“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 is part of the account of Moses’ commissioning to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. God had called Moses from the burning bush and given him signs to perform before Pharaoh to prove his authority and the power of God. In this verse, God informs Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart, causing him to refuse to let the Israelites go.
There are a few key points we can gather from this verse:
- Divine Sovereignty: God declares His authority over Pharaoh by stating that He has “put in [Moses’] hand” the power to perform wonders. The signs and miracles Moses would perform were not simply the result of his own abilities but were a demonstration of God’s power working through him.
- God’s Knowledge and Foreknowledge: God, in His omniscience, knew that Pharaoh would not willingly release the Israelites. By saying, “I will harden his heart,” God reveals that He was aware of Pharaoh’s stubbornness and resistance in advance. God was not taken by surprise but had a plan in place to accomplish His purposes.
- Purposeful Hardening: The phrase “I will harden his heart” raises questions about God’s role in Pharaoh’s stubbornness. It’s important to understand that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was not a result of God directly influencing Pharaoh’s will to make him reject the requests for freedom. Rather, it can be understood as God permitting or allowing Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened, given Pharaoh’s own disposition. Pharaoh had already demonstrated a hardened heart toward the Israelites, and God allowed this hardening to continue, which ultimately served His purposes for displaying His power and delivering the Israelites.
- God’s Ultimate Plan: Despite Pharaoh’s resistance, God’s ultimate plan was to demonstrate His power through the plagues that would befall Egypt, leading to the liberation of His people. Pharaoh’s hardened heart would be a catalyst for the display of God’s mighty acts and judgments, highlighting His supremacy and authority over all.
This verse reminds us of God’s sovereignty, His foreknowledge, and His ability to accomplish His purposes even in the face of resistance. It also emphasizes the role of human responsibility and free will. Pharaoh had the choice to respond to God’s signs and release the Israelites, but his own stubbornness and pride prevented him from doing so.
