Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart?

 "Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart?"

Scripture: Exodus 7:3, 13, 14, 22

Have you ever wondered why some people, even when they clearly see the truth, continue to resist it? Why do some harden their hearts even in the face of undeniable evidence that God is at work? That question brings us to the heart of Pharaoh’s story in Exodus.

In Exodus 7:3, God says, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart.” Then in verses 13, 14, and 22, we see the results: Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. He refused to listen, to believe, or to change course. But does this mean that Pharaoh had no choice? Was he just a puppet in God's grand plan? Let's explore what these verses really teach us about free will, God’s sovereignty, and our own choices today.

God’s Foreknowledge Is Not the Same as God’s Control
When God says in Exodus 7:3, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,” He is not saying Pharaoh was innocent and God made him bad. Rather, God is revealing that He knows the kind of man Pharaoh is—a proud, stubborn ruler who has already set his heart against the God of Israel.

Like a sun that hardens clay and melts wax, God's presence will have different effects depending on the material of the heart. Pharaoh's heart was already resistant. God simply confirmed the path Pharaoh was choosing.

Application: God knows us completely, but He does not force our choices. We still have freedom to respond to His word, whether with humility or pride.

Repeated Rejection Leads to a Hardened Heart
In Exodus 7:13, Pharaoh’s heart is “hard”—the Hebrew word also implies "firm, unyielding." In verse 14, God says his heart is “unyielding” or “heavy.” Then in verse 22, after the first plague, we read, “Pharaoh’s heart became hard.”

So what happened? Over and over, Pharaoh rejected God’s signs and warnings. Each time he said "no," his heart grew colder. Eventually, that pattern became a permanent posture.

Application: Be careful with the “small no’s” to God. Every time we ignore His voice, it's like adding another layer of resistance. Eventually, the heart can become so calloused that even miracles won't move it.

Free Will Is a Gift—but Also a Risk
God gave Pharaoh the ability to choose, and Pharaoh chose rebellion. In the same way, God gives us free will. He doesn’t force us to love Him, obey Him, or follow His ways. But our choices come with real consequences.

Some people think freedom means doing whatever we want. But true freedom is the ability to choose what is right. And the more we choose what is right, the freer we become. The more we choose sin or self, the more trapped we become—even if we think we’re in control.

Romans 1 echoes this truth: those who continually reject God are eventually “given over” to their own desires. That’s not God being cruel. That’s God honoring the freedom He gave us.

Bad Things Can Happen Because of Bad Choices
Pharaoh’s hardened heart didn’t just hurt him. It brought suffering to his people, to his servants, and even to the land of Egypt. The plagues devastated the nation.

Likewise, our choices—especially when we persist in wrong ones—don’t only affect us. They affect our families, our churches, our communities. God gives us warnings, chances to repent, and reminders of His love, but when we ignore them, consequences follow.

Today, If You Hear His Voice…
Hebrews 3:15 says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” This is God’s appeal to us.

Unlike Pharaoh, we don’t have to resist God. We don’t have to fight Him or delay obedience. We can humble ourselves, confess our sin, and ask Him to soften our hearts.

As Christians, we are not powerless. The Holy Spirit is working in us to keep our hearts sensitive and obedient. But we still must cooperate. We must choose every day to say, “Yes, Lord.”

So—who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? In a way, both Pharaoh and God did. Pharaoh hardened his own heart through pride and rebellion. God confirmed that choice and used it to demonstrate His power and justice.

But you and I are not Pharaoh. We can make a different choice. We can choose humility. We can say yes to God. We can let His Word melt our hearts instead of harden them.

Don’t wait. Don’t risk a hardened heart. Choose today to follow the Lord. Amen.

More: Sabbath School EXODUS Lesson 4 - The Plagues