Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
One would think that after the burial of his son, the king of Egypt would repent and turn from his wicked ways. But no, after the initial shock and awe of that fateful night, he continues to dig in his heels, for he regroups, and instead of repenting, he determines to pursue the Hebrews. In desperation, he tries to save face, by endeavoring to bring the captives back, with a very strong show of force for if he were to succeed, Egypt would again be exalted in the eyes of the nations.
And pharaoh himself would be like Robinhood, in the eyes of his people. Then, all the devastation which took place during the plagues could be attributed to natural causes such as global warming, and in this way intervention by the God of heaven could be removed from the equation and the records permanently, as being the cause. The question is why. What on earth would drive him to do the unthinkable, after having burying his first born.
And what on earth would cause his people to continue to support him, even as Egypt was brought to ruins? There is one answer, and one answer only, Pride. It was national and personal pride that pharaoh had indulged over the years, and which he tenaciously clung to, that caused the very thought of repenting to rankle in his mind.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!