How did God harden Pharaoh’s heart so that
even with the death of his son he would come to chase after Israel to bring
them back? For one thing, it becomes
very clear what the loss of the Israelites means to the economy and lifestyle
of Pharaoh, his household and his servants.
Why have we done this, that we
have let Israel go from serving us?
This by itself is a normal thought.
But God does something very intentional,
instructing Moses to lead Israel on a path that is not very smart if you are
people without any weapons to use in defending yourselves and if you are
running from a king with a very capable army.
God leads them into what the old westerns called a box canyon. God leads them
to the edge of a sizeable body of water with no escape either way up or down
the coast, an area where the only logical way out is the way they came in. Pharaoh think the only logical way you can in
his position: they are lost! They have
no idea where they are going. He did
what makes sense if you are a self-exalting king and whose subjects think is god.
You jump at what appears to be an easy opportunity to show your
greatness.
What we are and have been trying to say is
that without question, as the Bible says, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. But the way in which He did this made Pharaoh
truly accountable. Pharaoh himself said
it: I have sinned. While he did not mean those words, he still
knew what to say because he understood that he was in a contest with the God of
Israel. He learned what God intended: Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the
LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his
horsemen. He learned this fact, but
he did not submit himself to it.
I want to say one more thing about this whole
story, and especially the words we just quoted from 14:18. Many people stumble over this, wondering, as
Paul noted (Rom. 9:19): How does He (God)
still find fault? One answer is that
Pharaoh fully cooperated with God’s hardening of his heart; Pharaoh is culpable. But can we also say that the Exodus was a
gracious extending of God’s hand to Egypt.
Yes, to Egypt. What does God say
is His purpose? He says the end result
of this is that the Egyptians … Pharaoh, his servants, his wise men, his
military, his subjects … that the Egyptians will know that He is the LORD. The Egyptians need to know this. It is key to their salvation if you
will. Remember how the people of Egypt
regarded Moses as a god (Ex.
7:1,5). Even in Pharaoh’s house some
began to fear the word of the LORD
(9:20). The citizens of Egypt could see
what was happening and became favorable towards the Israelites (11:3). And there were some Egyptians who joined
themselves to Israel so that a mixed
multitude went up with them also (12:38).
Even in judgment God’s mercy towards Egypt is evident.
Today,
as in every day I am sure, most people reject this idea. God uses what we call “natural disasters” to
call people’s attention to Him, to call them to fear Him. I am not saying they are punishment directed
at some particular sin (though they could be).
I am saying that in tragedy there is an opportunity to recognize our
weakness and our deep need and to humble ourselves before the Lord. The more we reject these opportunities the
harder our hearts become. As the hymn writer
put it, and as the Scriptures say: early
let us seek Thy favor; early let us do Thy will.
Remember now your Creator in the days
of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you
say, “I have no pleasure in them” (Eccles. 12:1)
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
in his youth (Lam. 3:27).
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