God’s Long Suffering

It should not be forgotten that God did not begin at once to send the plagues upon Pharaoh and his people. He did not propose to deliver the Israelites by killing their oppressors, but rather by converting them, if it were possible. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” ^{12 Peter 3:9.} He “will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” ^{21 Timothy 2:4.} “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” ^{3Ezekiel 33:11.} All men are God’s creatures, and His children, and His great heart of love embraces them all, without respect to race or nationality.EVCO 186.2

Accordingly, at the first, the simple demand was made upon Pharaoh to let God’s people go free. But he impudently and haughtily replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice, to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.” ^{4Exodus 5:2.} Then miracles were wrought before him. These were not at the first judgments, but simply manifestations of God’s power. But the magicians of Pharaoh, the servants of Satan, counterfeited these miracles, and Pharaoh’s heart became harder than before. Yet the careful reader will see that even in the miracles that were counterfeited by the magicians, the superior power of the Lord was manifested.EVCO 187.1