Whenever I read the following verse, I see the fair and just workings of God. That is the conclusion about God’s actions that the saints can expect when the books in heaven are opened to them, and God Himself will be judged.*

At that time, all our questions will be answered as to why or why not something happened in our lives, and that of others. God will show us the opportunities given to those that concern us, along with their responses. That will go a long way to helping us understand why some made it to heaven and why some didn’t.

Here’s the verse I speak of. It’s from Exodus 4: 21— And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.”

Just like with Jesus, God performed miracles through Moses. The miracles were to confirm; to show that the messenger was indeed sent from the Lord. In this way, God displayed tangible evidence to dispel any doubts.

On top of that, the Hebrew word for the verse’s “harden” is “chazaq.” Its literal meaning is that of “strengthen” and “courage.” That means that God actually encouraged Pharaoh’s heart to free the Jewish people.

The encouragement, though, had the effect of hardening Pharaoh’s heart. I think the reason why is because Psalm 84: 11 says that the Lord can be thought of as the sun. With that in mind, I liken God’s grace to rays of warmth that fall on everyone (Titus 2: 11). However, the same sun that softens wax, hardens clay.

Elsewhere in Exodus, there’s clarification. It’s said that Pharaoh actually hardened his own heart. “Hardened,” in this case, is translated from the Hebrew word “kabed.”

In other words, the effect that God’s light has on each person depends on the person’s degree of receptivity.

The conclusion: God was merciful with Pharaoh, having given him the opportunity to repent and do the right thing.

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*Read more about God being judged under the subhead, The Confirmation Judgment. Click here for the article itself: 3 Phases of End-Time Judgment.