THEOSISVissarion (Nechaev)
God's action in hardening Pharaoh’s heart should not be interpreted as Him causing Pharaoh's obstinance in his refusal to release the Israelites from slavery. Rather, the plagues sent by the Lord upon Egypt, in response to Pharaoh's defiance, instead of softening him, only served to harden him further, or he remained humble only briefly during those instances of divine punishment. The responsibility for Pharaoh's hardened heart rests solely with him, not with God—attributing such an action to the Almighty would be sacrilegious. This is evident from numerous statements by Moses. For instance, after the plague of the flies in Egypt, it is recorded, “Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and would not let the people go” (Ex. 8:32).
Read more (376 words)
Following the plague of hail that struck Egypt, it is noted, “And the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was hardened, and he would not let the children of Israel go” (Ex. 9:35).
Christ proclaimed that He came not to bring peace but a sword, as He would bring division among those closest to one another, as stated in Matthew 10:34-35. This indicates that the teachings of Christ, the Redeemer, will lead to discord even among family members, with some embracing faith in Him and others turning against them in disbelief. Therefore, it is not Christ, who is revered as the Prince of Peace and the divine embodiment of reconciliation (Is. 9:6; Eph. 2:14-16), that is the source of division among familial ties, but rather the different spiritual responses inspired by His teachings, which can evoke acceptance in some hearts while provoking hostility in others. Given this, it is unsurprising that the plagues inflicted upon Egypt, meant to humble Pharaoh, ultimately served only to embolden and exasperate him. The fault lay not with the Lord but rather with Pharaoh’s own obstinate spirit.
The final act of judgment, which involved the striking down of all firstborns in Egypt, both human and animal—clean and unclean—resulted in the liberation of the Israelites, while leaving the firstborn of the Hebrews unharmed. The father of each household was to convey to his son the reason behind this sparing: "I dedicate to the Lord every male that opens the womb." This was specifically for the firstborn animals—clean lambs, goats, and calves. For unclean livestock such as donkeys, horses, and camels, these were to be exchanged for lambs for sacrifice or redeemed if there weren’t enough lambs. Furthermore, “And every firstborn of my sons I will redeem” reflects the understanding that the Lord does not demand human sacrifices. The mother of each firstborn was to present him at the sanctuary on the fortieth day and offer a ransom of five shekels to the priest. This act of presentation constituted the dedication to the Lord that was required for every firstborn. The ransom signified the release of the firstborn from the obligation to serve in the tabernacle and temple—a duty that would later be assigned to the Levites, who would serve in their stead.