What does Pharaoh's response reveal about his heart towards God in Exodus 5:1? The Setting Exodus 5 opens with Moses and Aaron delivering God’s clear command: “Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” (Exodus 5:1). This is not a request; it is the authoritative word of the covenant-keeping LORD to the ruler of Egypt. Pharaoh’s Words in Focus “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2) What Pharaoh’s Response Shows About His Heart • Prideful ignorance – Pharaoh’s “Who is the LORD?” exposes a deliberate dismissal of revelation. Though Egypt’s pantheon was vast, he refuses to acknowledge the God who now speaks directly (compare Romans 1:21). • Willful rebellion – “That I should obey” signals conscious resistance, not innocent misunderstanding (see Psalm 2:1-3). • Self-deification – Egyptian kings were viewed as divine; Pharaoh’s words elevate his own authority above the LORD’s, echoing the serpent’s ancient lie (Genesis 3:5). • Hardened unbelief – “I do not know the LORD” is not a lack of information but a hardened refusal to submit. Later plagues will confirm this hardness (Exodus 7:13; 9:34-35). • Contempt for God’s people – By rejecting Israel’s freedom to worship, Pharaoh rejects the covenant people, effectively scorning their God (Zechariah 2:8). Scriptural Echoes • Psalm 14:1—“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” • 1 Samuel 6:6—Egypt’s earlier oppressors warned, “Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?” • Romans 9:17—God later declares, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to display My power in you.” Implications for Today • God’s sovereign word brooks no rivals. • Human pride resists divine authority until God initiates heart change. • Continued refusal to acknowledge the LORD invites escalating judgment, yet even judgment magnifies God’s glory and makes His name known (Exodus 9:16). |
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