Pharaoh refused to let Israel go because of pride, unbelief, and a hardened heart. His defiance was not merely political but spiritual, as he rejected the authority of the Lord over Egypt. When Moses first delivered God’s command, Pharaoh responded with contempt:
“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)
This statement reveals Pharaoh’s arrogance and ignorance of the true God. He considered himself a divine ruler, and the gods of Egypt were many, but he had no regard for the God of Israel. His pride was challenged by the demand to release an entire slave nation, which would weaken Egypt economically and humiliate its king.
Pharaoh’s refusal was also part of God’s plan to display His power and glory through judgment. The Lord said:
“But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.” (Exodus 7:4)
Pharaoh’s heart grew increasingly hard with each plague. Sometimes Scripture says Pharaoh hardened his heart (Exodus 8:15), and other times that God hardened it (Exodus 9:12). This does not mean Pharaoh was a puppet; rather, his stubborn rebellion aligned with God’s purpose to magnify His name in all the earth (Exodus 9:16).
Ultimately, Pharaoh refused because he exalted himself against the Lord and clung to power. His defiance ended in disaster, proving that no ruler can resist God and prevail. His hardened heart warns us that persistent rejection of God leads to judgment, while humility and obedience lead to life.
