What does Exodus 11:4 teach about the consequences of hardening one's heart? Setting the Moment • Nine devastating plagues have already struck Egypt, each one an unmistakable call to repentance. • Repeatedly Pharaoh “hardened his heart” (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34), and the LORD also confirmed that hardening (Exodus 9:12). • Exodus 11 opens with God announcing one final, climactic plague—death of the firstborn—because Pharaoh’s heart remains unyielding. The Word Spoken “So Moses declared, ‘This is what the LORD says: “About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,”’” (Exodus 11:4). Key Truths Wrapped in a Single Sentence • About midnight – God sets the timetable. Judgment arrives precisely when He determines, not a moment early or late. • I will go – the LORD Himself acts; this is not a natural disaster but direct divine visitation. • Throughout Egypt – no corner escapes; hardened hearts bring consequences that spill over national, social, and familial lines. How Hardness Developed 1. Warning – Pharaoh heard God’s commands through Moses (Exodus 5 – 10). 2. Supernatural Signs – Water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock plague, boils, hail, locusts, darkness. 3. Repeated Reprieves – After each plague Pharaoh momentarily softened, then “hardened his heart” again. 4. Divine Confirmation – When Pharaoh persisted, the LORD gave him over to his chosen stubbornness (Romans 1:24; Exodus 9:12). 5. Ultimate Consequence – Exodus 11:4 begins God’s final announcement; verse 5 details the death of every firstborn. Persistent resistance now brings irreversible loss. What the Hardened Heart Finally Faces • Suddenness – Judgment falls “about midnight,” startling the unprepared (Proverbs 29:1). • Severity – The firstborn, symbol of strength and hope, is struck down; hardness steals future blessings. • Universality – From palace to prison, no household is exempt (Romans 2:11). • Finality – This plague ends the standoff; Pharaoh will release Israel, but at the cost of national grief. • Divine Justice – God’s actions vindicate His word and demonstrate that rebellion carries real, historical consequences. Lessons Carried Forward • Every refusal to obey God adds another layer of callousness (Hebrews 3:7-15). • God’s patience is vast but not endless; storing up wrath is a fearful reality (Romans 2:5). • When He moves in judgment, He does so personally and precisely—there is no hiding place (Psalm 139:7-12). • Repentance today prevents catastrophe tomorrow. Yielding while the invitation stands brings mercy (2 Corinthians 6:2). Supporting Passages • Proverbs 29:1 – “A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.” • Hebrews 3:15 – “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” • Romans 2:5 – “Because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath...” • Psalm 95:8 – “Do not harden your hearts, as you did at Meribah...” • Exodus 12:29 – the literal fulfillment of God’s word spoken in 11:4-5. Exodus 11:4 stands as a sober milestone: the hardened heart finally meets the irrevocable consequence God promised all along. |
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