Why did God Harden Pharoah's heart?

Why is that confusing? You think God forced Pharoah to do something Pharoah wasn't going to do? Pharoah acted freely (all sinners do). And God said he would harden Pharoah's heart.

 

Why is that confusing?
Pharoah...freely harden...God did it.

Pharoah acted freely, yes, through 5:2. But God, in this case, to make His power known took his freewill from him, by hardening his heart, (as you said). Egypt went through some severe plagues. Anyone, in their right mind, after one or two of those plagues would have pleaded with Israel to leave, but Pharoah did not; Why?: he could not, it was not God's will for Pharoah to give in until God was through with him.

 

Pharoah acted freely on the way through. I don't think God took free will from him. I think you underestimate the power of sin in someone's life.

 

While I am adamantly opposed to TULIP Theology, IN THIS CASE God exercised His right to do with Pharaoh as He pleases. This is the same right that God has with all of us.

 

There are passages about how God gives people over to their sinful desires (as in Romans 1). I think that Pharaoh is a case of that -- God knew Pharaoh would reject the requests of God through Moses and Aaron and he just let Pharaoh's heart harden. Our hearts naturally harden without God softening them for the truth.