Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?

This is an interesting issue and a tough one I’m sure for many people when they read the account in the book of Exodus. Without careful study, it can be a very confusing narrative, and raise questions about the actions of God in dealing with Pharaoh. I will try to make some sense of it.

God speaking to Moses we read In Exodus 7:3-4, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply signs, and my wonders in the land of Egypt, but Pharaoh will not heed you so that I may bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with great judgments.”

However in Exodus 7:13, 23; 8:15,32; 9:6,34,35 it says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart and refused to heed the warnings of the Lord and let Israel go free.

So here’s the apparent dilemma if these passages are not handled properly.

On the surface it appears that God is hardening Pharaoh’s heart and subsequently punishing him for his obstinacy in refusing to let the people go. If that was the only reason for hardening’s Pharaoh’s heart, then God would be unfair. For why would God incite a certain sinful reaction out of Pharaoh, and then punish him for the reaction He provoked? God never tempted Pharaoh to sin (James 1:13).

The reason God hardened Pharaoh’s heart here is so that he could display His mighty power in front of this wicked ruler and the Lord’s name would be declared throughout all the earth (Exodus 9:16); to show 

Pharaoh that He (the Lord) is mightier than all the false gods of Egypt.

Pharaoh also hardened his own heart because he was a wicked man and refused to let the people go, refusing to acknowledge the God of the Hebrews. Pharaoh was a rotten sinner way before he ever encountered God. He was by no means innocent. Pharaoh acted independently, and was totally culpable for his actions. God used the wickedness of Pharaoh against him to display His mighty power in his midst.

The plagues struck against Egypt although very horrific when analyzed carefully exhibited great mercy to the Egyptians. The presence of God was among them, although negatively in judgment. Had they been wise, they would have feared, God, and used those opportunities of judgment against them to repent and be spared the calamities they suffered, but refused which already God knew.

                

Their destruction was just.

So in the final analysis, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart served the following purposes:

      

 1.   God hardened his heart to display his awesome power among Pharaoh. The hardening God did to               Pharaoh was indirect .God abandoned Pharaoh to his own wicked devices by removing any moral restraints so that Pharaoh could sin on a wholesale basis; magnifying his stubbornness, and hastening his destruction (Romans 1:18-32).  It also shows that God has complete sovereignty over men’s hearts – providing mercy or hardening who he wants so that His purposes may stand (Proverbs 21:1; Roman 9:18). God used Pharaoh's sin as an advantage against him to magnify himself. 

2.       Pharaoh hardened his own heart due to his inherent wickedness.This he did autonomously figuring he was gaining an advantage each time. He was totally unaware that God was also hardening his heart for His own glorious purposes. Pharaoh hardened his heart continually when the power of God continually defeated him diminishing each time any hope of repentance.

Two passages describes Pharaoh’s wicked disposition and those like him:

Proverbs 28:14b says, “But he that hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

A parallel verse appears in Proverbs 29:1, “He who often rebuked hardens his neck (i.e. stubbornness) will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Every time a plague hit the land of Egypt, it was a judgment from God and a great and clear sign for Pharaoh to repent, but he refused. The "hardening advantage" Pharaoh thought he had was the same actual advantage the Lord used through Pharaoh's sin to judge and destroy him.

Pharaoh received what he deserved, divine justice.