God's Purpose in Raising Up Pharaoh in Exodus
God's Purpose in Raising Up Pharaoh
The biblical account of Pharaoh's role in the Exodus narrative is pivotal in understanding God's sovereignty and purpose. According to Exodus, Pharaoh's obstinacy was a crucial factor in the unfolding of God's plan to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage [3].
The apostle Paul, in Romans 9:17, quotes Exodus 9:16, stating that God raised up Pharaoh "that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth" [1]. This passage indicates that Pharaoh's existence and actions served a divine purpose, namely, to demonstrate God's power and spread His name globally.
In the context of Exodus, Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites go is portrayed as a manifestation of God's hardening of his heart. This hardening is seen as a means by which God achieves His objectives, including the display of His power through the plagues and the ultimate deliverance of His people [5].
The purpose behind God's actions towards Pharaoh is multifaceted. On one hand, it is linked to the demonstration of God's power, as stated in Romans 9:17. On the other hand, it is connected to the redemption of Israel, as Deuteronomy 7:8 notes that God's love for Israel and His commitment to the oath sworn to their fathers motivated Him to bring them out of Egypt with a mighty hand [2].
Reformed and Protestant traditions have interpreted God's role in raising up Pharaoh as an illustration of divine sovereignty. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, God's actions towards Pharaoh demonstrate His power and authority, serving as a testament to His character and glory [7]. This interpretation is consistent with the Protestant academic perspective on Romans 1:18, which views God's anger as a necessary response to sin, underscoring the theological significance of Pharaoh's story in the broader context of salvation history [6].
The historical context of the Exodus and the identity of Pharaoh have been subjects of scholarly inquiry. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that the title "Pharaoh" was a common designation for Egyptian kings, corresponding to the hieroglyphic "P-ra" or "Ph-ra," meaning "the sun" or "the sun-god" [4]. Understanding the historical and cultural background of Pharaoh's reign provides insight into the narrative's theological and historical significance.
The theological implications of God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh extend beyond the historical context of the Exodus. They touch on the nature of God's sovereignty, the human condition, and the relationship between divine providence and human agency. As Tyndale House notes on Exodus 8:26, the narrative highlights the impossibility of reconciling God's sovereignty with human responsibility, a tension that remains a subject of theological debate [5].
Sources
- Romans “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” -- Romans 9:17”
- Deuteronomy “but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. -- Deuteronomy 7:8”
- Exodus “These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron. -- Exodus 6:27”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pharaoh — The official title borne by the Egyptian kings down to the time when that country was conquered by the Greeks. (See [473]EGYPT.) The name is a compound, as some think, of the words Ra, the "sun" or "sun-god," and the article phe, "the," prefixed; hence phera, "the sun," or "the sun-god." But others, perhaps more correctly, think the name derived from Perao, "the great house" = his majesty = in Turkish, "the Sublime Porte." (1.) The Pharaoh who was on the throne when Abram went down into Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20) was probably one of the Hyksos, or "shepherd king”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 8:26: 8:26-27 Moses pointed out the impossibility of what Pharaoh was asking on the grounds of the Egyptians’ own prejudice: They considered all Semites to be uncultured and uncouth (see Gen 43:32). • The Hebrews were leaving Egypt in order to worship God (see, e.g., Exod 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 20). God’s purpose for the Exodus was to lead his people into a proper relationship with him.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 38:16: I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me--So in Exo 9:16, God tells Pharaoh, "For this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee My power; and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth."”