What does Pharaoh's request for prayer reveal about his understanding of God's power? Setting the Scene • By the eighth plague Egypt lay in ruins; the locusts “devoured everything growing in the fields” (Exodus 10:15). • God had already explained His aim: “I might display My power in you and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). • Against that backdrop, Pharaoh summons Moses once more. Pharaoh’s Plea (Exodus 10:17-18) “Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me. So he left Pharaoh’s presence and prayed to the LORD.” What Pharaoh’s Request Reveals About His View of God’s Power • Recognition of Divine Control – Pharaoh assumes only the LORD can halt the plague; he no longer appeals to his magicians. – He calls the plague “this death,” admitting that life and death are in God’s hand (cf. Deuteronomy 32:39). • Acknowledgment of Personal Sin—Yet Without Surrender – “I have sinned” (10:16-17) mirrors earlier admissions (8:8; 9:27) but never leads to lasting obedience. – James 2:19 reminds us that intellectual assent without submission is empty. • Dependence on a Mediator – He asks Moses to “appeal” on his behalf, conceding he cannot approach God directly (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5). – The pattern began with frogs (Exodus 8:8) and continued through hail (9:28). • Distancing Language – Repeated phrase “the LORD your God” shows he recognizes power yet resists personal allegiance. – Contrast with Nineveh’s king who says, “Let everyone call urgently on God” (Jonah 3:8). • Fear of Judgment Over Desire for Relationship – His plea is crisis-driven: remove the plague, then life may return to normal. – Luke 6:46 captures the tension: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” The Ongoing Pattern Across the Plagues 1. Frogs – Exodus 8:8: “Pray to the LORD to take away the frogs.” 2. Hail – Exodus 9:27-28: “The LORD is righteous… Pray to the LORD.” 3. Locusts – Exodus 10:17-18: “Appeal… remove this death.” Each time Pharaoh sees the power, confesses, requests intercession—then hardens his heart (Exodus 8:15; 9:34; 10:20). Key Takeaways for Believers • God’s power is unmistakable and absolute; even hardened rulers must acknowledge it. • Mere recognition of that power does not equal saving faith; obedience must follow confession. • Intercession points to the necessity of a mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. • Superficial repentance is short-lived; true repentance endures because it springs from surrendered hearts, not crisis management. |
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