The Hardened Heart

Did Pharaoh get a bad deal? Was he forced into hardening his heart? When you read the account of Moses, Pharaoh and the ten plagues, it would be natural to have some questions. Keep Reading...

Exodus 8:30-32 - Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord, and the Lord did what Moses asked: The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

Exodus 9:11-12 - The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

Let's start here. What do we know about God? James 1:13 says, "For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." So where did the evil impulse in Pharaoh's heart come from? James 1:14-15 continues, "But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." In other words, Pharaoh's own evil desire and his decision to act upon that desire was the source of his sin.

What does it mean, then, that "the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart"? Let's take a look at Romans 1:21 for some insight. It says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." This passage is talking about a people who had knowledge of God, but chose rebellion instead of worship. In fact, they began to worship the creation rather than the Creator.

Romans 1 then gives us the progression of the rebellion. Foolishness led to idolatry, which led to sexual immorality, more shameful lusts and then homosexuality. Romans 1:26 says, "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts." It seems that when a person continues in increasing cycles of rebellion, a hardness sets in. It is like a person says, "I desperately want my sin, and I am willing to rebel against God at all costs." And God responds with incredible grief (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9), "Ok. I will let you have what you want." In this sense, he gives people over to their rebellion. This would be similar to the hardening of Pharaoh's heart by God.

When we habitually sin in an area, it is harder and harder to sense the Lord's conviction. This is not God's fault. We are the ones hardening our own heart. It is a very scary position to be in when God begins giving us what we are demanding. He does not give us over to our sin as an ultimate punishment, but rather as an extreme effort in saving us. This is much like the process of church discipline in 1 Corinthians where a sexually immoral man is "handed over to Satan so that his sinful nature is destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 5:5).

God is full of mercy. He perseveres with his creation. Even in the midst of our sin, he shows such forbearance. But do not show contempt for "the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience" (Romans 2:4). As you recognize the frightening prospect of being hardened by your rebellious choices, flee sin! Call out to the Lord for a soft and sensitive heart that is quick to listen and obey.