S4E5: Why God hardened Pharaoh's heart and then punished him for it

Send us a textOne of the more perplexing and disturbing part of the Exodus account is when God hardens Pharaoh's heart so that he does not listen to Moses and let the people of Israel go. But then, God punishes him it by unfolding disasters--the plagues--upon Egypt. But, this seems profoundly unjust! What is the idea that the Bible is presenting about God? That nothing we do matters?However, it turns out that the message is in fact the exact opposite. There is something far more that is...