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God knew his heart. When God hardened his heart, he did not make him do something he didn't want to do. He simply made him want to do that which he wanted to do all that much more. Hardening of the heart is hardening of the resolve. It is allowing and assisting you to have the courage of your convictions.

Would that the Lord would strengthen my resolve to do good and to seek his face.

BTW just out of curiosity, how can God harden a dead heart? Would he not have to bring it to life in order to harden it? If it were dead (as defined by some around here) it would be as hard as it could get. Perhaps "dead" doesn't exactly mean the absence of any life whatsoever, but merely (as I contend) separated -- soul from body or soul and spirit from God.

Perhaps "dead" doesn't mean absence of any life whatsoever

This is from an article posted yesterday: The sinful human mind is bent on argument with the Law, but the conscience will agree with it. It bears witness. This is such an important point. The sinner's understanding (the mind) is "darkened," but the conscience is a "light" that God has given to every man. The word "con-science" means "with knowledge." Some people seem to have no conscience but it is just seared (see 1 Tim 4:2) - hardened so that it has lost its ability to function. The correct use of the Law will resurrect it. When you speak directly to the conscience of a hardened sinner by saying "You know that it's wrong to steal, to lie, to commit adultery, etc.," the conscience affirms the truth of the Commandment. He will even unconsciously nod in affirmation.

Back to the illustration of the heart attack victim on the gurney whose heart has stopped. (Is he dead...yes; Is he dead....who knows) The jolt brings him back!

Perhaps "dead" doesn't exactly mean the absence of any life whatsoever, but merely (as I contend) separated -- soul from body or soul and spirit from God.

There's some interpretation of the Final Judgement that this is the case (everlasting life, i.e., with God)