Political Shame - Exodus 9-12

Exodus 10:7-11 (ESV)

Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God. But which ones are to go?” Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” But he said to them, “The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. No! Go, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

It is interesting that Pharaoh would not yield to the power of God but he would yield to the power of people.   Like politicians today, people power has more effect than God's power on the carnal and unbelieving heart.  We can read the same thing about Pilate during the trial of Jesus.  Note:

John 19:12-13 (ESV)

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.

Pilate was not fearful he might be crucifying the Son of God.  He only feared the people and his political position.  The pressure from above (God’s voice) was not as powerful than the pressure from the political world (man’s voice).  This is the challenge with mankind today.  They fear consequences brought on by other men vs being outside the will of God.   Pharaoh was willing to listen to his leaders and brought Moses and Aaron back to negotiate one more time.    He still would not listen to them since they demanded something he could not allow.  But the fact that he brought them back to talk to them shows how mankind will always bend to people applying political shame.