Exodus 10:10
Then Pharaoh told them, "May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil.
Then Pharaoh told them,

Pharaoh answered Moses and Aaron as Egypt’s ruler, yet his authority stood under the judgment of the LORD. His refusal to release Israel revealed a heart increasingly hardened against God’s command.

Exo 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should…
Exo 1:10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase…

“May the LORD be with you

Pharaoh spoke the covenant name of Israel’s God with contempt rather than faith. The LORD truly was with Moses, Aaron, and Israel, and Pharaoh’s mockery would soon be answered by God’s mighty acts.

Rut 2:4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem…
Jdg 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said,…
Jos 1:5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life.…

if I ever let you go with your little ones.

Pharaoh resisted the departure of Israel as a whole community. Israel’s children belonged in the worship and deliverance God commanded, for the covenant people were not to leave anyone behind in Egypt’s bondage.

Gen 43:8 And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me,…
Num 14:31 But I will bring your children into the land…
Deu 1:39 And the little ones you said would become captives…

Clearly you are bent on evil.

Pharaoh portrayed Israel’s obedience to God as a dangerous plot, refusing to acknowledge his own injustice and rebellion. His accusation prepared the way for his demand that only the men go, while God’s purpose remained the complete redemption of His people.

Gen 50:20 As for you, what you intended against me for evil,…
Pro 24:8 He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
Mic 2:1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who is obstinate and refuses to let the Israelites go, despite the plagues.

2. Moses and Aaron
The leaders of the Israelites, chosen by God to demand their freedom from Pharaoh.

3. The Israelites
God's chosen people, enslaved in Egypt, seeking freedom to worship God.

4. Egypt
The land where the Israelites are enslaved, experiencing God's plagues as a result of Pharaoh's hardened heart.

5. The Plagues
A series of divine judgments on Egypt, demonstrating God's power and sovereignty.
Teaching Points
The Hardness of Heart
Pharaoh's response exemplifies a heart hardened against God's will. Believers should guard against hardening their hearts to God's commands and guidance.

God's Sovereignty
The plagues and Pharaoh's resistance demonstrate God's ultimate control over human affairs. Trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem insurmountable.

Faith in Adversity
Moses and Aaron's persistence in confronting Pharaoh teaches us to remain steadfast in faith, even when facing powerful opposition.

The Importance of Family in Worship
Pharaoh's reluctance to let the Israelites go with their families underscores the importance of family unity in worship and spiritual practices.

Recognizing Spiritual Warfare
Pharaoh's accusation of evil intentions reflects the spiritual battle believers face. Discernment and reliance on God's truth are essential.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Pharaoh's response in Exodus 10:10 reflect a hardened heart, and what can we learn about the dangers of resisting God's will?

2. In what ways does the account of the plagues and Pharaoh's resistance illustrate God's sovereignty and purpose?

3. How can Moses and Aaron's perseverance in the face of Pharaoh's opposition inspire us in our own faith journeys?

4. Why is it significant that Pharaoh was unwilling to let the Israelites go with their families, and how does this relate to the importance of family in worship today?

5. How can we recognize and combat spiritual warfare in our lives, as seen in Pharaoh's accusation of evil intentions against Moses and Aaron?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 3:19-20
God foretells that Pharaoh will be stubborn, but He will compel him to release the Israelites through mighty acts.

Exodus 5:1-2
Pharaoh's initial refusal to let the Israelites go, showing his hardened heart and disbelief in the LORD.

Exodus 12:31-32
Eventually, Pharaoh relents and allows the Israelites to leave, fulfilling God's promise.

Romans 9:17-18
Paul references Pharaoh to illustrate God's sovereignty and purpose in hardening hearts for His glory.

Hebrews 11:27
Moses' faith is highlighted, showing his perseverance despite Pharaoh's opposition.
God's Judgments on Sin and Their Results for the Righteous and the WickedJ. Urquhart Exodus 10:1-11
The Eighth Plague: the LocustsD. Young Exodus 10:1-19
The Plague of LocustsJ. Orr Exodus 10:7-21
Driving Away the Servants of GodJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 10:10-11
The Imperiousness of UnbeliefG. Barlow.Exodus 10:10-11
The Threats of the WickedW. O. Lilly.Exodus 10:10-11
People
Aaron, Egyptians, Israelites, Moses, Pharaoh
Places
Egypt, Red Sea
Topics
Along, Bent, Care, Clearly, Evil, Face, Faces, Heed, Infants, Mind, Ones, Purpose, Thus, Women
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 10:9

     7355   feasts and festivals, nature of

Library
Full Redemption
Now, it seems to me, that this grand quarrel of old is but a picture of God's continual contest with the powers of darkness. The mandate has gone forth to earth and hell: "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go that they may serve me." "No," saith Satan, "they shall not." And if he be compelled to yield one point, he still retains his hold upon another. If he must give way, it shall be inch by inch. Evil is hard in dying; it will not readily be overcome. But this is the demand of God, and to he last
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

A Poor Man's Cry, and what came of It
On this occasion I want to speak of what happens to those who do return to God; because many have newly been brought, through mighty grace. Some of them I have seen; and I have rejoiced over them with exceeding great joy. They tell me that they did distinctly lay hold on eternal life last Sabbath day; and they are clear about what it means. They came out of darkness into his marvellous light; they knew it, and could not resist the impulse at once to tell those with whom they sat in the pews, that
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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