But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as YHWH had said (Exodus 8:15)
True transformation of the heart (salvation) is never be the result of repentance motivated by selfish interest.
Every time I teach introduction to the Old Testament, students ask a theological explanation of the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. They ask for two reasons, first, because they know that I’m a staunch Arminian and it seems to conflict with the doctrine of human free will, and two, because it’s just plan troubling.
Why would God harden someone’s heart so that they suffer more? Isn’t it God’s will to soften hearts?
This passage is saying something quite different than it first appears. At first glance, it seems as if God’s will is to more severely punish Pharaoh for his crimes against the Hebrew people, the family of Abraham. This isn’t all the case. In fact, this story (being multi-faceted in its lessons) communicates that it is NOT God’s plan for people to repent in order to simply alleviate the pain, or inconvenience of their circumstances. This is precisely what Pharaoh does in his constant flip-flopping in and out of the decision to heed God’s request.
Pharaoh doesn’t want to do what God is asking, God slaps him (and his people) on the wrist, Pharaoh gives in, then changes his mind in the end. It becomes evident that Pharaoh only gives in because the conflict of will with the YHWH is creating problems for him. He repents only because the consequences are an inconvenience.
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin says this, “Strangely enough, had God not hardened Pharaoh’s heat, it would have deprived the Egyptian monarch of free will. Of course he would have then allowed the Hebrew slaves to go; not out of choice, but out of terror. By hardening Pharaoh’s heart, the Egyptian king no longer feared the kind of physical devastation that would terrify and evoke instant obedience from a normal man.”
YHWH wishes for us to repent because of a deep conviction—a conviction that transcends the priority of self. It is only then that our dwelling in Him will not be limited to times of difficulty.
Free for sincere repentance. Hallelu-Yah.
Teshuvah.
Telushkin, Joseph (2010-09-28). Jewish Literacy (p. 34). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
