Pharaoh repeatedly refused because he chose not to let Israel go and each refusal made his heart harder, even as God confronted him with clear choices.
When Moses and Aaron came with God's demand, Pharaoh had a choice, and he chose to refuse. He did not know or acknowledge Jehovah, Egypt depended on Israelite slave labor, and every time he said no he hardened himself further. Les Feldick teaches that God did not force him as if zapping his heart; rather, Pharaoh rejected God's offer of his own volition.
Exodus 5:2 — This is Pharaoh's first explicit refusal, showing that he neither knew nor acknowledged the Lord.
Exodus 8:15 — This shows Pharaoh hardening his own heart after the plague of frogs was removed.
The Bible records Pharaoh's first refusal in Exodus 5:2: "And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go." From the beginning, Pharaoh did not acknowledge Jehovah as a God to be obeyed. Throughout the plagues, Pharaoh had opportunities to relent. After the plague of frogs was halted, Exodus 8:15 says, "But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said." Later, after repeated confrontations, Exodus 10:28 records him saying to Moses, "Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die." Paul also reflects on this account in Romans 9:18: "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."
Les Feldick explains that Pharaoh was not forced by God to refuse. When Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh with "let my people go," God put Pharaoh on the spot and gave him a choice; Pharaoh chose not to let Israel go. Each time he said no, he became more hardened. Les says God did not "just zoom in on his heart like a laser beam, and fry it" — the hardening came through Pharaoh's own repeated rejection. Les also points out that Pharaoh asked "Who is Jehovah?" because, in Egypt's polytheistic culture, he considered Jehovah just another god. And underlying the whole contest was economics: Egypt's government depended on Israelite slave labor. God used the plagues to ruin Egypt economically, and by the time Israel left, Egypt was destitute. Pharaoh was also stubborn in smaller ways, offering to let the men go but keep the children, and finally telling Moses to get out of his sight. Paul's argument in Romans 9, according to Les, is that Pharaoh could not turn around and blame God for making him what he was, since he rejected God's offer of his own volition.
No. Les says God was putting Pharaoh on the spot and giving him a choice: let Israel go or not. Pharaoh chose not to let them go. Even after the first plague made him think, the next time Moses and Aaron came, he said no. His refusal was his own; God did not target his heart like a laser beam.
Les explains that in Egypt everything was a god — frogs, the moon, the sun, and animals. When Moses and Aaron announced that Jehovah would lead Israel out, Pharaoh's natural response was to treat Jehovah as just another god. He asked, "Who is Jehovah, that I should obey his voice?" and answered his own question: "I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go."
Les points out that Pharaoh's real loss was the Israelis: Egypt's government and economy depended on their slave labor. The plagues left Egypt in shambles, and by the time the Jews left the nation was economically destitute.
At first Pharaoh asked, "Who is Jehovah?" and said he would not let Israel go. Later he hardened his heart after the frogs were removed. He then tried to compromise by letting the men go but keeping the children. Finally, he was so put out with Moses and Aaron that he told Moses to get away and never see his face again. Les says every refusal put Pharaoh in a more hardened position.
Paul writes in Romans 9:18 that God has mercy on whom He will and hardens whom He will. Les reads this text and emphasizes that Pharaoh could not blame God for making him what he was, because Pharaoh rejected God's offer of his own volition. God did not simply zap his heart; the hardening was tied to Pharaoh's own repeated no.
God's Mercy and Hardening in Romans 9
Les reads Paul's teaching that God has mercy on whom He will and hardens whom He will, setting the theological context for the Exodus hardening.
Pharaoh's Repeated Choices
God gave Pharaoh a clear choice to let Israel go, and Pharaoh chose not to; each refusal made him more hardened, and God did not simply fry his heart.
Pharaoh's Ignorance of Jehovah and Economic Loss
Pharaoh treated Jehovah as just another Egyptian god, and he was really facing the loss of Israelite slave labor when he refused to let Israel go.
Pharaoh's Compromises and Anger
Pharaoh tried to compromise by keeping the children and later angrily told Moses to get out of his sight, showing his continuing stubborn refusal.
Why Jesus Forbade Mary to Touch Him: The High Priest & His Blood
And so anyway, things keep getting worse, and finally the children of Israel are beginning to wonder whether Moses and Pharaoh really know what it's all about. And they come unto them, and oh, where is it? Verse 22, And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this thy people? Why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy n…
Egypt's Economic Ruin
Les comments that the plagues left Egypt in a shambles and that the nation was economically destitute by the time the Jews left.
Pharaoh Rejected of His Own Volition
Pharaoh rejected God's offer of his own volition, so he could not question God as the thing formed questions the potter.
Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross
He does not feel that he can approach Pharaoh. And after 40 years, I think we can all identify with that. He had lost his polish, which he, of course, had when he went out to deliver the children of Israel the first time, and they rejected him. He had been 40 years in Pharaoh's palace. No doubt he had all the wisdom of Egypt at his disposal.
Exodus 5:2: And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
This is Pharaoh's first recorded refusal, showing that he did not know or acknowledge Jehovah.
Exodus 8:15: But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
This shows Pharaoh hardening his own heart after the plague of frogs was stopped.
Exodus 10:28: And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
This angry dismissal of Moses shows how hard Pharaoh's refusal had become.
Romans 9:18: Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Paul quotes the Exodus hardening to show God's sovereign mercy and judgment.
Romans 9:20: Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Paul says the creature cannot accuse the Creator when the creature has rejected God's purpose.
No. According to Les Feldick, when Moses and Aaron brought God's demand, Pharaoh was put on the spot and given a choice; he chose not to let Israel go. Les says God did not just zoom in on his heart like a laser beam. Each refusal made Pharaoh harder.
Pharaoh lived in a culture where the sun, moon, frogs, and animals were all gods. When Moses and Aaron spoke of Jehovah, Pharaoh treated Him as just another god. He said, "I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go," and he was not going to learn.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. Egypt's economy depended on Israelite slave labor, and God's plagues left Egypt in a shambles. By the time Israel left, Egypt was economically destitute.
Paul writes that God has mercy on whom He will and hardens whom He will. Les explains that Pharaoh could not blame God for making him what he was because he rejected God's offer of his own volition. The hardening did not bypass Pharaoh's choices.
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