PHARAOH: AN ILLUSTRATION

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

PHARAOH: AN ILLUSTRATION          

Exodus 5:2 NKJV

² And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” 

The Exodus involves a mighty contest.  Pharaoh opposes - as far as he is concerned - Moses, Aaron, and the rebellious Hebrews.  He has no idea of the Divine purpose for him. 

His statement recorded in Exodus 5:2 is the classic confession of all the unconverted the world over, unlimited by time.  Paul describes this condition in I Corinthians 2:14; “ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

The statement in Exodus 5:2 demonstrates a supreme arrogance, but it contains the elements of the lost person’s enmity toward God.  An analysis of it shows us:

A.     His pride:  Who is the Lord that he should think he can give me commands and expect obedience?  I will not obey him.  This is the natural activity of the human will.  Romans 8:7-8.  ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  It is as unnatural for the carnal mind to obey God as for a broken clock to keep the right time.  This clock will have the right time only for one minute as time passes it by, never correct only accidentally the same as time passing it.

B.     His ignorance:  “I do not know the Lord.”  He was right.  He certainly did not know the Lord.  Again, Paul gives Bible students a clear look at this condition.  Ephesians 4:18,  “having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;”  This very clear statement is a description of human intelligence in its understanding of the Triune God of the Scriptures.  Note the four conditions named.

1.       Darkened understanding

2.      Alienated from God

3.      Ignorance in them, that is belonging to them

4.      Blind heartedness.  A darkness of affection with which they are pleased.

This was the ignorance of Pharaoh. 

C.    Rebellion:  “I will not let Israel go.”  We hear many talk of the sinner’s free will.  This is the freedom of the will of the lost person at work doing its business.  The business of the will of the lost person is to oppose God in whatever way it can.  The plaintive prayer of Christ for Jerusalem is a graphic illustration of this condition.  Luke 13:34 “How often I would have …” “but you were not willing.” 

Paul chose Pharaoh of whom he writes “For this very purpose I have raised you up.”  There are some glaring graphic road signs that demand observation and attention.  The Lord says “Remember Lot’s wife”.  Again, He states that Johan is a sign that demands observation.  Pharaoh is as much a lesson for us in human depravity as can be found in Scripture. 

What is the lesson:

1.  There are no easy conversions.  The spirit of God is the source of life.
2. We have every encouragement to take the gospel to anyone.  Conversion is not dependent upon them, but God who alone can save and does.