In entering upon the _history of the case_, it is well to note the attitude of Pharaoh’s mind toward the God of Israel in the outset. We have it brought out fully (Ex. 5: 1, 2): “Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh: ‘Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; let my people go that they may serve me.’ 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.”――――This is plain; he says he does not know this God; he does not recognize his authority or admit his claims. His soul is full of practical unbelief in God――a fact which commonly lies at the bottom of all the hardening of sinners’ hearts in every age.――――Pharaoh did not at first contemplate crossing swords and measuring strong arms _with the Almighty God_. If he had taken this view of the case, he might have paused awhile to consider.――――So it usually is with sinners. Unbelief in God conduces to launch them upon this terrible conflict. Once committed, they become more hardened; one sin leads on to more sinning till sin becomes incurable――shall we say it? an uncontrollable madness. We may now fitly proceed to give attention to each particular case. The first miracle (Ex. 7: 10–13) that of changing Aaron’s rod to a serpent, was rather a _test_ than a _plague_. Pharaoh met it by calling in his magicians to try their hand――his thought being, My men can do that! They did _seem_ to do it, and though Aaron’s rod-serpent swallowed up theirs, yet Pharaoh did not love to be convinced and therefore was not. Under this result, which perhaps seemed to him a partial victory, he braced himself against God this time. Next, in the turning of water into blood we read (Ex. 7: 22) “The magicians did so with their enchantments, and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.” This seemed to him a complete success for his side. Naturally, therefore, his heart is hardened to withstand God yet.