Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Despite the things that he had witnessed and the way in which God had moved, he could not help himself but to be vindictive and resentful against God. He believed himself to be the things that God was. He thought himself to be the measure of all things to everyone. His heart had a momentum and an incline that would see himself on the level with God. But ever since Abraham, God had a plan amongst the heavens to show his difference. The Hebrews were his method of achieving that goal and now was the time. His people would not be subject to the same principalities in heaven or on earth as others. These plagues represent that truth. Pharaoh’s hard heart and position made him the perfect man to demonstrate this. As the momentum of his corruption grew, all that God needed to do was give him to his sin. This sets Pharaoh apart from other significant rulers as well. Nebedchednezzar saw himself a god, but eventually worshipped Yahweh. He accepted God’s grace. But here we see a man who was so degenerate that all God need do was step out of the way of his destruction and he would prove God’s point for him. We must remember this in deep persecution. There is an always a costly reckoning for this type of man. Trust in God and pray for mercy for this man. He would sooner see his own destruction than see God praised, and God will honor his demand.