- 42-
Proceeding further, we find that, with the exception of the two passages (Exodus 4:21;
7:3) in whichthe Divine agency in hardening is beforehand announced to Moses for
his instruction, the hardeningprocess is during the course of the actual history, in the
first place, traced only to Pharaoh himself.Thus, before the ten plagues, and when
Aaron first proved his Divine mission by converting the rodinto a serpent, (Exodus
7:10) "the heart of Pharaoh was hardened," that is, by himself (vers. 13,14).
Similarly, after each of the first five plagues (7:22; 8:15; 8:19; 8:32; 9:7) the
hardening is alsoexpressly attributed to Pharaoh himself. Only when still resisting
after the sixth plague do we read forthe first time, that "the Lord made firm the heart
of Pharaoh" (9:12). But even so, space forrepentance must have been left, for after the
seventh plague we read again (9:34) that "Pharaohmade heavy his heart;" and it is
only after the eighth plague that the agency is exclusively ascribed toGod. Moreover,
we have to consider the progress of this hardening on the part of Pharaoh, bywhich at
last his sin became ripe for judgment. It was not only that he resisted the demand of
Moses,even in view of the miraculous signs by which his mission was attested; but
that, step by step, thehand of God became more clearly manifest, till at last he was, by
his own confession, "inexcusable."If the first sign of converting the rod into a serpent
could in a certain manner be counterfeited by theEgyptian magicians, yet Aaron's rod
swallowed up theirs (7:12). But after the third plague, themagicians themselves
confessed their inability to carry on the contest, declaring, "This is the finger ofGod"
(8:9). If any doubt had still been left upon his mind, it must have been removed by the
evidencepresented after the fifth plague (9:7), when "Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there
was not one of thecattle of the Israelites dead." Some of the Egyptians. at least, had
profited by this lesson, and on theannouncement of the seventh plague housed their
cattle from the predicted hail and fire (9:20, 21).Lastly, after that seventh plague,
Pharaoh himself acknowledged his sin and wrong (9:27), andpromised to let Israel go
(ver. 28). Yet after all, on its removal, he once more hardened his heart(ver. 35)!
Can we wonder that such high-handed and inexcusable rebellion should have been
ripe for thejudgment which appeared in the Divine hardening of his heart? Assuredly
in such a contest betweenthe pride and daring of the creature and the might of the
Lord God, the truth of this Divinedeclaration had to be publicly manifested:
"Even for this purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show My power in thee,
and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth." (Romans 9:17)
For the long-suffering and patience of God will not always wait. It is indeed most true,
that "Godhath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that he be converted
and live;" (Ezekiel33:11) and that He "will have all men come to the knowledge of the
truth and be saved." (1 Timothy2:4, 2 Peter 3:9)
(^)