Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart, rather than let them go right away?
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Wasn't this to do with Pharaoh's will? How could Pharaoh have resisted God's will, if God hadn't allowed him? Pharaoh's intention was to resist God, and God allowed him to resist more and more, by hardening his heart.
Speaking to Pharaoh, God said:
“For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” Exodus 9:14–16 (KJV 1900)
As pharaoh rejected God’s word, God in turn hardened his heart.
God said he would harden his hear so he would reject his word.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.” Exodus 4:21 (KJV 1900)
The progression of judgments was to show that God gives even the most wicked several opportunities to repent. God hardened Pharaoh's heart AFTER Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart. And this is true for all sinners.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.” Exodus 4:21 (KJV 1900)
God knew Pharaoh’s heart ahead of time that he would not hearken to God’s word, therefore, God would harden his heart.
Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
God anticipated what He would do since He knew the end from the beginning.
But the fact that Moses pleaded with Pharaoh over and over again means that God gave this wicked king multiple opportunities to repent. This is a principle embedded in Scripture. He gave Noah's generation 120 years. He has given humanity in excess of 2000 years since Christ died on the cross.
Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
“And I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go [unless forced to do so], no, not by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and smite Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in it; and after that he will let you go.” Exodus 3:19–20 (AMP)
“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.” Deuteronomy 2:30 (KJV 1900)
“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.” Deuteronomy 2:30 (KJV 1900)
You would like people to believe that God is a tyrant who arbitrarily hardens peoples's hearts. And that fits in with your warped Calvinistic theology, which claims that God predestines some for Hell. BUT THAT IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH.
The fact that God made it impossible for Jonah to avoid going to Nineveh is further proof that your theology is warped, and that you should give it up.
A very interesting set of verses in the New Testament elaborates this subject as well. They reconfirm that God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he might show his power through him and that the Lord's name may be known throughout the world. The apostle Paul also elaborates on why this is so.
Romans 9:17-23
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Romans 9:17-23
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Yes, so God didn’t arbitrarily harden his heart. Pharaoh was not going to hearken to God’s word. God knew this already by knowing his heart.
“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” Romans 9:18 (KJV 1900)
“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” Romans 9:18 (KJV 1900)
Do you hate God if he does this sort of thing?
Yep, if you’re going to receive mercy, you’re going to have to do it God’s way. You can’t will it any other way. God has provided the way through His Son.
9:18 God does not harden Pharaoh's heart until Pharaoh has already rejected what God said. (See Ex 3:19) -foreknowledge, the Lord had not done anything to Pharaoh at this time, "I am sure". (Ex. 5:1,2) there is no hardening as of yet; now see (Ex 7:13; 8:15; 9:12; 10:1; 11:10; 14:8), the Lord hardens his heart.