exodus 7:1-6

Exodus 7:1-6Exodus 7:1-6

“So the LORD said to Moses, ‘See I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak to Pharaoh all that I command you. And your brother shall speak to Pharaoh that he must send the children of Israel out of his land…”


“…And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments…”


“…And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.’ Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the L4ORD commanded them, so they did.” (NKJV).

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s HeartThe Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

Some say that God made Pharaoh do all that he did:

“God made Pharaoh wicked; that is from wicked seed”

Martin Luther, Bondage of the Will, Section 83

Some say that God made Pharaoh do all that he did:

Speaking of Pharaoh and others who rebelled against God, claimed that God…

“…bends them to do his judgments, just as if they carried their orders engraved on their minds…all the counsels and actions of men must be held to

be governed by his providence, so that he not only exerts power in the elect…but also forces the

reprobate to do him service”

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Bk. I, 18.2)


Section One

God’s Instructions to Moses Through the Fifth

Plague

“I will harden”


What God Says:What God Says:““I am sure I am sure that the king of that the king of

Egypt will not let you go” Egypt will not let you go” (3:19).(3:19).

““I will harden his heart” I will harden his heart” so that he will not let the so that he will not let the

people go” (4:21).people go” (4:21).

FOREKNOWLEDGEIsaiah 46:10; Psalm 139:4Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 139:4

DETERMINED COUNSEL

Acts 2:23Acts 2:23


“Harden” (Exodus 4:21)

Heb. chatzaq (qzj)

““to be or grow firm, strong, strengthen”to be or grow firm, strong, strengthen”

(Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old (Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament Brown, Driver, Briggs, p. 304)Testament Brown, Driver, Briggs, p. 304)

Can apply to the effect Can apply to the effect someone’s word has upon another:someone’s word has upon another:

Judges 7:11; I Samuel 23:16; Judges 7:11; I Samuel 23:16; II Samuel 2:7; Nehemiah 2:18 II Samuel 2:7; Nehemiah 2:18


What God Says:What God Says:““I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and and multiply My signs and wonders in multiply My signs and wonders in

the landthe land” (7:3).” (7:3).



Heb. qashah (hvq)

““to be hard, severe, fierce…stiff, stubborn”to be hard, severe, fierce…stiff, stubborn”


Can be used of stubbornness:Can be used of stubbornness:

Deuteronomy 10:16; II Chronicles 36:13; Deuteronomy 10:16; II Chronicles 36:13; Proverbs 28:14; Jeremiah 19:15Proverbs 28:14; Jeremiah 19:15


Whatever this “hardening” is it

is intended to cause Egypt to know that the

LORD is God – not to prevent this

knowledge.

What God Says:What God Says:““I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and and multiply My signs and wonders in multiply My signs and wonders in

the landthe land” (7:3).” (7:3).

““Pharaoh will not heed you Pharaoh will not heed you so that so that I may lay my hand on EgyptI may lay my hand on Egypt” (7:4).” (7:4).

““And And the Egyptians shall know the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lthat I am the LORDORD, when I stretch , when I stretch

out my hand on Egyptout my hand on Egypt” (7:5).” (7:5).

DETERMINED COUNSEL


What God Says:What God Says:““Pharaoh’s heart is Pharaoh’s heart is

hardhard” (7:14a). ” (7:14a).

““He refuses to let the He refuses to let the people go” (7:14b).people go” (7:14b).

What Happened:What Happened:““Pharaoh’s heart grew Pharaoh’s heart grew

hardhard…” (7:13a).…” (7:13a).

“…“…he did not heed he did not heed them” (7:13b).them” (7:13b).

“…“…As the LAs the LORDORD had had said”said” (7:13c). (7:13c).

What God Said Would Happen -- Happened


What Happened:What Happened:The First Plague- The First Plague-

Water to BloodWater to Blood

““Pharaoh’s heart grew Pharaoh’s heart grew hardhard and he did not and he did not

heed them heed them as the Las the LORD ORD had saidhad said”” (7:22).(7:22).

““Neither was his heart Neither was his heart moved by this” (7:23).moved by this” (7:23).

This is what the Lord said would

happen – and what God called “hardening”

Pharaoh’s heart


What Happened:What Happened:The Second Plague- The Second Plague-

FrogsFrogs

““When Pharaoh saw When Pharaoh saw there was relief, there was relief, he he

hardened his hearthardened his heart and and did not heed them did not heed them as as the Lthe LORD ORD had saidhad said””

(8:15).(8:15).

This also is what the Lord said would happen – and what

God called “hardening”

Pharaoh’s heart

This shows that God saying – “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”

= “[Pharaoh] hardened his heart”


What Happened:What Happened:The Third Plague- The Third Plague-

LiceLice

““Pharaoh’s heart grew Pharaoh’s heart grew hardhard, and did not heed , and did not heed them them just as the Ljust as the LORD ORD

had saidhad said”” (8:19).(8:19).

This also is what the Lord said would happen – and what


Pharaoh’s heart

This shows that God saying – “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” = “Pharaoh’s heart grew hard”


What Happened:What Happened:The Fourth Plague- The Fourth Plague-

FliesFlies

““Pharaoh hardened his Pharaoh hardened his heartheart at this time at this time

alsoalso, neither would he , neither would he let the people go” let the people go”

(8:32).(8:32).

The same thing that happened here is what happened

before – which God called “hardening”

Pharaoh’s heart

This shows again that – “Pharaoh hardened his heart”

= God saying - “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”


What Happened:What Happened:The Fifth Plague- The Fifth Plague-

Diseased LivestockDiseased Livestock

““The heart of Pharaoh The heart of Pharaoh became hardbecame hard, and he , and he did not let the people did not let the people

go” (9:7).go” (9:7).

This again is what the Lord said would happen – and what


Pharaoh’s heart


What Have We Seen So Far?

The FOREKNOWLEDGE of God

God knew that Pharaoh would not let them go.The DETERMINED

COUNSEL of God God determined how He would use this situation.

God saying – “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” = “Pharaoh hardened his heart” = “Pharaoh’s heart grew hard”


Section Two

The Sixth & Seventh Plagues

“The LORD hardened”


What Happened:What Happened:

The Sixth Plague- The Sixth Plague- BoilsBoils

““The LThe LORD ORD hardened hardened the heart of Pharaoh; the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed and he did not heed

them, them, just as the Ljust as the LORD ORD had spoken to Moseshad spoken to Moses” ”

(9:12).(9:12).


Some say to this point God had not yet “hardened” Pharaoh:“…Pharaoh was given five chances to repent (in connection with the first five

plagues) but hardened his own heart, and only after that did God confirm Pharaoh’s decision by hardening Pharaoh’s heart…God does not harden the heart of anyone

but a confirmed rebel”

David Stern, Jewish Commentary on the New Testament, p. 391


However, the text says…“I will harden his heart” (4:21).

“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land” (7:3).

“Pharaoh’s heart grew hard…As the LORD had said” (7:13).

““Pharaoh’s heart is hardPharaoh’s heart is hard” (7:14).” (7:14).

The “hardening” which God promised The “hardening” which God promised is already in operation.is already in operation.


What God Says:What God Says:““For this purpose I For this purpose I have raised you up, have raised you up, that I may show My that I may show My

power in you…” (9:16).power in you…” (9:16).

““As yet As yet you exalt you exalt yourselfyourself against My against My

people in that people in that you will you will notnot let them go” (9:17). let them go” (9:17).


The Sixth Plague- The Sixth Plague- BoilsBoils

““The LThe LORD ORD hardened hardened the heart of Pharaoh; the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed and he did not heed

them, them, just as the Ljust as the LORD ORD had spoken to Moseshad spoken to Moses” ”

(9:12).(9:12).


God says to Pharaoh…

“you exalt yourself”

“you will not let them go”

If God’s “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart prevents Pharaoh from being able to let

them go, why would God attribute to Pharaoh what God Himself is doing?

God says Pharaoh does this himself.


What Pharaoh Says:What Pharaoh Says:““I have sinnedI have sinned this time” this time”

(9:27a).(9:27a).

““The LThe LORD ORD is is righteous…” (9:27b).righteous…” (9:27b).

“…“…and and my people and I my people and I are wickedare wicked” (9:27c).” (9:27c).


The Seventh Plague- HailThe Seventh Plague- Hail

““He who feared the word He who feared the word of the LORDof the LORD among the among the

servants of Pharaoh made his servants of Pharaoh made his servants and livestock flee to the servants and livestock flee to the

houses” (9:20).houses” (9:20).

““He who did not regard He who did not regard the word of the LORDthe word of the LORD left left his servants and his livestock in his servants and his livestock in

the field” (9:21).the field” (9:21).


What Pharaoh Says:What Pharaoh Says:““I have sinnedI have sinned this time” this time”

(9:27a).(9:27a).

““The LThe LORD ORD is is righteous…” (9:27b).righteous…” (9:27b).

“…“…and and my people and I my people and I are wickedare wicked” (9:27c).” (9:27c).

What Moses Says:What Moses Says:

““As forAs for you and your you and your servantsservants, I know that, I know that you you will not yet fear the Lwill not yet fear the LORDORD

GodGod” (9:30).” (9:30).

Their sin was that they did not fear or

regard God’s word – they were

“hardened” by it.


The Parable of the Sower“…The Seed is the word of God”

(Luke 8:11)

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the

cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes

unfruitful”(Matthew 13:22)

The Difference is the condition of the Heart


Is God’s Word Ineffectual?

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what

I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”

(Isaiah 55:11)

God’s word is intended to soften the good

and honest heart and harden those rebellious to it.



““And when Pharaoh And when Pharaoh saw that the rain the saw that the rain the hail and the thunder hail and the thunder

had ceased, had ceased, he sinned he sinned yet more; and he yet more; and he

hardened his heart, hardened his heart, he he and his servants” and his servants”

(9:34).(9:34).



Heb. kabed (dbk)

““to be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honored”to be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honored”


Can apply what one does to themselves:Can apply what one does to themselves:

I Samuel 6:6I Samuel 6:6

““Why then do you Why then do you hardenharden your hearts as the your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh Egyptians and Pharaoh hardenedhardened their hearts?” their hearts?”


What Have We Seen So Far?

• God says Pharaoh “exalts” himself.

• The Holy Spirit says they did not “regard” the word of God.

• Pharaoh says “I have sinned.”

• Moses says they do not “yet fear” God.

• Text says Pharaoh “hardened his heart.”

Exalting self, refusing to fear & regard God’s word and sinning against God -- is having a “hardened” heart – is

being “hardened” by God.


Section Three

The Eighth through the Tenth Plagues

“I have hardened”


What God Says:What God Says:““I have hardened his I have hardened his

heartheart and the hearts of and the hearts of his servants (10:1a).his servants (10:1a).


““And when Pharaoh And when Pharaoh saw that the rain the saw that the rain the hail and the thunder hail and the thunder

had ceased, had ceased, he sinned he sinned yet more; and he yet more; and he

hardened his heart, hardened his heart, he he and his servants” and his servants”

(9:34).(9:34).


God considers these the same

thing

What God Says:What God Says:“…“…that I may showthat I may show these signs of Mine these signs of Mine before him (10:1b). before him (10:1b).

“…“…that you may tellthat you may tell in in the hearing of your son’s son the hearing of your son’s son the mighty things I have done the mighty things I have done

in Egypt…” (10:2a)in Egypt…” (10:2a)

“…“…that you may knowthat you may know that I am the Lthat I am the LORDORD” ”

(10:2b).(10:2b).

Why Did God Why Did God Allow This?Allow This?


What Happened:What Happened:The Eighth Plague- The Eighth Plague-

LocustsLocusts

““The LThe LORDORD hardened hardened Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh’s heart, and he and he

did not let the children of did not let the children of Israel go”Israel go” (10:20).(10:20).

The Ninth Plague- The Ninth Plague- DarknessDarkness

““The LThe LORDORD hardened hardened Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh’s heart, and he would and he would

not let them go”not let them go” (10:27).(10:27).

What God Says:What God Says:““How longHow long will you will you refuse to humble refuse to humble

yourself yourself before Me? before Me? Let my people go that Let my people go that

they may serve me they may serve me (10:3).(10:3).


If God’s “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart prevents

Pharaoh from being able to let them go…

… why, again, would God attribute to Pharaoh what

God Himself is doing?


““The LThe LORD ORD hardened hardened Pharaoh’s heartPharaoh’s heart, and , and

he did not let the he did not let the children of Israel go children of Israel go

out of his land (11:10).out of his land (11:10).

The Tenth Plague- The Tenth Plague- Death of the FirstbornDeath of the Firstborn

What God Says:What God Says:““I will bring yet one I will bring yet one

more plague more plague on on Pharaoh and on Egypt” Pharaoh and on Egypt”

(11:1b).(11:1b).

““AfterwardAfterward he will let he will let you go you go from here” from here”

(11:1b).(11:1b).


FOREKNOWLEDGE

DETERMINED COUNSEL

What God Said Would Happen – HappenedIsrael Left EgyptIsrael Left Egypt

Section Four

The Red Sea Crossing

“I will harden”


Whatever this “hardening” is it

is intended to cause Egypt to know that the

LORD is God – not to prevent this

knowledge.

What God Says:What God Says:““I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so so that he will pursue themthat he will pursue them” (14:4a).” (14:4a).

“…“…that the Egyptians may knowthat the Egyptians may know that I am the Lthat I am the LORDORD” (14:4b).” (14:4b).

““I indeed will harden the hearts of I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall the Egyptians, and they shall

follow them…then the Egyptians follow them…then the Egyptians shall knowshall know that I am the L that I am the LORDORD” ”

(14:17-18).(14:17-18).

Like 7:3-5 –“That they may know that I am

the LORD”


What Have We Seen?

• God allowed Pharaoh to “exalt himself.”

• He did so to demonstrate His power and show Israel and the Egyptians that He is God.

• Pharaoh “hardened his heart” by failing to “regard” God’s word.

• The effect which God’s word had on Pharaoh is what is called God “hardening” his heart.

• God did not cause Pharaoh to sin, but used Pharaoh’s rebellion for His own purposes.


Early Christian Writers“Pharaoh and his host and all the rulers of Egypt, their chariots and their horsemen,

were overwhelmed in the depths of the Rea Sea, and perished for none other reason but because their foolish hearts were hardened

after that the signs and the wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by the

hand of Moses the servant of God”

Clement of Rome (ca. 96 AD), To the Corinthians, 51


Early Christian Writers“God, knowing the number of those who will not believe, since He foreknows all things,

has given them over to unbelief, and turned away His face from men of this stamp,

leaving them in the darkness which they have themselves chosen for themselves…He did also at that time give over to their unbelief, Pharaoh, who never would have believed,

along with those who were with him”

Irenaeus (c. 130-200 AD), Against the Heresies, Bk. 4, 29.2


Early Christian Writers“For if he is hardened by God, and

commits sin in consequence of being hardened, he is not the cause of sin to

himself; and if so, then neither does Pharaoh possess free-will. And some

one will say that, in a similar way, they who perish have not free-will, and will

not perish of themselves.”

Origen (ca. 185-254 AD), De Principis, Bk. 3, 1.7


Early Christian Writers

“And as if the sun, uttering a voice, were to say, ‘I liquefy and dry up,’ liquefaction and drying up being

opposite things, he would not speak falsely as regards the point in

question; wax being melted and mud being dried by the same heat…”


Early Christian Writers

“…so the same operation, which was performed through the

instrumentality of Moses, proved the hardness of Pharaoh… the

result of his wickedness…”Origen (ca. 185-254 AD), De Principis, Bk. 3, 1.11


James 1:13-14James 1:13-14

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed”

Habakkuk 1:13aHabakkuk 1:13a

“You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and

cannot look on wickedness”

The God whose pure eyes do not behold evil and who tempts no man – did not, does not and will not harden anyone directly

so as to cause them to sin!

Exodus 9:27Exodus 9:27

“…I have sinned”

“…the LORD is righteous”

exodus 7:1-6

Documents

land of egypt

pharaoh wicked

king of egypt

children of israel

old testament brown

stubbornhebrewenglish

determined counselacts

wicked seedmartin luther