Exodus 10

Before an armada of grasshoppers swarm down on Egypt like they did on the poor ants of A Bug's Life, God says to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs among them" (verse 1). This builds upon the idea in the last chapter that God is using Pharaoh and the Egyptians for His own sake. They suffer these plagues for the benefit of young Israelites who, thousands of years later, will hear this history from Mommy and Daddy with the added bonus of a moral. (And what kid doesn't like a story with a moral?) For that matter, it's also to the benefit of weirdo bloggers trying to write about the Bible in a half-decent manner. Some people want to be remembered, but I don't think anyone wants their purpose in life reduced to being a cautionary tale for their progeny.

However, here God says that He is the one who is hardening Pharaoh's heart. That's a more discomfiting notion than Pharaoh deciding to be a nincompoop all by his lonesome, because that way he's the only one responsible for bringing all these delightful plagues upon his sorry, bald head. Then again, I suppose he's already done that himself, thus possibly passing some point of no return. God's grace is immeasurable, but Pharaoh has had multiple chances to accept it and refused each time.

Locusts aren't as directly harmful to humans as biting flies, boils, or hailstones the size of Pharaoh's pate, but they pretty much destroy whatever's left of the Egyptian economy. (Though Egypt didn't just fall apart; it did recover and continue for a while longer.) The Pharaoh's subjects can go hang for all he cares, but when a plague affects his precious country's economic strength? "Myself forbid!" the self-appointed "deity" probably exclaimed.

During the plague of darkness, "[n]o one could see anyone else or move about for three days" (verse 23). Apparently, though, Pharaoh can somehow tell that he's talking to Moses and Aaron when he summons them, trying to haggle and allowing the men go worship while keeping the women and children as hostages. He dismisses Moses and Aaron for the final time, telling them to "Get out of my sight!" (verse 28). To which the Joker might say this:

After all, it is dark, so Moses and Aaron could just remain standing there and still technically be following the letter of Pharaoh's command. His subsequent command to "[m]ake sure you do not appear before me again" (verse 28) is also a poor choice of words, as it will lead him and many of his unsuspecting subjects to suffer the most grievous, traumatic plague of all.