11:7 Moses told Pharaoh that God made a distinction between Egypt and Israel. At this time the distinction was very clear in God’s mind: He knew the Hebrews would become his chosen people. The distinction was taking shape in Moses’ mind also. But the Hebrews still saw the distinction only in terms of slave and free. Later, when they were in the wilderness, God would teach them the laws, principles, and values that would make them distinct as his people. Remember that God sees us in terms of what we will become and not just what we are right now.
11:9, 10 You may wonder how Pharaoh could be so foolish as to see God’s miraculous power and still not listen to Moses. But Pharaoh had his mind made up long before the plagues began. He couldn’t believe that someone was greater than he. This stubborn unbelief led to a heart so hard that even a major catastrophe couldn’t soften it. Finally, it took the greatest of all calamities, the loss of his son, to force him to recognize God’s authority. But even then he wanted God to leave, not to rule his country. We must not wait for great calamities to drive us to God but must open our hearts and minds to his direction now.
11:10 Did God really harden Pharaoh’s heart and force him to do wrong? Before the 10 plagues began, Moses and Aaron announced what God would do if Pharaoh didn’t let the people go. But their message only made Pharaoh stubborn—he was hardening his own heart. In so doing, he defied both God and his messengers. Through the first nine plagues, Pharaoh’s heart grew even more stubborn. After the ninth plague, God passed judgment. Sooner or later, evil people will be punished for their sins. When it became evident that Pharaoh wouldn’t change, God confirmed Pharaoh’s prideful decision and set the painful consequences of his actions in motion. God didn’t force Pharaoh to reject him; rather, he gave him every opportunity to change his mind. In Ezekiel 33:11, God says, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”