Va’era
Exodus 6:2 -9:25

    This week our Torah portion describes the first seven plagues that came upon Egypt .  It is also in this portion that we read over and over again that the “heart of Pharaoh was hardened.” Exod. 7:3 7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12.   What does it mean that God hardened his heart? Does this mean that Pharaoh had no opportunity to believe in the God of Israel? Was he predestined to be an evil king?  Bible scholars have tried to answer this difficult question for thousands of years.  The text is quite clear that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.   In order to understand these plagues and God’s act of hardening the heart of Pharaoh, it must be understood that these plagues are part of a judgment on Egypt (see 6:6; 7:4).  Pharaoh, the king of Egypt , is specifically being judged along with the rest of the land.  It is reminiscent of the judgments that we read about taking place on the Day of the Lord, when God will judge the earth.  Paul explained to the Thessalonians that in that day, people will believe in the “lawless one” who will be empowered by Satan.  . He says,    For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,   in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2Thes. 2:11).  In the same way, God hardens that heart of a king who would not believe and submit to the God of Israel. It is interesting to note that every time the text says that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, it goes on to say “he did not listen”.  Pharaoh never listened to the voice of God. Remember that Pharaoh understood himself to be a god.  In Moses first encounter with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt says "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go." (5:2). It is obvious from the text, that Pharaoh was not a worshipper of God and was never one to listen to His voice.  We could say that God gave him over to the sins of his heart.  In the New Covenant we read in Romans chapter 1 that God gave those who would not acknowledge God over to the lusts of their heart. ( Rom. 1:24).   “Hardening of the heart” is usually associated with judgment. In Joshua chapter 11, we read how God judged the Hivites:  “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.” (Joshua 11:20).

     It would be a false assumption to apply the “hardening of the heart” judgment to all situations when people do not believe.  These are specific judgments that come directly from the hand of God.  This does not mean that God does not judge in this manner today. However, it does mean that it is not the normal course of action.  Certainly God does as He pleases but the Scriptures teach that no one will be denied who desire to know the Lord. 

      Our portion today not only teaches us about the judgment of God, it also teaches us about His sovereign oversight of this world.  Throughout the Scriptures, we read of God using ungodly nations to judge His people.  The Assyrians as well as the Babylonians have been used for this purpose.  In Ezekiel 38 we read that God will put “hooks in the jaws” of nations to attack Israel . In other words, God will use these ungodly nations to attack Israel and then God will judge them.  God will use peoples and nations as He pleases to bring about His will. He is sovereign. 

     A hardened heart is a desensitized heart.  Whether we are talking about Pharaoh, or the other nations who are described as having hardened hearts, they all are desensitized to hearing the voice of God.  The fact is that anyone can have a hard heart from time to time. Even as believers, we sometimes become so involved with our own agendas and our own desires and our own sin that we become desensitized to the will and the voice of God. The phrase “hardened heart” is used to describe the disciples of Yeshua when they did not understand what He was saying to them. This is not the same kind of hardened heart as in judgment. But we also can have a desensitized heart.   May we thank God today that He is in control of this world, ultimately bringing about His will. The tyrants of this world will not prevail. May we as believers, guard our hearts and always be sensitive to the will of God. Shabbat Shalom!