HARD-HEARTED PHAROAH

 Why did Pharoah force his country and its people to face the continuing devastation meted out by Almighty God? Why couldn’t he recognize God’s fierce hand of judgment? Why didn’t he release the Israelite slaves? Why was Pharoah hard-hearted?

Maybe Paul gives us a hint. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). His heart was hard because his eyes were blind.

A thorough study of the Exodus account reveals the words hard, harden, and hardened appear eighteen times in chapters seven through fourteen.

Pharoah’s heart was hard (Exodus 7:13, 14, 22; 8:19; 9:7, 35).

Pharoah hardened his heart (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34).

God promised to harden Pharoah’s heart (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 14:4).

And finally, God supernaturally hardened Pharoah’s heart (Exodus 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:8).

But let’s get this straight in our minds … God didn’t harden Pharoah’s heart without giving him a chance to repent and obey.

Pharoah determined to harden his own heart. Before God acted to harden Pharoah’s heart, his heart was already selfishly hardened. On seven occasions, the Bible reports that Pharaoh’s heart was hard or that Pharoah hardened his own heart BEFORE God acted to harden it.

“The Lord … is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

God was patient with Pharoah. God sent six plagues before He ran out of patience. But at that point, God was fed-up! He was pushed to the limit. Finally, God said, “I’ve given Pharoah plenty of rope, and now he’s hung himself!”

David taught us to sing, “You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in faithful love to all who call on you … You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth” (Psalm 86:5, 15).

Thank you, Lord, for Your tender mercies, for Your undeserved grace, for Your unequalled compassion, and Your unwarranted patience!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).