Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart according to Exodus 8:20? Canonical Setting and Textual Observations Exodus 8:20 records the LORD’s command before the fourth plague: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning, present yourself before Pharaoh as he goes out to the water, and say to him, “This is what the LORD says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.”’ ” Although the hardening is not mentioned in this verse, it is imbedded in the larger narrative bracketed by 7:3—“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart…”—and 8:32—“But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also.” The question “Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart?” must therefore be answered by the whole Exodus cycle (7–14), interpreted in light of the rest of Scripture. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility Scripture attributes the same event to God’s will and to Pharaoh’s obstinacy. Thirteen times God is said to harden Pharaoh; six times Pharaoh hardens himself. Romans 9:17-18 quotes Exodus 9:16 to affirm God’s right to “have mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.” Yet 1 Samuel 6:6 admonishes the Philistines, “Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did?”—showing Pharaoh’s culpability. The biblical worldview rejects fatalism: God’s decree encompasses, but never violates, real human choice (cf. Acts 2:23). God’s Purposes Revealed in Exodus 8:20 Context 1. To display His power: “I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:3). 2. To proclaim His name: “But for this very reason I have raised you up, to display My power in you, so that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). 3. To secure Israel’s redemption: The plagues culminate in the Passover, prefiguring Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7). 4. To bring Egypt to experiential knowledge that “I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:5; 8:22). God’s judgments were evangelistic as well as punitive (cf. Exodus 12:38—the “mixed multitude” that joined Israel). 5. To teach successive generations: “That you may tell your son and grandson how severely I dealt with the Egyptians…so that you may know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 10:2). Demonstration of Yahweh’s Supremacy over Egyptian Deities Each plague targets an Egyptian god: the swarm of flies (likely linked to the fly-headed god Uatchit) mocks lower-Nile divinities; turning the Nile to blood discredits Hapi; darkness strikes Ra. God’s hardening ensures Pharaoh’s continued resistance long enough for every idol to be unmasked (Numbers 33:4). Fulfillment of Covenant and Salvation Typology God promised Abram that his descendants would be enslaved 400 years and delivered “with great possessions” (Genesis 15:13-14). Hardening extends the conflict until that promise ripens. The Passover lamb, the Red Sea crossing, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army foreshadow Christ’s atonement, Christian baptism (1 Corinthians 10:2), and Satan’s defeat (Colossians 2:15). Judicial Hardening as Righteous Judgment Hardening is not the creation of evil in a neutral heart; it is the judicial sealing of a freely chosen rebellion. Pharaoh enslaved Israel, ordered infanticide (Exodus 1:22), and repeatedly broke his word (Exodus 8:28-29). God’s hardening therefore functions as a sentence (Proverbs 29:1; Revelation 16:9-11). Paul applies the same principle to those who “refused to love the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Did Pharaoh Also Harden His Own Heart? Before God is ever said to harden him (7:3), Pharaoh responds to Moses with contempt (5:2). Early plagues list Pharaoh’s self-hardening (7:22; 8:15). The pattern: human stubbornness → divine hardening → greater stubbornness—illustrates the spiraling effect of sin described in Romans 1:24-28. New Testament Commentary Romans 9 uses Pharaoh to explain election; yet Paul immediately balances it with a call to faith (Romans 10:9-13). The hardened Pharaoh becomes the dark backdrop highlighting God’s mercy on all who believe. Hebrews 3:8 therefore warns Christians: “Do not harden your hearts.” Theological Implications for Believers Today 1. God’s sovereignty guarantees the success of His redemptive plan. 2. Persistent sin endangers the soul; today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). 3. Evangelism must present both God’s mercy and His righteous judgment (Acts 17:30-31). 4. Worship centers on God’s glory, the ultimate reason He hardened Pharaoh (Exodus 14:4). Summary God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 8:20 context) to reveal His unmatched power, execute justice, accomplish covenant promises, dismantle idolatry, and create an enduring testimony culminating in Christ. Pharaoh freely resisted; God judicially confirmed that resistance, weaving it into a grand narrative that magnifies divine glory and invites every generation to repent and believe. |
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