How does Exodus 14:8 connect to Romans 9:17-18 on God's purposes? Setting the Scene “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.” “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.’ Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.” The Common Thread: Divine Hardening • In both texts, God is the active subject: “the LORD hardened” (Exodus 14:8) and “He hardens whom He wants to harden” (Romans 9:18). • Pharaoh’s resistance is not random; it serves a deliberate, God-ordained design. • Hardening highlights God’s sovereignty—He directs even the obstinate heart to accomplish His larger plan (cf. Proverbs 21:1). God’s Purposes in View 1. Displaying Power • Exodus: The Red Sea deliverance showcases God’s supremacy over Egypt’s military might. • Romans: Paul links that historical display to God’s ongoing right to demonstrate power—past, present, future (cf. Psalm 77:14). 2. Proclaiming His Name • Exodus events reverberated through Canaan (Joshua 2:10–11) and even centuries later (1 Samuel 4:8). • Romans emphasizes the same outcome: global proclamation, “all the earth.” 3. Mercy and Judgment Side by Side • Israel receives deliverance; Egypt receives judgment. • Paul extrapolates: God freely shows mercy (e.g., to Israel in the wilderness) and justly hardens (e.g., Pharaoh), and both actions reveal His character (cf. Exodus 33:19). Lessons for Israel—and for Us • Israel’s bold march (Exodus 14:8) rests on God’s prior, sovereign action; our confidence rests the same way (Romans 8:31). • Salvation is never earned; it is God-initiated, God-secured (Ephesians 2:4-9). • Resistance to God ultimately magnifies Him; submission to God enjoys His mercy (James 4:6). Echoes in the Broader Canon • Exodus 9:16—Paul’s direct source for Romans 9:17. • Isaiah 63:12-14—God’s power and name linked to the Exodus. • Acts 2:22-23—Even the cross, humanity’s greatest rebellion, carried out “by God’s deliberate plan.” Take-Home Truths • God’s sovereignty is comprehensive—over rulers, nations, and individual hearts. • His purposes are twofold: to exalt His name and to rescue His people. • The very opposition that seems to threaten God’s plan becomes the stage on which He displays His glory. |
    |