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sends down a great darkness, a darkness that can be felt. It is unclear if this means physically, spiritually or emotionally. Most likely it would be all three. Imagine to be surrounded by darkness for three days. It would be nothing short of oppressing. Still the Pharaoh would not let them go and he threatened to kill Moses if he saw him again. Now that was the height of arrogance.

The plague of firstborn Bes the protector of the family
God finally sends down the worst of all the plagues on Egypt; the killing of the firstborn. Many times we believe this to be limited to just children. However, the word in Hebrew means more than just children. This would have been the firstborn and would have included adults. For example: A person could lose their oldest son and their oldest brother. The effects would have been devastating

The Ten Plagues reveal the Sovereignty of God (Pharaoh)
The understanding of God's sovereignty is simply stated that God rules over all things.

The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Exodus 4:21

God has the ability to change the Pharaoh's receptivity and harden his heart. The narrative uses three specific and descriptive words for the hardening process.

Kabed: to be heavy
This word often describes the eyes, ears, mouth and tongue. Once these organs become heavy they no longer work as they should. The word describes organs of perception that are no longer able to receive outside stimuli.

Thus between the actions of God and the actions of Pharaoh himself, his heart was no longer open to God's work.

Hazaq: to be strong, hard
The understanding with this word is to be stubborn. We might use the slang bullheaded, pigheaded or stubborn as a mule

Qasha: to be hard, difficult or severe
This is to act in a manner that is harsh.

Pharaoh hardens his heart before God does
Pharaoh sees the work of god and makes the decision to harden his heart before God moves to do so. The choice was the Pharaoh's and he chose to be difficult with God. The same is true today; many people that God tries to deal with become difficult with Him and with others.

God moves to harden the heart of the Pharaoh
As God begins to move in Egypt, there can be no mistaking that He exhibits amazing power. Before Moses ever goes back to Egypt, God knows what it will take to set the people free. The ten plagues were planned before Moses ever

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