Pharaoh's officials said to him: how long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined? Pharaoh's own officials use the same how long that God used in verse 3. Seven plagues in, his court is convinced. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined? — the destruction is visible and acknowledged by the very people whose counsel Pharaoh relies on. Proverbs 11:14 says for lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisors. Pharaoh has advisors telling him to let Israel go. He will not listen. The isolation of the leader who will not receive counsel is itself a form of judgment — God works through natural means as well as miraculous ones, and the unanimous counsel of Pharaoh's officials is a natural means being offered and rejected.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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