We first read of God’s intention to HARDEN Pharoah’s heart in Exodus 4:21, “And the LORD said to Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders (i.e. plagues) before Pharoah which I have put in your hand. But I will HARDEN HIS HEART, SO THAT HE WILL NOT LET THE PEOPLE GO.”  I believe God was telling Moses what He would do AFTER PHARAOH “hardened his own heart.” In Exodus 7:13-14, we read, “And Pharoah’s HEART GREW HARD, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. So the LORD said to Moses: ‘Pharaoh’s heart is hard: he refuses to let the people go.’” You can read about Pharaoh “hardening his own heart” in Exodus 8:15, 19, 32 and 9:7. Then we read about God “hardening his heart” in Exodus 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8. It seems obvious that Pharoah’s stubborn will was the cause of him “hardening his heart” and it was only after this that God “JUDICIALLY hardened his heart.” When someone is defying God with a rebellious heart God will, at times, use them as an example to others of His HOLINESS and His RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT, and He will harden their heart in the process. In Deuteronomy 2:30 we read, “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.” Another example is found in Joshua 11:20, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the LORD had commanded them.” In both these cases the Lord hardened the hearts of men whose hearts were already hardened by their rebellious wills and were defying Him and seeking to destroy His people. He had every right to “harden their hearts” that led to their destruction.

Now let’s read Romans 9:17-18, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may SHOW MY POWER IN YOU, and that MY NAME MAY BE DECLARED in all the earth.’ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.” At times God will show mercy to those who deserve to be JUDGED for their rebellion against Him and at other times He will harden their hearts further to make an example out of them so others will see His holy JUDGMENT. God is sovereign in either case and we must not question His wisdom or His right to do so.

Some may be wondering, “If their heart is already HARD, in what way does God HARDEN it? I believe we have an answer to that in Romans 1:18-32. In verse 18 we read, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” God is speaking of men like Pharaoh who have heard the truth about God and yet they suppress (hold down, eliminate, avoid) it. They “don’t want the truth so they deny or reject it” and this is seen by their sinful rebellion against God in their lives. God chooses to reveal His wrath against these truth-rejectors.  In verse 24 we read, “Therefore God also GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among them.” In verse 26 we read, “For this reason God GAVE THEM UP to vile passions.” And in verse 28 we read, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God GAVE THEM OVER to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” In other words, God gave them over to DO WHAT THEIR WICKED HEARTS WANTED TO DO. He let them continue to defy Him with rebellious hearts without any restraint. By “giving them up” their hearts were “harder than ever before” and they plunged themselves into sin and degradation! In Genesis 6:3 God said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man” and when God “hardens one’s heart” He “withdraws His Spirit from them” and allows them to continue in willful rebellion. This is what we may call “JUDICIAL hardening.” In time they will “reap what they have sown” by being punished in this life and finally “JUDGED eternally” for their rejection of God and His truth. See this solemn truth in Romans 2:1-9.  (DO)  (699.5)