As we are all aware, there are some individuals who simply fail to comprehend. You speak to them about God, and they just don't grasp the message. It gets even worse; it's not merely a matter of them not understanding, but rather, they never seem to get it. The more you engage with them, the more you wonder, "Will their hearts ever soften and respond?" However, they persistently fail to comprehend. In fact, certain people will never yield. They possess hardened hearts and stiff necks, to borrow the terminology found in Scripture. They just don't get it. After repeatedly sharing the message with someone and facing repeated rejection, what comes next? Well, that's the predicament Moses encountered when he sought to persuade Pharaoh to allow the children of Israel to leave Egypt and worship in the wilderness.

We have witnessed how Moses approached Pharaoh on nine occasions, not only requesting and commanding him to let the Israelites go but also bringing plagues upon Egypt. However, nine times Pharaoh responded with a resounding "no." He consistently hardened his heart and refused to release the Israelites. So, what comes next? What options are left when someone proves to be so obstinate? The answer lies in Exodus Chapter 11. If you possess any familiarity with the Old Testament, you might already anticipate what is about to transpire. This passage presents some intriguing twists and a particularly challenging problem.

1 And the Lord said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. Afterward, he will let you go from here. When he releases you, he will even drive you out of here completely. 2 Now speak in the hearing of the people, that every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold." (Exodus 11:1-2)

There is more to the story, but for now, let's focus on this initial segment. These three verses appear to be slightly out of chronological order since in verse 4, Moses is speaking to Pharaoh, which suggests that he never left Pharaoh's presence since Chapter 10. Some commentators argue that verses one to three serve as a parenthetical pause. Nevertheless, this is the subsequent portion of the text that demands our attention. These verses simply convey that the Lord said, "I will bring one more plague. In the meantime, I want you to approach the Egyptians and request gifts from them." The word that encapsulates these initial three verses is "gifts." Observe verse one: "The Lord said to Moses, 'I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt,' as I previously mentioned. There have already been nine plagues, and now one more is imminent.

This tenth and final plague possesses great authority and signifies the culmination of events. In fact, verse one states, "After this, Pharaoh will not only allow you to leave but will also drive you out of here." Therefore, this tenth and final plague will achieve the desired outcome. However, before you depart, I want you to approach your neighbors and request gifts of silver and gold. Why is that necessary? Firstly, why do you believe it will work? Secondly, what will you do with all the gold and silver? The answer to the second question is relatively straightforward. As you progress through the rest of Exodus, the Lord instructs Moses to construct the Tabernacle. This sacred structure contains various items of furniture and requires specific clothing for the priests. The silver and gold will be utilized in the construction of the Tabernacle, which is yet to come. There are additional intricacies that we will explore in.