Exodus 9:27-29

"And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: Jehovah is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Entreat Jehovah; for there hath been enough of these mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto Jehovah; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is Jehovah's."

This passage recounts the verbal surrender of Pharaoh, but his stubborn will induced him to repudiate it as soon as the thunderings and the hail ceased.

"I have sinned this time ..." What could Pharaoh have meant by this? He would have been more accurate if he had said, "I have sinned these seven times! In thus limiting his sin, Pharaoh, in fact, confessed nothing, and also laid a portion of the guilt upon "the people," as did Aaron regarding the golden calf, saying, "I and my people are wicked." Although true enough in the general sense that his people were wicked, it is evident that the people were convinced long before Pharaoh was brought to his position here. Had not his magicians already told him that, "This is the finger of God?" A part of the pattern that runs throughout the Bible is here. Pharaoh's `confession' of sin was exactly like that of King Saul who said, "I have sinned; return, my son, David" (1 Samuel 26:21). Many another sinner has admitted his wickedness when confronted with God's judgment, but lip repentance is no substitute for the real thing.

"Jehovah is righteous ..." Pharaoh was making progress. His first response had been, "Who is Jehovah?" Here, he even promised to let the people go: "I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer."

Why had Pharaoh become willing to make the concessions seen here? "It seems to have been extorted by the terrible nature of the plague, which, instead of passing off, like most storms, continued."[21]

This plague, like all the others, was a judgment against the pagan gods of Egypt. Their gods of crops, atmosphere, etc., were here demonstrated to have no control whatever of such things. The thunderings, rain, and hail continued until Jehovah heeded Moses' plea that they cease. "It was not Pharaoh in control of the earth, nor Pharaoh's gods; but Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is the Lord of all (Psalms 24:1)."[22]