A Hard Heart

(Brief Introduction is given by Moses dressed up): We’ve all heard the story of how God delivered His people through my hand, Moses. He used me and my brother Aaron to bring ten plagues upon Egypt. But what would the story sound like from Pharaoh’s point of view? This morning, Pharaoh is here to tell us his perspective.

(The pastor dressed up as Pharaoh emerges from the back of the church): I am Ramses II. Pharaoh of Egypt. I am the supreme ruler over all of Egypt. I am not only the head of the nation, but I am the head of religious leaders too. Yes, I am here to tell you my side of the story. So sit back, relax, listen, and learn.

My name means “Great House.” My job is to be the divine interpreter between the gods and my people, the Egyptians. I do a pretty good job of maintaining harmony if I don’t say so myself. I make the laws, I don’t have to keep them. I wage war whenever I want. I collect taxes, as much as I want. The land of Egypt is owned by me – that’s why they call me: “Lord of the lands” - I am powerful. My subjects bow to me.

So when Moses, little man Moses, came to me, and said: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Let my people go.” I laughed. Does he have any idea who he is talking to? So I said to him, “Who is the Lord, that “I” should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

I could feel my heart harden. I wanted to take my sword and cut his head off right then and there. How dare he speak to me in such a manner. Then I heard the sound of voices. They were singing – within hearing distance of my Great House. I moved over to the window, threw up the latch and saw my slaves excited, happy, singing. There was hope in their eyes over this great Israel deliverer. And my heart hardened even more when I heard my slaves singing:

Sing: “When Israel was in Egypt’s land, let my people go. Oppressed so hard they could not stand, let my people go. Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s land, tell old, Pharaoh (that’s me) let my people go.”

“Tell old Pharaoh.” Moses is going to tell me – to Let his people go! Are you kidding? They are MY slaves. I am their ruler. Egypt and all the people belong to me. Not only did Moses want me to let the slaves go – but he approached me in the name of their God – their Lord – insinuating that his God was more powerful than me – and all the gods of Egypt. He said his God would put on a display of signs and wonders that the world has never been seen before.

Once again, I laughed, and my heart hardened even more. I knew there was going to be a showdown. Between the many gods of Egypt and their one God. Their God against all our gods. We were in the plural. We were many. They are only singular.

My heart continued to harden at the very thought of Moses’ audacity to stand up to the gods of Egypt. Egypt has incredible power, majesty, and splendor. Our Pyramids alone stand as a monument to human ingenuity beyond human explanation. Our massive Pyramids, monuments, temples, and shrines speak to our belief in many gods.

There is no separation of church and state here. I am the church and the state. Religion dominates our nation. Nothing is secular in Egypt. Everything we do is backed by a deity and worship. I mean everything!

So when Moses approached me with his Jehovah God taking on all the innumerable gods of Egypt, I laughed. And I hardened my heart.

I still remember the first day Moses and his brother Aaron approached me in the Great House. I asked them to show me a miracle that proved the power of their God over mine. They carried a rod Aaron threw the rod at my feet and it became a serpent.

That’s it – that’s all you’ve got. So I called on my sorcerers and my magicians and they threw down their rod and it turned into a serpent as well. I started to laugh at the weakness of their God, but then their serpent swallowed up our serpent. I wasn’t impressed, it only hardened my heart a little bit more.

But then the real battle began. Moses and his Jehovah God decided they would confront our many gods in Egypt with 10 different plagues. Yes, 10.