God's Sovereignty over Egyptian Pharaohs in Scripture

God's sovereignty over Egyptian Pharaohs is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, particularly evident in the narratives of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. The biblical text consistently portrays God as the ultimate authority, capable of directing and utilizing even powerful rulers like Pharaoh to accomplish divine purposes ^{[9, 15]}.

The title "Pharaoh" itself refers to the native kings of Egypt, a term that some Egyptologists suggest means "the great house" or "the Sublime Porte" ^{[6, 7]}. Several Pharaohs are mentioned in the Bible, including those who interacted with Abraham, Joseph, and Moses ^{[6, 8]}.

In the account of Joseph, God's sovereignty is demonstrated through Joseph's elevation to a position of power in Egypt. Pharaoh recognizes that Joseph possesses "the spirit of God" and is exceptionally intelligent and wise, leading him to appoint Joseph over all of Egypt ^[9]. This event highlights God's ability to orchestrate circumstances within a foreign kingdom to preserve His people, the Israelites, as promised ^[9].

The most prominent display of God's sovereignty over Pharaoh occurs during the Exodus narrative. God explicitly states His intention to demonstrate His power through Pharaoh. For instance, Exodus 14:18 declares, "The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen" ^[4]. This declaration underscores that Pharaoh's actions, even his obstinacy, serve as a means for God to reveal His omnipotence ^{[10, 13]}.

The plagues inflicted upon Egypt are presented as direct acts of God against Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods ^{[1, 2, 3, 14]}. When the Egyptian magicians are unable to replicate the plague of gnats, they acknowledge, "This is the finger of God," recognizing a power superior to their own ^[12]. This admission signifies a concession to divine omnipotence, even from those who initially opposed Moses and Aaron ^[12].

God's interaction with Pharaoh is not merely a display of power but also a fulfillment of His covenant with Israel. Deuteronomy 6:22 recounts that "the Lord shewed signes and wonders great and euill vpon Egypt, vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his housholde, before our eyes" ^[2]. Similarly, Deuteronomy 34:11 speaks of "all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land" ^[3]. These passages emphasize that the events were intended to demonstrate God's faithfulness to His people and His authority over all nations.

The Apostle Paul later references God's dealings with Pharaoh in Romans 9:17, stating, "For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth." This passage, drawing from Exodus 9:16, indicates that God intentionally allowed Pharaoh to remain in power and to harden his heart so that God's power and authority could be fully manifested ^[15]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Romans 9:17, suggests that God could have justly allowed the Israelites to continue in sin, but instead chose to demonstrate His wisdom and justice through Pharaoh's destruction ^[11].

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is a key aspect of God's sovereignty in this narrative. While Pharaoh initially hardens his own heart, the Bible also states that God hardened Pharaoh's heart ^[13]. This divine action is understood not as God forcing Pharaoh into sin, but rather as God allowing Pharaoh's inherent obstinacy to run its course, thereby creating the conditions for a more profound demonstration of divine power ^[13]. The purpose was to ensure that Israel would be brought out of Egypt in such a signal manner that "Jehovah might appear to be All-mighty and All-sufficient" ^[13].

Even in later prophetic books, God's sovereignty over Pharaoh is affirmed. Ezekiel 30:22 declares, "Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand" ^[5]. This prophetic word further illustrates God's ongoing control over the rulers of Egypt, demonstrating His ability to weaken and judge them according to His will.

The narrative of God's sovereignty over Pharaoh serves as a foundational account for understanding God's control over human history and rulers. It assures readers that God is actively involved in the affairs of nations, even using the resistance of powerful leaders to achieve His redemptive purposes and to reveal His glory ^{[9, 15]}. The events in Egypt were designed to convince not only Pharaoh and the Egyptians but also the Israelites themselves of God's unparalleled power and authority ^[15].

Sources

Psalms “Who sent signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants; -- Psalms 135:9”
Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 6:22 (Geneva1599) — And the Lord shewed signes and wonders great and euill vpon Egypt, vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his housholde, before our eyes,”
Deuteronomy “in all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, -- Deuteronomy 34:11”
Exodus “The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.” -- Exodus 14:18”
Ezekiel “Ezekiel 30:22 (BSB) — Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Pharaoh — the common title of the native kings of Egypt in the Bible, corresponding to P-ra or Ph-ra "the sun," of the hieroglyphics. Brugsch, Ebers and other modern Egyptologists define it to mean 'the great house," which would correspond to our "the Sublime Porte." As several kings are mentioned only by the title "Pharaoh" in the Bible, it is important to endeavor to discriminate them: + The Pharaoh of Abraham . (Genesis 12:15)--At the time at which the patriarch went into Egypt, it is generally held that the country, or at least lower Egypt, was ruled by the Shephe”
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”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 13, section 1: . How Moses And Aaron Returned Into Egypt To Pharaoh.”
Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 41:37: 41:37-40 Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was the man for the job; he had the spirit of God and was intelligent and wise. God showed his sovereign rule in Egypt; Israelites who later read the account could be confident that God would save them as he had promised.”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 14:18: Shall know that I am the Lord - Pharaoh had just recovered from the consternation and confusion with which the late plagues had overwhelmed him, and now he is emboldened to pursue after Israel; and God is determined to make his overthrow so signal by such an exertion of omnipotence, that he shall get himself honor by this miraculous act, and that the Egyptians shall know, i.e., acknowledge, that he is Jehovah, the omnipotent, self-existing, eternal God.”
Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 9:17: For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh - Instead of showing the Israelites mercy he might justly have suffered them to have gone on in sin, till he should have signalized his wisdom and justice in their destruction; as appears from what God in his word declares concerning his dealings with Pharaoh and the Egyptians, Exo 9:15, Exo 9:16 : For now, saith the Lord, I had stretched forth my hand, (in the plague of boils and blains), and I had smitten thee and thy people with the pestilence; and thou hadst (by this plague) been cut off from the earth; (as thy cattle were by”
Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 8:18: Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, this is the finger of God,.... This is to be ascribed to a power superior to human, to a divine power; so long as they could do something similar, or impose upon the senses of men, and make them believe they did the like, they would not acknowledge divine omnipotence; but when they no longer could deceive the sight of Pharaoh and the Egyptian, then they own the effects of a superior power: and this they did partly to detract from the power of Moses and Aaron, because they would not have them pass for more skilful persons in the ma”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 7:5: And bring out the children of Israel - Pharaoh's obstinacy was either caused or permitted in mercy to the Egyptians, that he and his magicians being suffered to oppose Moses and Aaron to the uttermost of their power, the Israelites might be brought out of Egypt in so signal a manner, in spite of all the opposition of the Egyptians, their king, and their gods, that Jehovah might appear to be All-mighty and All-sufficient.”
Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 12:12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night,..... Which must be understood consistent with his omnipresence, and of the manifestation of his powerful presence, or of the exertion of his mighty power in the following event: and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; as had been declared to Pharaoh, Exo 11:5. and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; meaning either figuratively, the nobles, princes, judges and civil magistrates, who are sometimes called Elohim, gods; but since the firstborn of these, as of o”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 9:17: 9:17 God told Pharaoh: At God’s direction, Moses had asked Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave Egypt for their own land (Exod 9:16). When Pharaoh stubbornly refused, God displayed miracle after miracle to convince Israel, Pharaoh, and the Egyptians of God’s power and authority (see Exod 6:7; 7:5; 9:14-16; 14:31).”

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