God called Abraham out of Ur and made a covenant with him to bless all the nations of the earth through him: he would be the father of many nations, and his seed would inherit and possess what is called the Promised Land. He died without seeing that promise fulfilled but went to the grave trusting that God is faithful and that one day his descendants would receive it all. His son, grandson, and great-grandsons also died without having received, but they too knew that that El Shaddai was trustworthy, and they quit this life in faith.
We know the story of Israel and how they ended up in Egypt during a severe worldwide famine. At first they were welcomed and honored, but in time the Egyptians sought to control their numbers and their activities by making them slaves for the nation. Four hundred years passed and the people cried out to God for deliverance until he finally called Moses, a descendant of Levi, to go and speak to Pharaoh and demand their freedom.
But Pharaoh wasnt impressed with Moses or with Moses God. He simply refused to let the people go and asked, Who is Yahweh that I should obey him? (Ex. 5:2). In our last study we saw that God intends to answer that question; hell reveal to Israel that Yahweh is their God and Savior, and to Egypt that he is a mighty foe against them. He will supernaturally harden Pharaoh's heart and the hearts of his servants so that theyll be unwilling to let Israel go even after several devastating plagues. Each refusal will result in another catastrophe until ten plagues have fully demonstrated that God puts a difference between the two peoples and that hes able to save one and cripple the other.
This, of course, has enormous spiritual value when we learn in the New Testament that Abrahams descendants arent necessarily the physical Jews but all who believe by faith (Rom. 4:13; 9:6). Our struggle isnt against an earthly Pharaoh but against spiritual forces and Satan himself (Eph. 6:12). Our bondage isnt one of physical captivity but to sin and death (Heb. 2:15), and Jesus has preached the good news to all who hear by faith: if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed! (Jn. 8:36).
So, as we read the account of Israels Exodus from Egypt were comforted in seeing what Christ has done for us, and we glorify him as our God and Savior who delivers these promises and overcomes our enemies with a mighty hand!
God sends Moses back to Pharaoh:
6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they. 7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
Remember that we want to be careful about assigning subjective meaning to the things well read here. Im not sure why God tells us about their ages, but two things stand out in my mind: first, Acts 7:25 tells us that Moses knew he was Israels savior way back when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster. Thats at least forty years before the Exodus actually begins, and it must have seemed like a long time in between. God doesnt necessarily move on our schedules, but you can bet that its all right on time.
Maybe even more to the point here is the fact that Moses is well past his prime when God uses him for the task. He lived another 40 years after the Exodus, and he had plenty of strength the day he died (Deut. 34:7), but imagine his abilities when he was only 40 years old. How much more could he have done if God had used him while he was still connected and powerful in Egypt (Acts 7:22)?
But thats exactly the point of the whole story, isnt it? No one could change Pharaohs mind or help Israel except God. Its like when God promised Isaac to Abraham; he purposely waited until Abraham was 100 years old just to prove that it was his own work. So now God waits until Moses is 80 years old and a stranger to both the Egyptians and the Israelites, and then he commands him to lead. This principle of using the weak is one we see carried into the New Testament:
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:26-31).
The point isnt to say that Christians are generally weak or stupid, but to show that Christ is believed on by the helpless. Pharaoh's hard heart prevented him from trusting the word of the Lord, but Israels only hope was to wait on God. We, likewise, see that were far inferior to Satans power and that we have no hope of defeating sin or death, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Those who think they have no need of God or his righteousness are the wise, noble, and mighty; they are rich and needless but fail to see their own impotence, and therefore, refuse to abide in Christ. Their end is sudden destruction, and thats what we see taught in the Exodus.
8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
The plagues arent starting just yet; first Moses will go to Pharaoh and attempt to prove that the Hebrew God is with him. Aaron will throw his staff onto the ground and itll become a serpent just as had happened earlier with the Israelites (Ex. 4:1-5, 31). Now, theres a contrast here between them and Pharaoh because Israel believed when they saw the serpent, but Pharaohs heart is hardened so that he refuses. This is one of the first places where we see that God puts a difference between Egypt and Israel:
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents:
When Pharaoh sees the miracle hes not impressed; he simply calls for his own magicians to come and perform the same. Moses doesnt go out of his way to say that it was slight of hand, and I dont think we should worry about it either. Maybe it was a trick or maybe God let them actually turn a stick into a snake; the point is Pharaoh's pride and his refusal to heed the word of God.
Picture him sitting on his throne expressionless as the snake writhes on the floor. Moses and Aaron watch expectantly until he claps his hands and orders the magicians to do the same. Several men throw their rods simultaneously and suddenly there are snakes everywhere.
I imagine Moses face falls a little, and Pharaohs lip curls. Hes not concerned about the Hebrew Gods one little snake, but then something unexpected happens:
but Aarons rod swallowed up their rods.
This word for swallowed doesnt have to mean that the serpent literally ate the others. Its certainly possible that he did, but this is the same word used in Genesis 41:7 where the bad corn devoured the good corn in Pharaohs dream. The main point is the overwhelming strength of Gods serpent against the snakes of the Egyptians. They were self-satisfied and confident in their own abilities, but then this happened and shattered the whole illusion. Sure, they can mimic his power, but in the end he triumphs.
Paul grasps this idea and teaches more on it in his letter to Timothy: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was (2 Tim. 3:1-9).
When Paul read this story in Exodus he saw how it applied to his own day and to ours. The magicians worshiped gods, but they knew nothing of true righteousness. They could turn a staff into a serpent, but they rejected the God of all power, and in the end they were proven to be fools.
Thats the whole point, again, of the Exodus. Salvation is about Gods power. Moses was doubtful and beyond his prime, and the magicians could duplicate his miracles, but it didnt matter because Gods power far surpassed theirs!
13 And he hardened Pharaohs heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Here you go; why didnt Pharaoh repent when he saw this miracle happen right in front of him? If not now, why not after the first plague? Or the second? Or the fifth? Or the ninth? Why not do the logical thing and drive them out of the land so that all these terrible things will stop happening and at least save a little face? The Lord had hardened his heart.
There are people who take this lightly and say that its merely a response to Pharaohs previous condition, but the point of the passage is to show Gods magnificent power. We might think that to harden means to make Pharaoh simply unreceptive, but a more precise interpretation is that God made him strong. 1 In other words, Pharaoh was of the opinion that Yahweh was inferior to his Egyptian gods, and Yahweh strengthened that opinion in his mind. He clung desperately to his idols until all of Egypt was decimated and his army was lost into the Red Sea.
1 http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2388&t=KJV This is the other side of salvation. One side is for Israel, and it promises to deliver. The other side is for Egypt and it promises to destroy. These parts are typified in the Exodus, and they are as real and present now as they ever were. When Moses finally crossed the Red Sea and finally understood the fulness of Gods power, he sang the song of chapter fifteen. When history finally comes to its conclusion and were all standing around that throne, well too sing a song of praise to the strength of our God:
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Rev. 4:11).
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen (Rev. 7:9-12).
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth (Rev. 19:1-6).
Let us be comforted and rejoice in the strength of our Savior!