. So the question becomes,
which is it? Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart, or did Pharaoh harden his own heart. Let’s consider
the following.

God, being all-knowing, was well aware of the disposition of Pharaoh’s heart. As a matter of
fact, we see the pride of Pharaoh on full display when, after Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh the
initial “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go’,” that he responded “Who is the Lord,
that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go” (Exodus
5:1-2). In essence, he is exalting himself above Almighty God. Additionally, the ten plagues that
came upon Egypt all had connection to pagan gods the Egyptians worshiped, with God showing His
power over them all. So Pharaoh’s hard heart was a result of his own stubborn will and choices.

There is an old quote that says, “The same sun moistens the wax and hardens the clay.” The
source (the sun) is the same, but the substance is different. Pharaoh’s heart, through arrogance and
pride, hardened like clay against God commands. May we soften our hearts to God’s teachings and
allow them to direct our steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).