Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses. [Exodus 9.35]
I continue to believe Pharaoh's hard heart was the natural condition of an immensely proud person confronted with Holy God.
Why would God have had Moses continue to offer opportunities for Pharaoh to let Israel go if Pharaoh ultimately had no choice in it? Why not just go straight to killing the firstborn? Pharaoh had a choice - and Pharaoh had many opportunities to repent, but he ultimately did not.
God will always harden the heart of a proud person. However, like Pharaoh, every proud person has a choice in the matter. In fact, like He did with Pharaoh, God demonstrates great mercy toward pride and human arrogance. Why? Because He knows just how damning human pride is and how difficult it is to overcome.
Pharaoh's example demonstrates though that God's mercy must eventually give way to His justice. Pharaoh eventually died in his pride and stubbornness and took many others with him.
We will see this example proven through Israel's wilderness journeys too. God, in His matchless patience, puts up with pride and stubbornness for a while, but then... justice!
God's love is endless, but His patience is not. This fact is lesson enough for me today!
Father, forgive me for trying your patience with my pride, stubbornness, and outright rebellion. May I be found compliant to You in every way - submitted to You and Your love for the world as it would manifest through my life.
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