Is it Biblical to say God did not blame Pharaoh for what he did when God hardened his heart?
I've wondered: how do we believe God is fair if we say God also punished Pharaoh for what he did when God hardened his heart?
In short, this is a problem:
"God hardens his heart - Pharaoh refuses to let Israelites go - God says "How dare you!"
That doesn't make sense.
But what if God only temporarily hardened Pharaoh's heart each time? That way, when God blamed him, the blame occurred only after the divine hardening had worn off and Pharaoh was again responsible for his actions.
Supporting evidence:
- God hardened Pharaoh's heart multiple times (I assume this is true, John Gill seemed to think so). Why harden more than once if the effect of the first hardening was permanent?
- God confronted Pharaoh with a choice to let the Israelites go even after God was said to have hardened his heart (Why did God present him with a choice if God was making sure Pharaoh only chose "No"?) If there was a choice, it suggests he had agency again and the divine hardening had worn off.
For these reasons, I suggest many temporary hardenings by God, and that God never actually blamed Pharaoh for refusing to let the Israelites go while he was being hardened by God.
That way, God stays fair.
Thoughts?
Posted Jun 5, 2026, 5:01 AM UTC