Have you heard it said, “You cannot make a man believe something he does not want to believe.”?
You are about to see to what extreme lengths men will go to reject the truth before them.
Genesis chapter 4 occurs after Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden. By this time Eve has given birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain became a gardener and Abel was a shepherd.
“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’” Genesis 4:3-7.
The very first sermon on the face of the earth and it is preached by God Himself to a man whom He knew would reject it. And the result of God’s warning? Cain murdered his brother.
“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ He said, ‘I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’ And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.’” Genesis 4:9-10.
Two things become evident here, the snide manner in which Cain answered his Maker, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”; how many loving parents have had such ingratitude shown them over the years.
And even more enlightening, we see the beginning of false religion, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground. While the following quote is about the Law of Moses, it is a principle that was undoubtedly taught to Adam and Eve after they had sinned in the Garden,
“And according to the law almost all things are purged [cleansed] with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission [forgiveness].” Hebrews 9:22.
It was Cain’s intention to get to heaven on his terms, not as God had commanded.
“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” 1 John 3:11-12.
There are only two types of religion in the world, do and done; all other religions require you to do something to get to heaven, Elysium, nirvana, paradise, or whatever it may be called.
God’s way is done; Christ paid it all at the cross. You do not need to do anything more than to confess your sins and accept that sacrifice for your sins and there will be remission, which means forgiveness.
Cain actually had a conversation with God and still refused to obey Him.
The first fourteen chapters of the book of Exodus describe the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt after having been in slavery for most of 430 years; this took place circa 1440 B.C.
The Pharaoh in question is likely Amenhotep II (1450-1425 B.C.); this man had some really powerful magicians in his court who were able to duplicate many of Moses’ miracles – to a degree.
In one instance (Exodus 7:8-13) Moses’ brother Aaron cast a rod he was carrying to the ground and it became a serpent, Pharaoh’s magicians did the same with their rods and they became serpents too.
God though is more powerful than the demonic world and Aaron’s serpent ate all the other serpents! Scripture tells us that after this Pharaoh’s heart grew hard; we see the core of unbelief at this point.
God through Moses brought ten plagues upon the land of Egypt and each of these plagues was a judgment upon a certain Egyptian god, thus showing His sovereignty over all creation and all so-called gods.
The first plague turned all of the streams, pools and rivers of Egypt to blood, the fish died and a stench covered the land, see Exodus 7:14-25.
“Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.” Exodus 7:22.
The second plague recorded in Exodus 8:1-15, brought frogs over all the land, and into everything.
“So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.’” Exodus 8:6-8.
“But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.” Exodus 8:15.
The dust of Egypt was turned to lice, in the third plague, Exodus 8:16-19.
“Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.” Exodus 8:18-19.
Three plagues and you’re out, Pharaoh’s own magicians testified that, “This is the finger of God” and yet he still hardened his heart. This is the real point of decision for Pharaoh.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress [hold down] the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” Romans 1:18-19.
Fourth plague, swarms of flies all over the ground in the air, everywhere, except where the children of Israel lived, Exodus 8:20-32.
“And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.” Exodus 8: 31-32.
Disease on livestock, fifth plague, Exodus 9:1-7. All the livestock of Egypt died.
“Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.” Exodus 9:7.
Sixth plague boils break out on man and beast, Exodus 9:8-12.
“And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.” Exodus 9:11-12.
Note here that it is the Lord who hardens Pharaoh’s heart:
“He who is often reproved, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1.
Seventh plague hail so severe it broke trees, killed men and livestock, and destroyed crops, Exodus 9:13-35.
“So Moses said to him, ‘As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.’” Exodus 9:29-30.
“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.” Exodus 9:34-35.
Eighth plague locusts everywhere and they ate every plant until there is nothing green in all of Egypt, Exodus 10:1-20.
“Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that He may take away from me this death only.’” Exodus 10:16-17.
“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.” Exodus 10:20.
Pharaoh’s attitude has changed slightly; Moses and Aaron are addressed a little more respectfully, though he still has only contempt for them.
As for the words, “the Lord your God”, he has learned nothing, Pharaoh continues to address the true and living God as the God of Moses and Aaron, and why not, Pharaoh, after all was considered a god.
The ninth plague is a thick darkness which could actually be felt for 3 days, Exodus 10:21-29.
“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.” Exodus 10:27.
The Lord showed his power over Egypt’s sun god Ra, one of their chief deities.
Tenth plague, all of the firstborn in Egypt die. There was not a house in Egypt that did not have dead including Pharaoh’s firstborn, Exodus 12:29-36.
“Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, ‘Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.’” Exodus 12:31-32.
You would think it would end here, but it just gets worse. Whenever you get a chance, you really should read all of Exodus chapter 14; because Pharaoh actually pursued the Israelites.
“Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, ‘Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?’ So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.” Exodus 14:5-8.
Most of us may be aware of the story. When the Israelites became trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army God parted the Red Sea and the children of Israel went through unharmed and Pharaoh’s army perished when the sea closed up again.
All but Pharaoh since he ruled Egypt for about fifteen more years, until 1425 B.C. when, historically, it is not his firstborn son who ascended to the throne after him.
In this case we have a man who saw the power of God first-hand and still ignored the warnings, warnings given even by his own magicians who stated, “This is the finger of God”.
Not just any God, since there are many gods, but the one and true God. The word of these men should have carried some weight since their power was evident and their position in Pharaoh’s court prestigious.
Pharaoh was warned by his magicians at the third plague that this is the hand of the true and living God. Yet it was not until the sixth plague (boils) when even the magicians could not stand before Moses that God hardened Pharaoh’s already unbelieving heart.
God will work with a man like Pharaoh until he says no for the last time. It is at this point that God hardens the heart and uses that man’s obstinacy for His own purposes.
“And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them [the children of Israel]. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” Exodus 14:17-18.
So powerful was the report of the exit of Israel from Egypt that forty years later when they entered the promised land the inhabitants were deathly afraid of them, see Joshua chapters 1 and 2.
Moses stood before pharaoh and witnessed these things and Moses wrote them down, and like Peter, he could say the following.
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16.
Unbelief, Part 1 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 8-13-15, updated on 8-9-23.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.