Living Room Study

Exodus 10

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may do these miraculous signs of Mine among them, and so that you may tell your son and grandson how severely I dealt with the Egyptians and performed miraculous signs among them, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”  Exodus 10:1-2

There has been an ages-long debate over the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.  Some hold to a strict belief that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, while others say Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

Those who say God hardened Pharaoh’s heart usually carry the inference that He kept Pharaoh from believing.  It is as if Pharaoh could not have softened, even if he wanted to.  I find that hard to believe because the bible says that God does not delight in punishing the wicked, but rather He delights when they turn from their wickedness and trust Him. (Ezekiel 33:11)

I believe God gave Pharaoh the same chance He gave anyone else, but He knew Pharaoh would not believe.  God knew the same plagues that would make many repent, would make many others hate Him even more.  In a sense, the Lord DID harden Pharaoh’s heart, because the plagues came from God.  That said, it was totally Pharaoh’s decision as to how he would respond.  God just knew.

Perhaps, the best testimony to this interpretation is found in the final verses of Exodus, chapter 9.

“When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his officials.  So Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he did not let the Israelites go, as the Lord said through Moses.”  Exodus 9: 34-35

In a similar way, the Lord did not make the Israelites believe, any more than He made Pharaoh not believe.  Each man had a choice.  (Joshua 24: 15)  And each person has a choice today…because God is the same: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The question is: How do you respond to God’s presence in your life?  Do you accept Him, or live in denial?  Do you submit or rebel?  Have you chosen His judgment or deliverance?

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins