The Lord hardened his heart

“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.” Exodus 10:20
Many people have a problem with this verse (and others) that talk about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. “So you mean to say that if Pharaoh had wanted to repent, he couldn’t?” That’s right. But it’s also important to note that there is a progression. With each of the plagues, we see Pharaoh promising to let the people go, and then after Moses prays for relief, he reneges on his word and refuses.
0. Aaron’s staff turns into a snake. Pharaoh hardens his heart (Ex. 7:13).
1. The Nile turns to blood. Pharaoh’s heart becomes hard (Ex. 7:22).
2. The plague of frogs. Pharaoh hardens his heart (Ex. 8:15).
3. The plague of gnats. Pharaoh’s heart is hard (Ex. 8:19).
4. The plague of flies. Pharaoh hardens his heart (Ex. 8:32).
5. The plague on the livestock. Pharaoh’ heart is hard (Ex. 9:7)
6. The plague of boils. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 9:12)
7. The plague of hail. Pharaoh’ heart is hard (Ex. 9:35).
8. The plague of locusts. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 10:20)
9. The plague of darkness. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 10:27).
10. The death of the firstborn. Pharaoh lets the people go, but then God hardens his heart and he pursues the Israelites to the Red Sea (Ex. 14:8).
The lesson for us is this: Yes, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but only after he had hardened his own heart first, to the point of no return. It is still possible for people to do this today. The Holy Spirit is alongside every person, convicting them of their need for a Saviour, but they can reject Him over and over to the point where their heart becomes so hard that they cannot hear Him anymore. They are like the path that the seed fell on and the birds snatch it away (Matt. 13:4, 19). Their heart is unyielding to the things of God. “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Matt. 13:15, quoting Isa. 6:10).
Have you hardened your heart towards God? Is your heart becoming calloused? It’s not too late to repent and turn back to Him.