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出埃及记生命读经 · 第21篇

法老的心地刚硬

The Hardening Of Pharaoh’s Heart
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看一个非常困难的问题：法老的心地刚硬。这件事的争辩在于神使法老的心刚硬或是法老自己硬著心。论到法老的心刚硬，摩西使用好几种说法。在四章二十一节神说：『我要使他的心刚硬。』然而，在八章十五节摩西说法老『硬著心』。再者，九章七节告诉我们，『法老的心却是固执』，而九章三十五节说：『法老的心刚硬』。一方面，十章一节说，耶和华『使他…的心刚硬』，但另一方面，在十章二十节我们看见耶和华『使法老的心顽梗』（另译）。根据所使用希伯来字的字义，法老的心不仅变得刚硬，且是顽梗又固执。摩西用不同的字眼描述法老心地刚硬的事实，说出这件事的严重性。
1In this message we come to a very difficult matter: the hardening of Pharaoh’she art. The argument concerning this is related to whether God hardened Pharaoh’she art or Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Regarding the hardening of Pharaoh’she art, Moses uses various expressions. In 4:21 God says, “I will harden his heart.” However, in 8:15 Moses says that Pharaoh “hardened his heart.” Furthermore, in 9:7 we are told that “the heart of Pharaoh was hardened,” and in 9:35 that “the heart of Pharaoh was hard.” On the one hand, 10:1 says that the Lord “hardened his heart,” but, on the other hand, in 10:20 we see that the Lord “made Pharaoh’she art hard” (Heb.). According to the meaning of the Hebrew words used, Pharaoh’she art became not only hard, but also stubborn and obstinate. The fact that Moses uses different words to describe the hardening of Pharaoh’she art indicates the seriousness of this matter
一 神的主宰权柄
I. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
2圣经明说神使法老的心刚硬，又说法老自己硬著心。有些不信圣经的人争辩说，神使法老的心刚硬是不对的。保罗写罗马书的时侯，这类的争辩已经开始了。因此，保罗诉诸神的主宰权柄，问说：『你这个人哪，你是谁，竟敢向神强嘴呢？受造之物岂能对造他的说，你为甚么这样造我呢？』（罗九20。）在下一节保罗继续说：『窑匠难道没有权柄，从一团泥里拿一块作成贵重的器皿，又拿一块作成卑贱的器皿么。』在此保罗说，作为创造者，神有主宰的权柄作祂所喜欢作的。我们是谁，竟敢与祂争辩呢？我们需要认识，我们是泥土，而神是窑匠。祂有权柄从一团泥里拿一块作成贵重的器皿，又拿一块作成卑贱的器皿。祂有权柄作成可怒的器皿，（22，）如同作成蒙怜悯的器皿一般。（23。）
2The Bible says clearly both that God hardened Pharaoh’she art and that Pharaoh hardened his heart himself. Some of those who do not believe the Bible argue that God was wrong in hardening Pharaoh’she art. At the time Paul wrote the book of Romans, such arguments had already begun. Therefore, Paul appealed to God’s sovereignty and asked, “But, Oman, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why did you make me thus?” (Rom. 9:20). In the next verse Paul goes on to say, “Has not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor?” Here Paul says that as the Creator, God has the sovereign authority to do whatever He likes. Who are we to argue with Him? We need to recognize that we are clay and that God is the potter. He has the authority out of the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor. He has the right to make vessels of wrath (v. 22) as well as vessels of mercy (v. 23
3你认为自己是一个可怒的器皿呢，还是一个蒙怜悯的器皿？一面说，我们是何种器皿完全是神主宰权柄的事；但另一面，它在于我们认为自己是甚么。就如宇宙中许多其它的事物一样，总是有两面的，有神的一面，也有人的一面。我们若说自己是可怒的器皿，那我们就是可怒的器皿。但我们若说自己是蒙怜悯、贵重、得荣耀的器皿，那么我们就是这样的器皿。
3Do you consider yourself a vessel of wrath or a vessel of mercy? On the one hand, the kind of vessel we are is absolutely a matter of God’s sovereignty. But, on the other hand, it depends on what we say of ourselves. Like so many other things in the universe, there are two sides here, God’s side and man’ss i de. If we say that we are vessels of wrath, that is what we are. But if we say that we are vessels of mercy and of honor unto glory, then we are such vessels.
4在罗马九章十六节保罗说：『据此看来，这不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎发怜悯的神。』成为一个蒙怜悯、贵重、得荣耀的器皿，不在乎我们的定意或奔跑，只在乎神向我们所施的怜悯。我们是蒙怜悯的器皿乃是出于神主宰的怜悯。成为蒙怜悯的器皿不是我们决定的。神在我们出生以前就作了这个决定。只有因著神的主宰权柄，我们才能说我们是蒙怜悯的器皿。我们凭自己或出于自己都无权这样说。那位对泥土有权柄的窑匠，已定意要把我们作成蒙怜悯的器皿。然而，我们承认我们是蒙怜悯的器皿就是证明神已经这样作了。
4In Romans 9:16 Paul says, “So then, it is not of the one who wills, nor of the one who runs, but of God, the One who shows mercy.” To be a vessel of mercy and of honor unto glory does not depend on our willing or our running, but on God’s mercy to us. It is of God’ss ove reign mercy that we are vessels of mercy. We were not the ones who decided to become vessels of mercy. God made this decision before we were born. Only because of God’s sovereignty are we able to say that we are vessels of mercy. In ourselves and of ourselves we have no right to say this. As the One with authority over the clay, the Potter has chosen to make us vessels of mercy. However, our confession that we are vessels of mercy is a proof that God has made us so
二 神的怜悯
II. GOD’S MERCY
（一） 照著祂自己的旨意
A. According to His Own Will
59:18神的怜悯是照著祂的旨意。在罗马九章十八节保罗下结论说：『神要怜悯谁，就怜悯谁，要叫谁刚硬，就叫谁刚硬。』我们无法解释神为甚么定意要向我们施怜悯。我们只能说，照著神的旨意，神的怜悯临到了我们。在这件事上，圣经特别地强调。根据罗马九章十八节，神可以施怜悯，也可以叫人刚硬。摩西和法老的事例就是一个说明。摩西是神要怜悯的人，而法老是神要使他刚硬的人。在罗马九章十五节，保罗引用神给摩西的话说：『我要怜悯谁，就怜悯谁，要恩待谁，就恩待谁。』这表明神向我们所施的怜悯全然是照著祂自己的旨意。
5God’s mercy is according to His will. In Romans Paul concludes, “He has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills.” We cannot explain why God has willed to show mercy to us. The only thing we can say is that, according to God’s will, the mercy of God has been extended to us. Regarding this, the Bible is emphatic. According to Romans 9:18, God may will either to show mercy or to harden. This is illustrated by the cases of Moses and Pharaoh. Moses was one to whom God willed to show His mercy, whereas Pharaoh was one whom God willed to harden. In Romans 9:15 Paul quotes God’sword to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” This indicates that the mercy shown to us is altogether according to God’sown will.
（二） 在祂主宰的权柄里
B. In His Sovereignty
6不仅如此，神的怜悯也是在祂主宰的权柄里。（罗九20～23。）要解释神怜悯我们，只能说在祂主宰的权柄里，祂已定意要怜悯我们。想一想以扫和雅各的例子。谁能说为甚么神一定要拣选雅各而不拣选以扫呢？我们所能说的乃是在祂主宰的权柄里，神拣选了一个，而没有拣选另一个。神的拣选绝对是照著祂的主宰权柄。
6Furthermore, God’s mercy is in His sovereignty (Rom. 9:20-23). The only thing we can say to explain God’s mercy to us is that in His sovereignty He has chosen to be merciful to us. Consider the case of Esau and Jacob. Who can say why God willed to choose Jacob and not Esau? All we can say is that in His sovereignty God chose the one and not the other. God’ss election is absolutely according to His sovereignty.
7作为蒙神恩典的人，我们不仅该为著祂的怜悯感谢祂，也该为著祂的主宰权柄敬拜祂。有些诗歌说到神的怜悯，但是很难找到一首诗歌是论到神的主宰权柄。要写神主宰权柄的诗歌，我们没有太多可说的。我们需要和保罗一同被带到神的主宰权柄这里。不是与祂理论，反而我们该说：『哦，父神，为著你的主宰权柄，我敬拜你。虽然我不配，但在你的主宰权柄里，你已定意向我施怜悯。』千万不要摸神的主宰权柄。要留意保罗的警告，他问道：『你是谁，竟敢向神强嘴呢。』（罗九20。）倘若我们认识，我们不过是泥土，我们就不会与神争辩了。反之，我们要为著祂的主宰权柄敬拜祂。
7As those favored by God, we should not only thank Him for His mercy, but also worship Him for His sovereignty. There are hymns on God’s mercy, but it is very difficult to find a hymn on God’s sovereignty. When it comes to writing hymns on God’s sovereignty, we have little to say. Along with Paul, we need to be brought to God’s sovereignty. Instead of reasoning with Him, we should say, “O Father God, I worship You for Your sovereignty. Although I am not worthy, in Your sovereignty You have willed to show me Your mercy.” Never presume to touch the sovereignty of God. Heed Paul’s warning when he asks, “Who are you that replies against God?” (Rom. 9:20). If we realize that we are nothing more than clay, we shall not argue with God. Rather, we shall simply worship Him for His sovereignty.
三 人的自由意志
III. MAN’S FREEWILL
8在宇宙中有三件事是无可否认的：神的主宰权柄、神的怜悯，和人的自由意志。神的主宰权柄和怜悯是神圣且永远的，它们是无始无终。反之，人的自由意志是神所造的。神创造人给人一个自由意志，表明祂的伟大。因祂是大的，祂不强迫我们拣选祂。反之，祂给我们自由来自行选择。神给人自由选择的事实也启示祂的智慧和大爱。没有一个伟大、智慧，和慈爱的人会强迫别人作事的。反之，这样的人总是尊重别人的自由意志，说：『随你选择罢。如果你要作这事，你可以定意这样作。但你必须作个决定。』我们是接受神或是弃绝祂，都在于我们的选择。创世记第二章证明人有自由的意志。根据本章，神把祂所造的人安置在两棵树前，就是生命树和善恶知识树之前，让人在它们之间自由选择。当我年轻时，我认为神许可第二棵树在园子里是不对的。对我来说，如果只有一棵生命树，甚么问题都不会发生了。但在祂的伟大、智慧，和慈爱里，藉著把人安置在两棵树面前，神给人机会来拣选祂。
8In the universe there are three things that cannot be denied: God’s sovereignty, God’s mercy, and man’s freewill. God’s sovereignty and mercy are both divine and eternal, without beginning or ending. Man’s freewill, on the contrary, is something created by God. In creating man with a free will, God displayed His greatness. Because He is great, He does not force us to choose Him. Rather, He leaves us free to make our own choice. The fact that God granted man a free choice also reveals His wisdom and love. No one who is great, wise, and loving compels others to do things. Instead, such a person will always respect the free will of others and say, “The choice is yours. If you want to do this, you may choose to do so. You must make the decision.” Whether we take God or reject Him is a matter of our choice. Genesis 2 proves that man has a free will. According to this chapter, God placed the man created by Him in front of two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and man was free to choose between them. When I was young, I thought God was mistaken in allowing the second tree to be in the garden. It seemed to me that if there had been only one tree, the tree of life, there could have been no problem. But in His greatness, wisdom, and love, God gave man the opportunity to choose Him by placing him in front of two trees
9根据创世记第三章，夏娃偏要拣选吃知识树的果子。她作这个决定时，是运用她的鉴别力和自由意志。同样的原则，我们必须决定是否要相信主耶稣。再者，接受祂之后，我们还必须选择是否要追求祂。有些人以为，倘若撒但不存在的话，宇宙中的情况就会是美妙的。然而，神和撒但，生命和死亡都同时存在，这乃是事实，而我们必须在他们之间作个选择。
9According to Genesis 3, Eve deliberately chose to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. In making this decision, she exercised her discernment and free will. In the same principle, we must decide whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, after receiving Him, we must choose whether or not we shall seek Him. Some may think that the situation in the universe would be wonderful if Satan did not exist. Nevertheless, it is a fact that both God and Satan, both life and death, are present and we must choose between them.
四 法老的心刚硬
IV. PHARAOH’S HARDENING OF HIS HEART
10以此为背景，我们来看法老心地刚硬的问题。神先使法老的心刚硬呢，还是法老先采取步骤，使自己硬著心？想想看你信主耶稣的经历，它能帮助你回答这个问题。这是你发起的呢，还是神发起的？当然是神发起的。但是，你的确相信了。在我得救之前，我没有想到神。我相信基督既不是我计划的，也不是我发起的。我确信这个源头乃是神自己。祂计划、发起，并安排这事。在我得救以前，我不愿相信基督。然而，有一天我自然而然地愿意了。照著你我的经历，神采取第一步先使我们相信基督。同样的原则，神采取第一步使法老的心刚硬。在摩西首次面对法老之前，神告诉摩西，祂要使法老的心刚硬。（四21。）然而，在我们得救的事例中，我们相信主耶稣是神所发起的，但祂不是藉著替我们相信来实行。神计划我们该相信祂，但我们自己必须要相信。照样，神先使法老的心刚硬，然后法老藉著他自己的自由意志来实行这样的刚硬。在此我们看见神的主宰权柄和人的自由意志，这两者不相矛盾，而是互相呼应的。在这件事上，法老不能逃避责任，把一切推卸给神。他有他自己的自由意志。
10With this as the background, we come to the problem of the hardening of Pharaoh’she art. Did God firstly harden Pharaoh’she art, or did Pharaoh take the first step to harden his own heart? As a help in answering this question, consider your experience in believing in the Lord Jesus. Was this initiated by you or by God? Surely it was initiated by God. However, you did the believing. Before I was saved, I had no thought of God. My believing in Christ was neither planned nor initiated by me. I have the full assurance that the source of this was God Himself. He planned it, initiated it, and scheduled it. Before I was saved, I was not willing to believe in Christ. However, one day I spontaneously became willing. According to my experience and yours as well, God took the first step to cause us to believe in Christ. In the same principle, God took the first step in the hardening of Pharaoh’she art. Before Moses had his first confrontation with Pharaoh, God told him that He would harden Pharaoh’she art (4:21). However, in the case of our salvation, God initiated our believing in the Lord Jesus, but He did not execute it by believing for us. God planned that we should believe, but we ourselves had to believe. Likewise, God firstly hardened Pharaoh’she art, then Pharaoh carried out this hardening through his own free will. Here we see God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill. Instead of being contradictory, these two correspond. Pharaoh could not escape responsibility in this matter and place it all on God. He had his own free will
11一方面，我们必须为著神的主宰权柄敬拜神，但另一方面，我们必须尽我们的责任。神的主宰权柄与我们的自由意志并不矛盾，而我们的自由意志和祂的主宰权柄也不矛盾。倘若我们看见这个，我们就要在神主宰的权柄下谦卑自己，并且自然而然地尽我们的责任。我们要说：『主，一切都是照著你的主宰权柄。然而，我必须尽我的责任。』我们愈愿意担负我们的责任，表明我们是神所豫定的记号就愈明显。
11On the one hand, we must worship God for His sovereignty, but, on the other hand, we must fulfill our responsibility. God’s sovereignty does not contradict our freewill, and our free will does not contradict His sovereignty. If we see this, we shall humble ourselves under God’s sovereignty and spontaneously take up our responsibility. We shall say, “Lord, everything is according to Your sovereignty. Nevertheless, I must carry out my responsibility.” The more we are willing to bear our responsibility, the stronger is the sign that we have been predestinated by God.
12圣经先说神使法老的心刚硬，但圣经也说法老使他的心刚硬。这显明神的主宰权柄和人的自由意志。我们必须一直谦卑自己，说：『主，你是主宰一切的，但我仍必须尽我的责任。』这个态度表示神恩待了我们。但假设我们持著这种态度：既然一切都是照著神的主宰权柄，我们就没有责任作任何事；这就是我们否认神的记号。法老不能推卸责任，摩西也不能夸他的行为。如此，神封住各人的口。摩西没有地位夸口，法老也没有理由不负责任。
12The Bible firstly says that God hardened Pharaoh’she art. But the Bible also says that Pharaoh hardened his heart. This shows both God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill. We must always humble ourselves and say, “Lord, You are sovereign. But I must still carry out my responsibility.” This attitude indicates that we are favored by God. Suppose, however, that we have the attitude that because everything is according to God’s sovereignty, we are not responsible to do anything. This is a sign that we have denied God. Pharaoh could not absolve himself of responsibility, and Moses could not boast of his deeds. In this way, God shut every mouth. Moses had no room to boast. Neither did Pharaoh have an excuse not to bear responsibility
13神的主宰权柄和我们的责任，都与我们属灵的追求有关。所有正常的属灵追求都是神所计划，所豫定的，但是我们仍有责任寻求主。当我们寻求祂时，我们不该骄傲。反之，我们该谦卑自己，并承认我们的追求主是照著祂的主宰权柄；同时也是尽我们的责任。如果我们对主漠不关心，就有不尽责任的危险。但如果我们热心追求主，我们就必须谨慎，不要夸耀我们的属灵追求。我们又一次看见，必须在神主宰的权下谦卑自己，同时也尽我们的责任。如果我们知道神的主宰权柄和我们的责任，我们就真是神所恩待的了。
13God’s sovereignty and our responsibility are both involved in our spiritual seeking. All proper spiritual seeking is planned and scheduled by God. But we are still responsible to seek the Lord. When we seek Him, we should not be proud. Rather, we should humble ourselves and confess that our seeking of the Lord is according to His sovereignty. At the same time, we fulfill our responsibility. If we are indifferent toward the Lord, we are in danger of not fulfilling our responsibility. But if we are zealous in pursuing the Lord, we must be careful not to boast of our spiritual seeking. Once again we see that we need to humble ourselves under God’s sovereignty and, at the same time, carry out our responsibility. If we are conscious of God’s sovereignty and our responsibility, we are truly favored by God
14我们已经指出，有些经节说神使法老的心刚硬，而另一些经节说神使法老的心顽梗。同样的原则，有些地方告诉我们法老硬著心，（八15，）但别处告诉我们法老心里刚硬。（七13。）硬著心和心变刚硬有所不同。出埃及记告诉我们，法老硬著心以及他的心变得刚硬。这表示法老先硬著心，结果他的心就变硬了。因此，心里刚硬是硬著心的结果。在法老硬著心以前，他的心仍有软化的可能。但法老不但不软化他的心，反倒硬著心。今天的光景也是一样。在一个人硬著心以前，他的心并不刚硬。至少在某种程度上，他的心是柔软的。然而一旦他决意要硬著心，他的心就变得刚硬了。
14We have pointed out that some verses say that God hardened Pharaoh’she art, whereas other verses say that God made Pharaoh’she art hard. In the same principle, in some places we are told that Pharaoh hardened his heart (8:15, 19) but elsewhere, that Pharaoh’she art was hard (7:13, Heb.). There is a difference between hardening the heart and the heart becoming hard. In Exodus we are told both that Pharaoh hardened his heart and that his heart became hard. This indicates that Pharaoh firstly hardened his heart. The result was that his heart became hard. Hence, the heart being hard was the consequence of the hardening of the heart. Before Pharaoh hardened his heart, it was still possible for his heart to be softened. But instead of softening his heart, Pharaoh hardened it. The same is true today. Before a person hardens his heart, his heart is not hard. To some extent at least, it is soft. But once he decides to harden his heart, his heart becomes hard
15我们能从这里学到一个重要的功课：绝不容许任何消极的事朝著主发展。在消极的事发生之前，你还有两种选择─为著神或抵挡神。然而一旦某件消极的事产生，而你的心刚硬了，你就只有一个选择，那就是弃绝神。从法老对待他心的方式中，我们能看见神如何对待法老的心。首先，神使法老的心刚硬，然后神使他的心顽梗。神使法老的心刚硬以后，祂能使其柔软。然而祂没有这样作。反之，祂使法老的心一直刚硬。这意思是说神使法老的心顽梗。起先神使法老的心刚硬，然后祂使法老的心顽梗。换句话说，神没有中途改变祂对法老的心所作的。
15We can learn an important lesson from this: Never allow anything negative to develop toward the Lord. Before this negative thing arises, you still have two choices—to be for God or to be against Him. But once something negative comes forth and your heart is hardened, you will have only one choice, and that is to reject God. From the way Pharaoh dealt with his heart we can see how God dealt with Pharaoh’she art. Firstly, God hardened Pharaoh’she art, and then He made his heart hard. After God had hardened Pharaoh’she art, He could have softened it. However, He did not do so. Instead, He kept Pharaoh’she art in a hardened condition. This means that God made Pharaoh’she art hard. In the beginning, God hardened Pharaoh’she art; then He made Pharaoh’she art hard. In other words, God did not intervene to change what He had done to Pharaoh’she art
16倘若我们容许某件消极的事朝著主发展，这将会带来严重的后果。神不会更改这个结果；反之，祂会容许它继续下去。正如祂不向法老施怜悯，反而让他任凭己意，特要在他身上彰显神的权能。（罗九17。）一旦你硬著心，你的心将变得刚硬，而且一直刚硬下去。这是在你的一面。在神的一面，祂先使你的心刚硬，然后祂不改变祂所作的。祂先使心刚硬，然后使它继续刚硬。这警告我们要谨慎，免得任何消极的事在我们里面发生。一旦这消极的事产生某种结果，那个结果将存留下去。连神自己也不改变它，祂会许可它存留。
16If we allow something negative to develop toward the Lord, there will be a serious issue. God may not change this result. Rather, He may allow it to continue, just as He did not show mercy to Pharaoh, but let him stand by himself in order to show forth His power in him (Rom. 9:17). Once you harden your heart, your heart will become hard and remain hard. This is on your side. On God’ss i de, He firstly hardens your heart and then He may refuse to change what He has done. Firstly, He hardens the heart and then He keeps it hard. This warns us to take heed lest any negative thing arise within us. Once this negative thing produces a particular result, that result will remain. It may be that not even God Himself will change it. He may allow it to remain as it is
17我信摩西用各种说法来描述法老的心地刚硬，好叫我们学习在神的主宰权柄面前谦卑自己，尽我们的责任，并保守自己，不容许消极的事情朝著神发展。一旦这些事情发生了，它们所造成的结果就很难改变。反之，情况依旧，甚至更糟。让我们从法老的例子中学到功课。他容许邪恶的事发生，它的结果就永远存留。这是何等严肃的警告！
17I believe Moses used various expressions to describe the hardening of Pharaoh’she art so that we might learn to humble ourselves before God’s sovereignty, to take up our responsibility, and to guard ourselves from allowing negative things to develop toward God. Once these things develop, it is very difficult to change the result they cause. Instead, the condition remains and may even worsen. Let us learn from the example of Pharaoh. He allowed something evil to begin, and the result remained permanently. What a serious warning this is!
18多年来，我见过许多容许消极事物发展的例子。起初，在他们面前有两种选择，他们仍有可能改变方向。但是他们一作消极的选择，就无法转回了。从那时起，因著他们的选择所产生的情形和结果就没有改变了。要小心任何消极的事发生。千万不要以为这样的事是无意义的。不要对自己说，你要作一件事，以后再改变。你也许愿意改变，但你选择的结果不允许你改变。再者，神也无意更改这种消极的光景。
18Throughout the years, I have seen many cases of those who allowed negative things to develop. At first, there were two choices in front of them, and it was still possible for them to change their direction. But once they made the negative choice, there was no turning back. From that time onward, there was no change of the condition or the consequence resulting from their choice. Be careful of any negative thing rising up. Never regard such a thing as insignificant. Do not say to yourself that you will do a certain thing and change later. You may desire to change, but the result of your choice may not allow you to change. Furthermore, God may not have the intention to change such a negative situation.
19我们需要为著神的主宰权柄敬拜祂，为著祂的怜悯感谢祂，尽我们的责任，并防止消极的事情在我们和主之间发生。那么我们就在神的恩典里是摩西，而不是法老。我们需要仰望主，叫我们不像法老是可怒的器皿，而像摩西是蒙怜悯、贵重，并得荣耀的器皿。
19We need to worship God for His sovereignty, thank Him for His mercy, carry out our responsibility, and keep negative things from arising between us and the Lord. Then we shall be in God’s favor, a Moses, not a Pharaoh. We need to look to the Lord that we may be not vessels of wrath like Pharaoh, but, like Moses, vessels of mercy and honor unto glory