Human Response 117: Not Hearken

Exodus 7:4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

As the Exodus story unfolds we see the response of Pharaoh to the true God: he does not hearken, meaning he does not listen to, obey, or believe the Lord. He resists and rejects in pride, unbelief, and rebellion. After each of the first seven plagues, the account says, ”And Pharaoh hardened his heart.” After the 8th and 9th plagues and threat of the 10th it says, ”God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”

Sinners can harden their hearts only so many times, and then the Lord seals them in their stubborn hardness and unbelieving rebellion. Romans 1:24, 26: ”God gave them up.” The Lord is long-suffering and patient with us, but hardening over a long period eventually brings a fall.

God’s Judgment through the Ten Plagues was upon the gods of Egypt and finally upon the Pharaoh, symbolic of the god of this world. God saves and delivers us through the judgment of Sin, Death and the Devil at the cross. And just as God’s judgment on Egypt (the world) and its gods (the devil) brought about salvation and deliverance for Israel, so also does the Cross Judgment bring salvation to us.

One of the many lessons of the Exodus Event for us to learn is to hearken to God’s Word of Law and Gospel. A Pharaoh resides in all of us sinners. Repent and believe the gospel! Hear ye Him!