How does Exodus 10:20 connect with Romans 9:17 regarding God's purpose for Pharaoh? Setting the Scene Exodus 10:20: “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go.” Romans 9:17: “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’” Key Observations from Exodus 10:20 • The action is God’s: “the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” • The immediate result: Pharaoh refuses to release Israel. • The ongoing pattern: this hardening is one in a series (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 14:4). Paul’s Use of Exodus in Romans 9:17 • Paul quotes Exodus 9:16 but the principle stretches through every plague—including Exodus 10:20. • God “raised up” Pharaoh—placed him on Egypt’s throne at that moment in history. • Two stated goals: – Display divine power (through the plagues and Red Sea). – Proclaim God’s name “in all the earth,” spreading witness far beyond Egypt. How Exodus 10:20 Connects to Romans 9:17 • Each instance of hardening, including 10:20, fulfills the “purpose” Paul cites. • Pharaoh’s refusal creates the platform for the next plague; every plague magnifies God’s power. • The cumulative effect of repeated hardening ensures that by the Red Sea climax, the whole ancient world hears (Joshua 2:9–11; 1 Samuel 4:8). • Paul anchors his doctrine of divine sovereignty on this pattern: God actively directs events—even rebellion—to forward His redemptive plan. Implications for Understanding God’s Purpose • God’s sovereignty is meticulous; nothing—including a ruler’s stubborn heart—falls outside His directive will (Proverbs 21:1). • Human responsibility remains: Pharaoh willingly resists (Exodus 8:15, 32). Both truths stand side by side without contradiction in Scripture. • God’s larger mission is missional: judgment on Egypt becomes global proclamation of His glory (Exodus 15:14–16; Psalm 106:8). Related Scriptures to Deepen the Link • Exodus 9:13–16—immediate context Paul quotes. • Exodus 14:31—Israel “feared the LORD” after the Red Sea, showing the power was displayed. • Deuteronomy 4:34–35—Moses reflects on the plagues as proof “there is no other God.” • Isaiah 63:12–14—later prophets revisit the event as a showcase of divine strength. • Acts 4:27–28—apostles apply the same sovereignty principle to the crucifixion of Christ. Takeaway in One Sentence Every hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, including Exodus 10:20, was divinely orchestrated so that God’s unrivaled power would resound through history, a truth Paul crystallizes in Romans 9:17 to affirm that God’s sovereign purposes always stand. |
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