How does Pharaoh's response in Exodus 10:7 reflect his hardened heart? Setting the Scene “Then Pharaoh’s officials said to him, ‘How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?’” (Exodus 10:7) The Immediate Context • Nine plagues have ravaged Egypt; locusts are about to finish what hail began (Exodus 10:1–6). • Even Pharaoh’s seasoned counselors recognize the nation’s collapse. • Despite mounting evidence, Pharaoh hesitates, revealing a heart already fixed against God. Marks of Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart in 10:7 • Silence speaks volumes – Moses records no reply. Pharaoh’s refusal to engage shows willful dismissal of truth (cf. Exodus 8:15). • Deafness to wise counsel – his own officials plead, yet he resists (Proverbs 12:15). • Blindness to obvious ruin – Egypt is “in ruins,” but Pharaoh clings to pride (Exodus 9:34–35). • Preference for control over deliverance – letting Israel go feels like personal defeat; pride eclipses national welfare (Exodus 5:2). • Repeated pattern – every fresh warning meets the same obstinacy, proving hardening is cumulative (Exodus 7:13; 9:12; 10:1). Progressive Hardening Across the Plagues 1. Initial rejection (Exodus 5:2) 2. Temporary relenting under pressure (Exodus 8:8) 3. Quick reversal once relief comes (Exodus 8:15) 4. Calculated negotiation attempts (Exodus 8:25; 10:8–11) 5. Final deadlock leading to judgment (Exodus 11:10; 12:29–32) Each step confirms Romans 9:17: “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you…’” Spiritual Takeaways • Persistent sin desensitizes the conscience; what once shocked becomes routine (Hebrews 3:13). • Pride blinds leaders and followers alike; a hardened heart resists even the clearest evidence (Proverbs 16:18). • God’s sovereignty and human responsibility intertwine—Pharaoh hardens his own heart, while God confirms that choice for His glory (Exodus 9:12; Romans 1:24). • Refusal to heed godly counsel endangers everyone under one’s authority (1 Samuel 6:6). Living Application The narrative warns us: repeated rejection of God’s clear word calcifies the heart. True freedom lies not in clinging to control but in humble obedience to the Lord who still says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). |
    |