But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
Exodus 10:27 comes after three days of thick darkness over Egypt while Israel had light in their dwellings, and after Pharaoh had witnessed the preceding signs and plagues. The darkness was more than loss of light, for the Egyptians endured an oppressive atmosphere that made breathing difficult, while the Hebrews had pure air and light. That plague exposed the impotence of idolatry by demonstrating Jehovah's supremacy over the Egyptian gods associated with the sun, moon and elements, and it helped prepare the way for Israel's deliverance.
Pharaoh then offered only a conditional release, willing to let the people including wives and children go but insisting that their flocks, herds and cattle be held back. Moses rejected the condition and insisted that no animal be left behind, because Israel would not know what they must use to serve the LORD until they arrived. Pharaoh then drove him away in anger and remained unwilling to release the people. At that point the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart so he would not let them go, while Pharaoh also hardened himself in haughty pride and rebellious blindness against the requirements of the God of Heaven.
His refusal fit a fixed pattern, for he was very slow to yield, granting only what dreadful visitations compelled and taking back what he granted when affliction was removed, persisting even after Egypt was ruined and though every plague came exactly as Moses and Aaron said it would. He chose to endure the miraculous judgments rather than submit, watching without remorse while his whole kingdom suffered and joining with his idolatrous priests in opposing Moses to the last, even though the Egyptian people wanted the Hebrews permitted to leave. Blind to God's power, he threatened Moses and Aaron with death if they appeared before him again, not realizing he was contending not only against them but against the mighty Maker of the heavens and the earth.
Had he not become hardened he would have been humbled by the power of the living God who can save or destroy, and would have known that He who multiplied signs and wonders would preserve His chosen servants even if He had to slay the king of Egypt. Moses stood before the king with unshaken confidence and fearless courage that provoked Pharaoh's pride, yet he was safe because the people regarded him as a very wonderful man, so the king would not dare to harm him. This stubborn refusal leads directly to one more dreadful plague more severe than any before it, in which the angel of God would slay the firstborn. Its nature and effect Moses declared to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians and Israelites on the night terrible to the Egyptians and glorious to the people of God when the solemn ordinance of the Passover was instituted.
Exodus 10:27 comes after three days of thick darkness over Egypt while Israel had light in their dwellings, and after Pharaoh had witnessed the preceding signs and plagues. The darkness was more than loss of light, for the Egyptians endured an oppressive atmosphere that made breathing difficult, while the Hebrews had pure air and light. That plague exposed the impotence of idolatry by demonstrating Jehovah's supremacy over the Egyptian gods associated with the sun, moon and elements, and it helped prepare the way for Israel's deliverance.
Pharaoh then offered only a conditional release, willing to let the people including wives and children go but insisting that their flocks, herds and cattle be held back. Moses rejected the condition and insisted that no animal be left behind, because Israel would not know what they must use to serve the LORD until they arrived. Pharaoh then drove him away in anger and remained unwilling to release the people. At that point the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart so he would not let them go, while Pharaoh also hardened himself in haughty pride and rebellious blindness against the requirements of the God of Heaven.
His refusal fit a fixed pattern, for he was very slow to yield, granting only what dreadful visitations compelled and taking back what he granted when affliction was removed, persisting even after Egypt was ruined and though every plague came exactly as Moses and Aaron said it would. He chose to endure the miraculous judgments rather than submit, watching without remorse while his whole kingdom suffered and joining with his idolatrous priests in opposing Moses to the last, even though the Egyptian people wanted the Hebrews permitted to leave. Blind to God's power, he threatened Moses and Aaron with death if they appeared before him again, not realizing he was contending not only against them but against the mighty Maker of the heavens and the earth.
Had he not become hardened he would have been humbled by the power of the living God who can save or destroy, and would have known that He who multiplied signs and wonders would preserve His chosen servants even if He had to slay the king of Egypt. Moses stood before the king with unshaken confidence and fearless courage that provoked Pharaoh's pride, yet he was safe because the people regarded him as a very wonderful man, so the king would not dare to harm him. This stubborn refusal leads directly to one more dreadful plague more severe than any before it, in which the angel of God would slay the firstborn. Its nature and effect Moses declared to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians and Israelites on the night terrible to the Egyptians and glorious to the people of God when the solemn ordinance of the Passover was instituted.