LESSON 6

FEBRUARY 9, 1889.

HARDENING PHARAOH’S HEART.

  1. WHEN the Lord sent Moses to Egypt, what did he say that he knew of Pharaoh? Ex. 3:19, margin.
  2. What did he say he would have to do before Pharaoh would relent? Verse 20.
  3. Then what was Pharaoh’s natural disposition? Ans.—Stubborn and self-willed; hard and unyielding.
  4. Afterward, what did the Lord tell Moses he would do to Pharaoh? Ex. 7:3.
  5. What did he say that Pharaoh’s stubbornness would give him an opportunity to do? Verses 4,5.
  6. What first tended to harden Pharaoh’s heart? Verses 10-13.
  7. What again confirmed him in his stubbornness? Verses 20-22.
  8. Through whose power did the magicians resist the truth, and strengthen the king’s evil purpose?
  9. What first caused Pharaoh’s determination to weaken? Ex. 8:8.
  10. When the Lord granted him this favor, what was the result? Verses 12-15.
  11. Did the next plague have any effect on the king? Verses 17-19.
  12. When the plague of flies came, how was he affected? Verses 24-28.
  13. When favor was again shown him, what was the result? Verses 30-32.
  14. How was Pharaoh affected by the next two plagues? Ex. 9:6, 7, 10-12.
  15. After Pharaoh had so often hardened his heart, what did the Lord do? Verse 12.
  16. What was the seventh plague? Verses 23-25.
  17. How did this terrible plague affect the king? Verses 27, 28.
  18. Was his request granted? Verse 33.
  19. What did this favor lead Pharaoh to manifest still more? Verses 34, 35.
  20. When the terrible plague of locusts was sent, what request, confession, and promise did the king make? Ex. 10:16, 17.
  21. Did the Lord grant his request? Verse 19.
  22. What did the Lord again do to Pharaoh, even by this act of kindness? Verse 20.
  23. In all this record, what special thing is it that had the effect of hardening Pharaoh’s heart? Ans.—The rejection of light from God. See notes.
  24. With what scripture is this in harmony? Isa. 26:10.
  25. What is it that makes wicked persons more settled in their determination to sin? Eccl. 8:11.
  26. After the sixth plague, what did the Lord say was the reason he had preserved Pharaoh for so long a time? Ex. 9:55, 16. See note.
  27. When God’s judgments are in the land, for what purpose is it? Isa. 26:9.

NOTES

GOD knows the hearts of all men (Acts 15:8; John 2:25), and so he knew the full stubbornness of Pharaoh’s nature before he sent Moses to him. Nevertheless he gave Pharaoh ample opportunity to receive the knowledge of God. At first God manifested his power to Pharaoh by simple miracles. But the king rejected this evidence, and not only allowed but invited the devil to destroy its force. Then the Lord began to bring judgments upon Pharaoh, and made himself known in a more marked manner; but still the king’s stubborn heart willfully rejected light, even after his magicians—the agents of the devil—had confessed their own impotence, and the power of God. By this means Pharaoh hardened his own heart so much that it was impossible for him to see light. He was in the condition of those of whom Paul speaks when he says:— “

But if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is “the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:3, 4.

Then God proceeded to harden his heart still more. Paul says of the heathen in general, who were wholly corrupt, that, “ even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a mind void of judgment, to do those things that are not convenient.” Rom. 1:28, margin. So of those in the last days who willfully reject light, he says that “for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:11, 12.

God always lets men have just what they are determined to have. If they hunger and thirst after righteousness, he will fill them with it; but if they fortify themselves in stubbornness, resist the strivings of his Spirit, and are bound to have their own evil way, then his Spirit ceases to strive with them, and he lets them have darkness to the full. Of those who hate knowledge, and despise God’s reproof, he says: “Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” Prov. 1:31, 32.

THE bearing of this lesson upon the doctrine of a future probation is obvious. In this life God gives to every man ample opportunity to know him, and to accept his salvation. The true Light “ lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9. The rejection of this Light leaves the man in darkness. The light tends to soften and subdue his heart; the rejection of it hardens his heart. After a man has deliberately rejected light, and hardened his heart, additional light and favor only harden his heart the more. So then if, after this life, God should grant man another probation, it would tend, not to his salvation, but to increase his wickedness, and would thus be useless. So it is that if favor be shown to the wicked, his wickedness will not depart from him; and yet in the favor of God there is life, and it is his goodness that leads to repentance all who do repent. The same thing which saves some destroys others, according to the way in which they receive it, just as the same sun which melts wax hardens clay.

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