The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 631

:

HARDENING

THE SACRED SCRIPTURE

IN

591

obelisks and sarcophagi for the information of the public.

Hence Egypt could not plead ignorance as an excuse at the royal court Joseph was still remembered as the benefactor of Egypt, who saved it from famine and the Egyptians could not have forgotten their solemn promises to the Hebrews. And yet Pharaoh tyrannized over the people, and even sought to prevent their increase by ordering the destruction of all male infants. Hence Pharaoh, enslaving Israel, represents the evil worldpower which kept the Christ in bondage. Wherefore God said " I have called My Son out of Egypt." With Israel He called the Messiah out of Egypt. The fearful conflict was for Messiah ;

;

against Pharaoh.

This sheds some light upon the puzzling words " For this cause have I raised thee up." Having lost its prop by its departure :

from God, the world could not manifest its sinful power but in a world-empire, and in individual monarchs. And such manifestation was not fortuitous, but a logical necessity, divinely intended, that the divine power might triumph over it. For this reason it is repeatedly stated " But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart " (Exod. X. 20) " And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them, and I will be honored upon Pharaoh and upon his host, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord " (Exod. xiv. 4) " And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he pursued after the children of Israel" (Exod. xiv. 8). Later on the hardening came upon all Egypt " And L, behold, L will make stubborn the hearts of the Egyptians, and I will get Me honor upon Pharaoh and upon all his :

;

;

:

host" (Exod. xiv.

Throughout

17).

whole terrible history the prospective hardenannounced, then carried into effect, and finally recorded as accomplished in Pharaoh. For—and this deserves special noing

this

is first

tice—every announcement of the divine hardening is followed by the announcement from the subjective standpoint that Pharaoh himself hardened his heart " And Pharaoh's heart was stubborn " * (Exod. vii. 13) and again " And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments, and Pharaoh's heart was hardened""^ (Exod. vii. 22) and again " And Pharaoh's heart was stubborn, neither would :

:

;

:

;

he St.

let the children of Israel

Paul writes:

*"And

" Is

go " (Exod.

ix. 35).

And

for this reason

there unrighteousness with God?

God

forbid.

Pharaoh's heart hardened itself " (Dutch Translation).

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