“The same sun that melts the wax also hardens the clay.”

This is the phrase I kept thinking of when I was reading through the final batch of plagues.  It says that Pharaoh was arrogant (9:16) and that he sinned (9:27).  They had no fear of the Lord (9:30) and had so angered God that they were already slated for judgment (Rom 9:22).   And so when it says that the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, I believe it was because like the sun, when it shines brightest it hardens the lcay or melts the wax.  It just depends on what type of material it is and in this case, Pharaoh’s heart was clay.

The hard thing was the price that had to be paid.  I’m sure Moses clenched his teeth as he didn’t want to be the one to announce this judgment on Egypt and see the people suffer.   But the reality is that when people harden their heart against God, there will be suffering when truth comes.

It’s a painful reality then and now.

Just watch the news.

Or maybe don’t.