Jessy Williams asks: How did God harden Pharoah's heart? And how can this be just? It doesn't seem like a fair thing to do.

Hey Jessy. First, regarding the issue of fairness, Scripture makes it clear that God predestines according to His foreknowledge (Romans 8:29–30; 1 Peter 1:2). In other words, God already knows who will and who will not accept Him. Therefore, He is righteous in displaying His glory—even against the wicked—should He choose to do so. As Romans 1:18 declares:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

Let us also remember that Pharaoh himself ordered the execution of all Hebrew male children:

“When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth… if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” (Exodus 1:16)

Secondly, when Scripture speaks of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, this does not mean God forced evil into Pharaoh. Rather, God confronted Pharaoh’s heart. Archaeological evidence shows that Pharaoh was viewed as the divine mediator responsible for upholding Ma’at—the Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, and justice.

Thus, each plague placed Pharaoh in an impossible position. If he yielded, he would be exposed as a false mediator—incapable of maintaining Ma’at—and his gods would be revealed as powerless. Thus, Pharaoh’s own arrogance and pride intensified, hardening his heart as he clung to power and authority over the people.

It is also crucial to understand that the plagues were not directed at Pharaoh alone. God explicitly states:

“Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.” (Exodus 12:12)

God was demonstrating to Egypt that their gods were obsolete and powerless:

-Plague of Blood — Judgment against Hapi (god of the Nile) and Osiris (god of fertility and the underworld)

-Plague of Frogs — Judgment against Heqet (fertility goddess, depicted as a frog)

-Plague of Gnats/Lice — Judgment against Geb (earth god)

-Plague on Livestock — Judgment against Apis and Hathor

-Plague of Darkness — Judgment against Ra/Amun-Ra, the supreme sun god

-Death of the Firstborn — Final judgment against all Egyptian gods and Pharaoh himself

Therefore, Pharaoh did not possess the power of Ma’at. I hope this provides helpful clarity of the context.

Comments:

Jessy Williams: So you don’t think God can literally harden a heart simply because He wills it?

Hosts Joey and Chris: God did harden Pharaoh’s heart—but He did so by confronting Pharaoh’s arrogance and pride. The result was that Pharaoh’s heart became hardened.

Jessy Williams: So you don’t believe God created Pharaoh with an inherently evil or lost heart from birth—one predisposed to resist God’s command?

Hosts Joey and Chris: Correct. Scripture teaches that “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Therefore, we do not believe God can create an evil heart. To suggest otherwise would introduce a contradiction.

Jessy Williams: Thank you for the explanation. I’ll keep this in mind as I continue reading.

Hosts Joey and Chris: Be blessed, and thank you for the thoughtful question.

1 John 1:5

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."