When Kings And People Repent. Part [10] 04/25/2025 (Morning thought)

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

To confess that he was wrong would humiliate him in the eyes of his subjects, and he would thereby be blamed for the trainwreck that brought Egypt to its knees. Therefore, rather than go that route the king then decides to dig in, and let the chips fall where they may, even if it meant that in the process, his entire army together with the magicians, and counselors would also perish.

The following excerpts should be closely studied, for they give us a window into the mind of pharaoh, as he comes to that final, and fatal decision, never to repent. Pay very close attention to the thinking of his supporters, as they desperately search for any excuse to save face.

[Patriarchs 7 Prophets pp 283] Pharaoh's counselors declared to the king that their bondmen had fled, never to return. The people deplored their folly in attributing the death of the first-born to the power of God. Their great men, recovering from their fears, accounted for the plagues as the result of natural causes. “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” was the bitter cry.

 Exodus 14:5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

When Kings And People Repent. Part [9] 04/25/2025 (Evening thought)

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!