Pharaoh doubles down

Exodus 5

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

EXODUS 5

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

When authorities are asked to ease off on the burdens they impose, or are asked to grant greater liberty, they often double-down in the opposite direction. In the United States during the 2007–08 and 2011–12 U.S. Presidential election campaign cycle, candidates of both major parties called for an end to war and the post-9/11 surveillance powers. After they received some positive publicity, they were marginalized, while the leadership of both parties started more wars and expanded surveillance.

(It’s not just political authority where I see this doubling-down. When business practices or cultural norms are called out as racist, defenders of it are at first offended by the accusations but then become more brazenly racist. Or, so it seems during the social media age. The same goes for people accused of sexism and homophobia. They act like they’re the victims.)

Leaders don’t believe they’re doing anything wrong, and lash out at the people making the requests or complaints. And this is Pharaoh’s response to Moses…