21. Rejection of Light Hardens Heart—Pharaoh saw the mighty working of the Spirit of God; he saw the miracles which the Lord performed by His servant; but he refused obedience to God’s command. The rebellious king had proudly inquired, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? ... [Exodus 5:2].” And as the judgments of God fell more and more heavily upon him, he persisted in stubborn resistance. By rejecting light from heaven, he became hard and unimpressible. The providence of God was revealing His power, and these manifestations, unacknowledged, were the means of hardening Pharaoh’s heart against greater light. Those who exalt their own ideas above the plainly specified will of God, are saying as did Pharaoh, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?” Every rejection of light hardens the heart and darkens the understanding; and thus men find it more and more difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, and they become bolder in resisting the will of God (Manuscript 3, 1885). {1BC 1099.9}

21. At forkaste lyset forhærder hjertet. - Farao så Guds Ånds mægtige virken; han så de mirakler som Herren udførte ved Sin tjener; men han nægtede lydighed mod Guds bud. Den oprørske konge havde spurgt stolt: ”Hvem er Herren, at Jeg skal adlyde hans (1100) røst og lade Israel rejse? . . . [2. Mos. 5,2]." Og idet Guds domme falder tungere og tungere på ham, holdt han ud i hårdnakket modstand. Ved at forkaste lyset fra himlen, blev han hård og umodtagelig. Guds forsyn åbenbarede Hans kraft, og disse upåagtede manifestationer, var middel til at forhærde Faraos hjerte imod større lys. Dem som ophøjer deres egne ideer over Guds tydelige og bestemte vilje, siger ligesom Farao: ”Hvem er Herren, at jeg skulle adlyde Hans røst?” Enhver forkastelse af lyset forhærder hjertet og formørker forståelsen; og derved finder det vanskeligere og vanskeligere at skelne mellem rigtigt og forkert, og de bliver mere fri til at modsætte sig Guds vilje (MS 3, 1885).