Exodus 5:2 - Sin BEGINS, HOLD, RUIN, SETS, CANKERS !!!!!!!

[kathiresan jeyapandian]

Exodus 5:2-And Pharaoh said, 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.

*The fear of the LORD is the beginning of*wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments : his praise endureth for ever. Psalms 111:10.

"It seems like that when man gets to the place that he feels that he's self-sufficient, sin begins to take a hold of him. The church, the nation, the individual, that feels that he doesn't need any help from outside, sin begins to reign in him. That is true. And we would notice too, that when people begin to feel that superior feeling, usually sin sets in and cankers them." 58-0108 - The Handwriting On The Wall_Rev. William Marrion Branham[04 May, 2015_09:18PM].

1. Sin begins to take a "HOLD" of "HIM" when a man feels he is self-sufficient

2. Sin beings to "RUIN" when church, nation, individual feels doesn't need any help.

3. Sin "SETS" IN and "CANKERS" them when people begin to FEEL SUPERIOR

The Bible constantly counsels mankind to beware of the dangers of pride. Why is there this constant caution? Because, pride deposes God as the Sovereign of our lives. When pride controls us, we cease to recognize God as the Master (cf. Dt 8:11-20; Ps 12:3,4; 52:7; 101:5; Pr 6:16; 8:13; etc).

PHARAOH: Burning Bridges OR Burning Bushes? Genesis 50: 4-11; Exodus 5:1-21

The “Pharaoh” in Exodus 5:1-21. - Exodus 5 reveals his true character. He is presented as a self-centered, ruthless tyrant (10:3b). Look through the verses in this chapter and list the character traits discovered about this King.

 a. Full of contempt.  

  Even though this was initially directed toward God it led him to act contemptuously toward all others (cf Lk 18:2).

 b. Inflexible. 

  Pharaoh refused to follow God’s directions. He understood what was being requested but he refused. His words present a determined resolution to follow Self rather than God. “I will NOT let Israel go!” God’s Word had been spoken and understood but Pharaoh would continue as he had. “It was a resolution which had strong and active support in all the baser feelings of his own breast. It is just in the firmness and haughtiness of such a resolution, revealing as it does the spirit of the man, that we get the reason for such an accumulation of calamities as came upon his land ... Pharaoh here is but the visible and unconscious exponent of that dark Power which is behind all evil men and cruel and selfish policies. That Power, holding men in all sorts of bitter disappointments and degrading miseries, virtually says, ‘I will not let them go.’” (The Pulpit Commentary, Vol 1, 123).

 c. Controlled by anger. 

  Pharaoh’s rage was sinful. He viciously attacked and caused as much suffering as possible. His anger so controlled him that it was impossible for him to comprehend any danger.

  “The rage of the wicked is often the best commendation of God’s servants. It is a testimony to their faithfulness” (The Pulpit Commentary, Vol 1, 122).

 d. Motivated by self-interest (5:4,5). 

  Pharaoh listened to Moses and Aaron, and what did he hear – a challenge to his monarchy! He did not hear a word about God. All he thoughts were consumed with self-interest!

 e. Lack of respect. 

  He had no respect for others; ordered their destruction without any conscience.

 f. Ego-centric. 

  Thought himself greater than Jehovah God.

  He is an amazing illustration of a headstrong person! He would not listen to any idea that was not his. He refused to examine the God Jehovah that Moses and Aaron said commanded their actions.

 g. Was offended at God’s Word. 

  Refused to acknowledge that he should do what God’s Word commanded him to do.

 h. Was a profane person. 

  Pharaoh thought that one god was just as good as others. The Egyptian religion persuaded Pharaoh to believe that he was also divine. This lead to a loose philosophy that advocated, “One is just as good as another.” This led him to be insolent and oppose God’s authority in his life. A good paraphrase of Pharaoh’s attitude would be, “Let Jehovah be whoever He might be, but He has no impact upon my life.” He thus demonstrated a haughty sin (cf Ps 73:9;2 Ths 2:4).