God Gave Him Over

Exposition

Verses 8 - 11: This is the first plague that directly strikes the Egyptians physically. The hand of God is directly upon the persons of Egyptian, through not until death. It came about via a method the magician-priests would have often used: throwing soot into the air. The LORD has turned what was an Egyptian blessing[1] on its head as a method of judgment. As with all the other plagues, there is significance here. When we fail to obey the LORD, what we think are blessings will become curses. It is also a clear example of their sin being placed in front of them as Matthew Henry tells us: “Sometimes God shows men their sin in their punishment; they had oppressed Israel in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are made as much a terror to them as ever their task-masters had been to the Israelites.”[2] This plague also showed the Egyptians, as shows us, the LORD is sovereign over even physical health. Sickness and health are subject to him and his decree in either case shall be. The success or failure of any treatment or medical actions ultimately falls under his purview.

We must also note the impacts of this plague on the magicians. First, this plague incapacitates them. They couldn’t even attempt a counterfeit or mount any defense. The LORD of heaven has completely nullified the powers of Egypt. They couldn’t stand before the LORD acting through Moses. Secondly, this is the last reference of the magician-priest in the Exodus narrative. They will not heard from again. We must remember that In Egypt the medical and magical were linked.[3] These magician-priests therefore had an important advisory role for Pharaoh and his court. The LORD’s saving acts have rendered them useless. Their “wisdom” has been made foolishness. This is the nature of the gospel and the cross. It is foolishness to sinful men yet renders their knowledge and power as useless. As was talked about two weeks ago, the grace of God upon his people means his wrath is not poured out upon them.

Verse 12: For the first time Moses explicitly states the The LORD’s acts on Pharaoh’s heart. This isn’t the last time we will read this. The LORD is said to do so in Ex. 10:20;27;14:8). This shouldn’t have been surprising since the LORD twice said he would do so (Ex. 4:21;7:3). The question we want to spend the rest of our time on is how are we to understand this act of God in relation to Pharaoh’s past, present, and future actions? How do we, or can we even, reconcile this judgment of God with the free will of man? What does this say to us about Pharaoh’s accountability? These questions are important for our understanding of the purpose of the plagues, sin, judgment, and the grace of God. We will not attempt an extensive study but a detailed overview.

The first thing we need to understand is the LORD influences kings and their servants (Gen. 39:21, Prov. 21:1, Ezr. 1:1;6:22). In all cases it is for his glory and the good of his people. He has an absolute right to do it and we have no right to complain about it.

The usual verdict concerning Pharaoh is that the LORD’s hardening his heart was a judicial response to Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to obey. As a result of Pharaoh’s repeated refusal, the LORD gives Pharaoh over to his hardness of heart. The LORD strengthens Pharaoh in his obstinacy. Since Pharoah won’t obey, he will continue to disobey, ensuring God’s judgment. One might accuse God of unfairness at this point. Such complaints are not valid. Until now it has been Pharaoh who has steadfastly resisted God and lied to His servants. Pharaoh has refused to humble himself. He spurned and trampled upon the mercy of God. He has seen God’s power yet refused to acknowledge the only rational conclusion. He can no longer claim ignorance of Yahweh or His power. He simply refuses to respond correctly. The proper reward for this is God’s judgment. This was Paul’s message in Romans 1:18-21. He tells the Romans that continued suppression of the truth leads to the giving over to sin (Rom. 1:24,26,28). This is exactly what has happened here. It is what the LORD told Moses He would do. He would later tell the Thessalonians that those who hate the truth will be caused to love a lie (2 Thess. 2:9-12). There is more going here however. OT Commentator Durham writes:

“Whatever may have been the original implication of the varied expressions of the motif of Pharaoh’s obstinacy, with their varied vocabulary and differences about the cause of his stubbornness, the clear implication of the composite presented to us in Exodus is that Yahweh is in every case the prime mover in this matter. We are told as much in anticipation of the proof-of-Presence sequence, in the prologue that begins it, and in the dramatic victory that concludes it, the final triumph over Pharaoh and Egypt at the sea. Every mighty act must be read within such a bracketing, and so every stubborn reversal of promise by Pharaoh, like every reversal of the welfare of his country, must be recognized to be the work of Yahweh....Such an implication is made all the more clear by the first specific declaration, within the mighty-act sequence itself, that Yahweh himself has “made obstinate” the mind and intention of Pharaoh (9:12), for the declaration comes precisely at the point in the sequence When any other explanation is no longer possible.”[4]

Practical Application

God in his grace gives warning after warning. He provides times and a time to repent. He shows mercy by withholding judgment. He makes clear his requirement to us and sets before us blessing and cursing. It can’t be stated that God is not good. At the same time there comes a period where the warnings stop, the mercy ends, and judgment comes. But this is only after our repeated refusal to heed the word of God. It comes after repeated spurning of his mercy and offers of grace. It comes from our repeated failure to acknowledge and obey the truth. Saints of God as we are in this period of quarantine and reflection, let us take time to examine ourselves. Let us take this opportunity to check our obedience (2 Cor. 13:5). Are we fully obeying God’s word? Are we living as he requires? Can our love and faith by backed up by our deeds. Are we in the faith? Surely we don’t want to be like Pharaoh. We don’t want to caused to love a lie or made unable to turn from the wrong path. It is time for a heart check. Let the Spirit via the word run the diagnostic and then act on the results. Your soul is at stake

Gospel Application

Let me say this to those whom do not yet call Christ savior and Lord. Neither time nor warning is promised to you. One thing that should be readily apparent in our new reality is the fragile foundation of even our greatest institutions. All the but very wealthy have been hit and even the rich have not been spared death by corona. The only thing that is certain is that there is a righteous judge we will stand before and we will have to get an account for our response to his word. What will your be? What will you say to the judge of all the earth concerning the words which he gave to you? In short, what did you do with Jesus the Christ? I dare say the answer has permanent eternal consequence. There is something you can do now: Repent and believe the gospel. Acknowledge and confess your sin. Ask for forgiveness and to be received into his kingdom. Place your trust on the work of Christ alone: his life, death, and resurrection and you will be saved. Now is the time and acceptable hour. Don’t be like Pharaoh and risk a hard heart because you hardened your heart. Repent and believe today. The grace of the Lord be with all hearers of this word today. Amen.

[1] Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus: Saved for God's Glory, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 273.

[2] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 107). Peabody: Hendrickson.

[3] Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 229). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[4] Durham, J. I. (1987). Exodus (Vol. 3, p. 123). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.