For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
God did.
“The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.” (Exodus 4:21)
“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 7:3)
“Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” (Exodus 7:13)
“And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.” (Exodus 9:12)
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have [a]hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may [b]perform these signs of Mine among them” (Exodus 10:1)
“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.” (Exodus 10:20)
“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.” (Exodus 10:27)
“Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.” (Exodus 11:10)
“Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.” (Exodus 14:4)
“The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly.” (Exodus 14:8)
“Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”” (Exodus 14:18)
The Pharaoh did.
“But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” (Exodus 8:15)
“But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.” (Exodus 8:32)
“But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the [a]thunder had ceased, he sinned again and [b]hardened his heart, he and his servants.” (Exodus 9:34)
“Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow [a]the people to go, and they departed?” (1 Samuel 6:6)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
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