Exodus 10:17
Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
EXODUS 10:17
This is the plea for forgiveness uttered by Pharaoh: “forgive... my sin only this once.” He asks not just for relief from the torment but for a temporary mitigation to avoid the death that the plague threatens. The request highlights the tension between pragmatic mercy and permanent reform. Pharaoh’s request reveals a shift in rhetoric—he recognizes the power of the LORD and seeks a shortcut around the consequences of his own hardening. Moses serves as mediator between Pharaoh and God, embodying intercession in the narrative.
The verse foregrounds the idea that repentance in principle is possible, yet the overarching pattern in the Exodus account shows the limits of such repentance when it’s shallow or instrumental. It underscores God’s justice—mercy is available, but not at the expense of truth and righteousness. The death the plague threatens is a grim reminder that sin has real, sometimes fatal, consequences, and forgiveness must be genuine and transformative to restore relationship.
We can learn to bring genuine repentance to God rather than using it as a tactic to avoid consequences. Practical steps: identify patterns where we “pray away” discomfort without addressing root causes; seek confession with a trusted mentor; commit to concrete changes that reflect a new direction (stewardship, conflict resolution, or breaking harmful cycles). In leadership, it calls for authentic accountability rather than performative contrition.
Cross-References: Psalm 51:10-13; Luke 11:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Jeremiah 3:22