WHY GOD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART

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In the book of Exodus chapter 4 verse 21, God said He would harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let the people of Israel leave Egypt. Let's read the passage:

(Exodus 4:21 KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

 The questions many have asked are:

  1. Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? 
  2. Is it not unjust for God to harden Pharaoh’s heart and still punish him and Egypt for what he decided when his heart was hardened? 
  3. Would God hold Pharaoh accountable for his sins seeing that He is the one that hardened his heart?
The answer to these questions can be found in God's own words in Exodus chapters 3 & 7:

(Exodus 3:8 KJV) And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  

 (Exodus 7:3-4 KJV) And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

The above verses tell us that God came down Himself to deliver the Israelites and to execute judgements upon Pharaoh and the other Egyptians. From the verses, we can deduce that the fate of Pharaoh and the other Egyptians had already been decided before God came down to pronounce the sentence and execute the judgement.

It is interesting to note that Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary shows us that the Hebrew word, "shephet" which was translated as judgements in verse 4 also means "a sentence". Remember when a court of law finds a person guilty, the next step is sentencing. This seems to be the case of Pharaoh. He had already been judged and found guilty. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is part of the sentencing and execution of the judgement of God which took place before their final destruction.

God’s judicial hardening is part of sentencing of a guilty person who is condemned to do and be what he himself has chosen. This comes after a significant period of disobedience on the part of those whose hearts were hardened. God is just, He only punishes the guilty, never the innocent. At the point of sentencing, God may decide to have mercy on the person or may allow the guilty to live longer for other purpose or may mark the guilty for immediate destruction. In the case of Pharaoh, He let him live so that He could multiple His signs and wonders and execute His judgement in the land of Egypt.

(Romans 9:18 KJV) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 

 (Exodus 9:16 GNT) But to show you my power I have let you live so that my fame might spread over the whole world. 

 (Romans 9:17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up [let you stand], that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 

 My prayer is that one should not enter into judgement with God; otherwise such a person will not be justified on his/ her own except through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 (Psalms 143:2 KJV) And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 

 Apart from hardening of heart, other similar terms used to describe God's judicial sentencing include "giving up someone to uncleanness and reprobate mind" and "sending strong delusion". See bible references below: 

 (Romans 1:24 KJV) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. 

 (Romans 1:28 KJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. 

 (2 Thessalonians 2:11 KJV) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

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