Exodus 9:8-12 The Plague of Boils

"Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

'Take handfuls of soot from a furnace

and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.

It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt,

and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land.'

So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh.

Moses tossed it into the air,

and festering boils broke out on men and animals.

The magicians could not stand before Moses

because of the boils that were on them

and on all the Egyptians.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart

and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron,

just as the LORD had said to Moses.

Exodus 9:8-12 (NIV)

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This account is very straightforward.  However, I think that it is interesting that:

• The NIV Study Bible notes in its commentary on these verses that the furnace from which the soot was taken may be "...a kiln used for firing bricks, the symbol of Israel's bondage" (see Exodus 1:14 and 5:7-19).

• The same commentary also notes that the plague now extends to other animals beside the ones previously affected.

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Wait, I just realized that there is actually something quite controversial in these verses.  In verse 12, the text says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart.  If that is so, then why is Pharaoh still held accountable for his actions?

Well, we know that God always acts justly, so it is not as though Pharaoh is just some type of puppet for God's use.  So there must be more to this story, and there is.

If we look back at the previous five plagues,

1. The plague of blood 
2. The plague of frogs 
3. The plague of gnats 
4. The plague of flies 
5. The plague on livestock,

we see that in each case, Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart and/or deliberately turned away from any evidence that it was truly the LORD who was speaking to him.  As the NIV commentary notes, it is not until this sixth plague that the LORD confirms the Pharaoh's willful action.  God will receive glory from the final results of these incidents, but He never made Pharaoh do evil.  Pharaoh chose that for himself.

The book of James in the New Testament says this:

"When tempted, no one should say,

'God is tempting me.'

For God cannot be tempted by evil,

nor does he tempt anyone;

but each one is tempted when,

by his own evil desires,

he is dragged away and enticed.

Then, after desire has conceived,

it gives birth to sin;

and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

James 1:13-15 (NIV) 

In his hardened state, Pharaoh is apparently unaware that the plagues are about to get far worse.

Exodus 9:1-7 The Plague on Livestock

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Go to Pharaoh and say to him,

"This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says:

'Let my people go, so that they may worship me.'

If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back,

the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field --

on your horses and donkeys and camels and on your cattle and sheep and goats.

But the LORD will make a distinction
between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt,
so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.' "

The LORD set a time and said,
'Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.'

And the next day the LORD did it:

All the livestock of the Egyptians died,

But not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.

Pharaoh sent men to investigate
and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died.

Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go." 

Exodus 9:1-7 (NIV)
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In these verses, the LORD continues to assert that the Israelites are His people and that He is their God.  He warns of the terrible plague which will come upon the Egyptians if they do not let the Hebrews go to worship Him.  Egyptian horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats which are left out in the field will all be affected.

However, none of the animals of the Israelites would die.  This in itself would be a sign that the LORD was in control of the plague.  Also, He gave Pharaoh further proof by setting a specific time when the plague would occur.  In this way, there would be no chance that Pharaoh could think that the death of the cattle was all merely a coincidence.

Apparently Pharaoh did not obey the LORD, and the plague occurred as scheduled, for the text says next that Pharaoh sent his men to investigate the status of the animals of the Israelites.  Although all the animals of the Egyptians (which had been left out in the field) had died, not even one of the Israelite animals died.

Despite this obvious evidence of the LORD's power, Pharaoh's heart remained unyielding.  It would take some determination to close your eyes to the truth in the face of such evidence of the LORD's sovereignty, but that is just what Pharaoh did.

Anyone else getting that cringing feeling like "oh boy, are you going to be in trouble now."?  It is almost like a net is closing in upon Pharaoh and his people because of Pharaoh's stubbornness.  Not that God is trying to 'catch' the Egyptians; on the contrary, God seems to be everything possible to bring Pharaoh to repent of his stubborn willfulness.

However, Pharaoh's heart seems to be getting steadily harder.  Repeated sin will do that to you.  This reminds me of a powerful illustration I saw once in a church youth group meeting.  They took the strongest guy in the room, (an athletic and muscular person), and began to wind ordinary household thread around his arms, as if to bind him.  At first, he was able to easily snap the thread.  However, when they wound it about him a bunch of times, even that flimsy thread was able to restrain him.  The point was that although a sinful behavior may at first seem to be small or unimportant, repeated sinful practice will result in the person being bound or enslaved by that sin.  Of course, every sin is significant.  We can't say, 'I'll just do it this one time.' and expect to remain spiritually strong.  But repeated willful sin such as Pharaoh is exhibiting is leading to a place where Pharaoh will eventually be powerless to do otherwise.  Sin is very destructive, and (as often happens), Pharaoh's sin will lead to unintended consequences for others around him -- in this case the people of Egypt.

Exodus 8:25-32 Relief and Refusal

Dense swarms of flies had descended upon all Egypt -- except for the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.  Since there was no mention of any relief from the previous plague of gnats, I assume that both types of creatures were still making life miserable for the Egyptians.  The text also said that the land had been ruined by the flies.  (Ex. 8:24)

Pharaoh realized that something had to be done:

"Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said,

'Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.'

But Moses said, 'That would not be right.

The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God

would be detestable to the Egyptians.

And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes,

will they not stone us?

We must take a three-day journey into the desert

to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God,

as he commands us.'

Pharaoh said, 'I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God

in the desert, but you must not go very far.  Now pray for me.'

Moses answered, 'As soon as I leave you,

I will pray to the LORD,

and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh

and his officials and his people.

Only be sure that Pharaoh does not act deceitfully again

by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.'

Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD,

and the LORD did what Moses asked:

The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people;

not a fly remained.

But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart

and would not let the people go.

Exodus 8:25-32 (NIV)

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Pharaoh is still trying to arrange this situation according to his own desires.  First, he tries to persuade Moses to sacrifice to the LORD right there within the land of Egypt.  That way Pharaoh doesn't have to worry about the possibility of the Israelites escaping from the land.

However, Moses knows that the Egyptian people considered such sacrifices detestable.  Sacrificing within Egypt's territory would only provoke the people to stone them.  Besides, as Moses notes, they must take a three-day journey into the desert as the LORD had commanded them to do.

Pharaoh realizes that what Moses is saying is true.  However, he still tries to maintain some control over the situation by insisting that if the Israelites must sacrifice out in the desert, they must not go very far.

Moses agrees to pray to the LORD to remove the flies.  However, he warns Pharaoh not to play games with God by refusing to keep his end of the bargain, as he has done in the past. (Exodus 8:8,15)

After Moses prayed to the LORD, every one of the flies left Egypt.

Pharaoh still does not realize Who he is dealing with; when he has what he wants, he hardens his heart (again) and refuses to allow the Israelites to leave his land. 

Exodus 8:20-24 The Plague of Flies

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh

as he goes to the water and say to him,

"This is what the LORD says:

Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

If you do not let my people go,

I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials,

on your people and into your houses.

The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies,
and even the ground where they are.

But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen,
where my people live;

no swarms of flies will be there,
so that you will know
that I, the LORD, am in this land.

I will make a distinction between my people and your people.

This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow."

And the Lord did this.

Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace
and into the houses of his officials,

and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.

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Some observations:

• Again Moses is instructed to meet Pharaoh early in the morning as he goes out to the water.  I wonder if Pharaoh was just performing his morning routine, or if this has any religious significance -- like praying to the 'god' of the river.  Of course it is possible that Pharaoh was merely washing up for the day.
• There is a great emphasis in this passage on the contrast between 'my people' and 'your people'.  God seems to be trying to make it clear to Pharaoh that He (GOD) is the only one with the power to protect His people.  God even takes this a step further by protecting His people from the effects of the latest plague.
• God's goal is for His people to be able to worship Him.  Several times so far (Exodus 7:16, 8:1, 8:21) God has stated that He wants Pharaoh to let His people go so that they can worship Him.  By his continued refusal to honor the LORD's command, Pharaoh is turning this situation into a power struggle as though he believes that he, too, is a god.
• God makes a distinction between His people and Pharaoh's people, not because the Egyptians are inferior, but because He wants to let all Egypt "...know that I, the LORD, am in this land." (Exodus 8:22 NIV)
• God gives Pharaoh a specific time when this latest plague of flies will occur.  Even this is an evidence of His mercy as He seeks to eliminate any doubt in Pharaoh's mind that He is the true God.  A plague which occurs at a specific time is a lot more significant than one which could occur any time, and then be considered a mere coincidence.
• God kept His word.  The plague of flies arrived on schedule.  God is merciful, but He will respond in judgment eventually if we do not obey Him.

Exodus 8:16-19 The Plague of Gnats

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Tell Aaron, "Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,"

and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.'

They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff

and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals.

All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.

But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, 

they could not.  And the gnats were on men and animals.

The magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.'

But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen,

just as the LORD had said."

Exodus 8:16-19 (NIV)

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The gnats produced in this latest plague were of great number, for the text says that "All the dust...became gnats." (v.17)  The gnats came upon men and animals alike.

The magicians were not able to duplicate this plague.  Perhaps this is due to the fact that it would be more difficult for the magicians to obtain [and contain!] great numbers of these tiny, biting creatures if the men were attempting to duplicate the miracle by sleight of hand.  Or perhaps the LORD was restraining them if they had attempted to use demonic powers.  At any rate, they were unsuccessful, although verse 18 says that they did give it a try.

Even the magicians are able to see that God's hand is in this matter.  They warn Pharaoh, but he would not listen to them, either.  His heart was hard, just as the LORD had predicted.  At this point, Pharaoh does not want to listen to anyone. 

Exodus 8:1-15 The Plague of Frogs

"Seven days passed after the LORD struck the Nile.

Then the LORD said to Moses, 

'Go to Pharaoh and say to him, "This is what the LORD says:

Let my people go so that they may worship me.  If you refuse to let them go,

I will plague your whole country with frogs.

The Nile will teem with frogs.

They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed,

into the houses of your officials and all your people,

and into your ovens and kneading troughs.

The frogs will go up on you and your people and all your officials." '

Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Tell Aaron, "Stretch out your hand with your staff

over the streams and canals and ponds,

and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt." '

So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt,

and the frogs came up and covered the land.

But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts;

they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said,

'Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people,

and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.'

Moses said to Pharaoh,

'I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you

and your officials and your people
that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs,

except for those that remain in the Nile.'

'Tomorrow,' Pharaoh said.

Moses replied, 

'It will be as you say,

so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God.

The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people;

they will remain only in the Nile.'

After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, 

Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh.

And the LORD did what Moses asked.

The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields.

They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them.

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief,

he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron,

just as the LORD had said."

Exodus 8:1-15 (NIV)

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This was a long passage, but I thought that it need to be kept together in one post so that everything is in context.  Here are some of my observations:  (you are invited to leave your insights in the comments as well.)

• Seven days passed after the waters of Egypt turned to blood.  There is no indication in the text, though, that the water problem stopped before this new plague of frogs appeared.  So they would have to deal with bloody water and frogs.
• The LORD makes very clear what the consequences of continued disobedience will be, before the events take place:  There will be a multitude of frogs, which will plague the whole country.  They will get into palaces, homes and beds, and into kneading troughs and ovens.  The frogs will even go up onto the people themselves.  No one will be unaffected -- whether common people, officials or Pharaoh himself.
• Moses tells Aaron to stretch out his hand with his staff over the streams, canals and ponds.  I imagine Aaron striding over to each body of water, and the frogs pouring out soon afterwards upon the land.  This made it clear that this was no natural occurrence, but would happen at the moment which the servant of the LORD directed.  This was further evidence of the power of the God of the Hebrews.  I think that it happened in this way because we are told that the magicians also did the same things by their secret arts -- so they would have had to have the time to go to an unaffected water source and display their own abilities.  If it had happened all at once, in one flourish of Aaron's staff, there would have been no unaffected stream or pond where these magicians could do so.  [However, I don't think that Aaron went on a walking tour of all Egypt to visit each individual pond or place of water, for that would have taken too long.  Perhaps it happened individually at first, in order to give the magicians their shot at imitating Aaron's actions, then suddenly, the rest of the waters were affected in unison.]
• The magicians were able to make frogs come up on the land of Egypt as well.  Interestingly, though, Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron when he has had enough, not his magicians.  [Possibly he had already asked his magicians to remove the frogs, but they could not do so.]  He asks them to pray to the LORD to remove the frogs, and promises to let the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.
• Moses wants to make sure that Pharaoh understands that this is no magic trick.  He allows Pharaoh to set the time for the frogs to be removed from the land (except for the normal amount present in the Nile).  Pharaoh picks the next day as the time for this to occur.  At first I wondered why he did not choose to have the frogs removed immediately, since they were such a nuisance.  I wonder if Pharaoh was hoping that the frogs would leave by themselves before the appointed time, so that he could prove Moses and Aaron to be wrong, and the plague of frogs to be merely a coincidence?  For Moses states that the plague will leave at the time which Pharaoh has stipulated, "...so that you will know there is no one like the LORD our God."  (v.10)  If the frogs leave the next day at the appointed time, it would be obvious that there was something supernatural going on.
• After leaving Pharaoh, Moses prays to the LORD about the frogs.  The LORD listens to Moses request and the frogs die at the appointed time.  Piled in heaps throughout the land, they caused the land to reek as they decayed.  No doubt all the people would have participated in the clean-up, for the frogs were everywhere, so many experienced first-hand the well-timed answer to Moses' prayer.
• Pharaoh hardened his own heart this time.  He would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.  Since the frogs were already dead, he may have figured that he did not have to comply with his promise to let the people go offer sacrifices to the LORD.

Obviously Pharaoh did not know Who he was dealing with...

Exodus 7:19-24 Blood in the Nile

"The LORD said to Moses,

'Tell Aaron, "Take your staff and stretch out your hand

over the waters of Egypt -- over the streams and canals,

over the ponds and all the reservoirs" --

And they will turn to blood.

Blood will be everywhere in Egypt,

even in the wooden buckets and stone jars.'

Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded.

He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials

and struck the water of the Nile,

and all the water was changed into blood.

The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad

that the Egyptians could not drink its water.

Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts,

and Pharaoh's heart became hard;

he would not listen to Moses and Aaron,

just as the LORD had said.

Instead, he turned and went into his palace,

and did not take even this to heart.

And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water,

because they could not drink the water of the river.

Exodus 7:19-24 (NIV)

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God instructs Moses to tell Aaron to take the staff and strike the waters of the Nile, which are immediately turned into blood.  Not only the river itself, but all water in the area -- streams, canals, ponds and reservoirs alike -- are affected.  Even water previously collected in buckets and jars for household use was changed to blood.

The effect must have been startling, especially as the Egyptians gazed at the mighty Nile.  The river was a main deity to the Egyptians, and sacrifices were thrown in as offerings to assure continued supplies of its life-giving waters.  Now the waters rolled past in a blood-red torrent.  The people were probably terrified that they had offended this 'god' in some way.

Pharaoh probably knew of the former Pharaoh's dealings with the Hebrews, and how many of their innocent newborn sons had been cast into the Nile's waters because of that Pharaoh's fears regarding a future uprising  of the rapidly-multiplying  Israelites.  He also knew that Moses and Aaron had come as representatives of the God of the Hebrews.  Did he see the bloody waters as a judgment against the human sacrifices which had occurred in that river?

Fish died in the bloody waters.  The river stank so badly that the Egyptians could not bring themselves to drink from it.

Magicians were summoned to answer this new threat.  They used their arts to duplicate the effects of the bloody waters.  Pharaoh's heart became hard.  He must have figured that this was only another magic trick -- one that his own men were even capable of imitating.  He went back to the palace and did not take this chastening to heart.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian people had to dig along the banks of the Nile in order to obtain water which had been somewhat filtered by the sand.  We are not told of their thoughts regarding this plague.  However, we can imagine that at least some of them were startled enough to begin to pay more attention to the words of Moses and Aaron, and to consider the power of this God whom the Hebrews worshipped.  This plague was not only a warning to Pharaoh, but also another example of God reaching out to the Egyptian people and leading them towards the truth about Himself.

Exodus 7:14-18 Nile Confrontation

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Pharaoh's heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.

Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the water.

Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him,

and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake.

Then say to him,

"The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you:

Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert.

But until now you have not listened.

This is what the LORD says:

By this you will know that I am the LORD:

With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile

and it will be changed into blood.

The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink;

the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water." '

Exodus 7:14-18 (NIV)

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Some observations:

• Moses was instructed to wait for Pharaoh on the bank of the Nile, with the staff that was previously changed into a snake.  This staff was a very visible reminder of the recent encounter between Moses and the magicians of Pharaoh's court.  In that meeting, God was shown to have superior power.  By having Moses carry this symbol of God's power, God was subtly warning Pharaoh to pay attention to what Moses would have to say.
• In addition, by coming in the morning to meet Pharaoh before he started his day, God is making it clear that this confrontation is between Himself and Pharaoh.  Later, Pharaoh would be surrounded by his court and his advisors, but now, in the morning hours as Pharaoh prepared for his day, God was giving him a chance to listen to what He had to say and consider the consequences of disobedience
• Speaking of consequences, God made quite clear what would happen if Pharaoh refused to obey the LORD:  The river would be changed to blood, fish would die and the river would stink.  Most significantly, the Egyptians would not be able to drink the water of the Nile.  That must have been a rather sobering threat.  The Nile was the source of much of the richness of Egypt.  Even while other countries suffered during times of drought, the Nile provided abundant supplies of water.  It was probably almost unimaginable that this could change.
• Moses was to make it clear that it was the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, who was sending him to speak to Pharaoh.  There would be no confusion, no ambiguity.
• "until now you have not listened" (v.16) -- is it just me, or does that imply that eventually, Pharaoh will end up complying with God's demands, either willingly or under compulsion?

It seems like God is doing everything possible to make His request clear and to persuade Pharaoh to comply willingly.  However, again I get the sense that God's plan will continue to be fulfilled either way.

Exodus 7:8-13 God's Method of Conducting a Staff Meeting

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

'When Pharaoh says to you, "Perform a miracle,"

then say to Aaron, "Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,"

and it will become a snake."

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded.

Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials,

and it became a snake.

Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers,

and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts:

Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake.

But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard

and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said."

Exodus 7:8-13

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God knew that the Pharaoh would require a sign from Moses and Aaron in order to prove their authority as representatives of the God of the Israelites.  In His great mercy, he gave Pharaoh such a sign:  Aaron's staff became a snake before the eyes of Pharaoh and his court.

Pharaoh then summoned his wise men and sorcerers, and they appeared to duplicate the miraculous sign.  Whether by sleight of hand, or aided by demonic power, each man's staff also became a snake.  [I know that the thought of them being aided by demonic power sounds strange, but we will see why this may be the case.]

Aaron's staff swallowed up all of the other staffs.  As they watched, Aaron's staff consumed all of the other staffs.  Now, it is probable that these magicians and sorcerers were adept at various forms of sleight-of-hand.  That is, they had no doubt amazed Pharaoh by various means before that day.  Otherwise, they wouldn't have kept their position.  It is possible that they had concealed snakes in their garments and produced them at the proper time, as any skillful magician could.

However, this text (in verse 7) asserts that the magicians' staffs actually became snakes -- not that they were able to fool Pharaoh by making the staffs seem to become snakes.  Perhaps this point will only seem important if you already believe that the Scripture is the authority in all matters [a conclusion which will be considered in further posts/pages] -- but nonetheless, this is still what it says, which is something significant. 

Also, where would the magicians' staffs have gone if this was just a sleight-of-hand trick?  For they had thrown their staffs on the ground, so it would have been extremely difficult for them to have retrieved and hidden the staffs while releasing a substitute live snake -- all before the eyes of Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron.  Unless these staffs were collapsible, it would have been quite difficult for them to conceal rigid staffs in their garments after the snakes had appeared.

It seems that there was indeed more than just a trick going on here.  The God of the Israelites was also the God of the universe, and He was beginning to reveal Himself to the nation of Egypt as well as fulfil His covenant with the Hebrew people.  At the same time that He was preparing to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He was extending His salvation to the Egyptian nation.  Of course it was not done in an overt way at this point, but as we will see in future developments [i.e., the plagues], the Egyptians could not help but notice that this God of the Israelites had great power.  This display of power was not meant to destroy the Egyptians, but to bring them to recognize the one true God.

The whole situation seemed to be a spiritual confrontation between God and the powers which Pharaoh relied upon.   We have seen before this time (back during the time of Joseph's life in Egypt after he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers ) how these wise men, magicians and sorcerers were a mainstay of  each Pharaoh's court.  The Pharaoh in Joseph's days had relied upon them for advice and for interpreting his dreams.  It seemed that the present Pharaoh was no different in this regard.  This confrontation between Pharaoh's men and Moses and Aaron was, at its deepest level, a confrontation between God and Satan.

By swallowing up the magicians' staffs, God was showing Pharaoh that He alone was the true God, and the One who held all power.  God would be glorified even through Pharaoh's hardened heart.  We don't usually dwell on this fact when we speak of the Exodus, but God was extending His mercy to Pharaoh and all of the Egyptian people by showing them His power.

Exodus 6:28-30 and Exodus 7:1-6 The LORD Outlines His Plan

"Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,

he said to him, 'I am the LORD.

Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.'

But Moses said to the LORD,

'Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?'

Then the LORD said to Moses,

'See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh,

and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.

You are to say everything I command you,

and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country.

But I will harden Pharaoh's heart,

and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt,

he will not listen to you.

Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment

I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.

And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD

when I stretch out my hand against Egypt

and bring the Israelites out of it.'

Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.

Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh."

Exodus 6:28-30; 7:1-6

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God reminds Moses about who He is -- the LORD.  He directs Moses to tell Pharaoh everything which he will tell Moses.  Moses still seems hesitant about his speaking abilities, so the LORD explains how all this is going to work:  Moses will say everything which God commands him to say, and Aaron will tell the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of Egypt.  I notice that although God says that it will be as though Moses is God (not in actuality, but in the way he will proclaim God's commands) and Aaron is functioning as his prophet (in that he will convey what Moses wants him to say), God does not rule out that Moses may speak directly to Pharaoh at times.

However, God lets Moses know that Pharaoh will not be receptive to his message.  In fact, God says that He will harden Pharaoh's heart.  Before we start thinking that something unfair is going on here -- (how could  Pharaoh respond in a positive way if God has hardened his heart?) -- let me say that this information which God is conveying to Moses is not the full story, but just an outline of what will actually occur.  As we will see in the next few sections/posts, Pharaoh has plenty of opportunity to respond to God with his own free will before his heart becomes hardened.  Right here, though, God is just telling Moses that eventually Pharaoh's heart will be hardened, and he will not respond well to Moses' message.

Miraculous signs and wonders will be displayed, but it will take God's hand and mighty acts of judgment before the Israelites will be able to leave Egypt.  Yet God will bring His people (whom he refers to as 'my divisions', which is a very military image) out of Egypt in the end.

Moses and Aaron obey what the LORD commands them to do.  The text notes that Moses is eighty years old, while his brother Aaron is eighty-three, when this whole adventure begins.  That makes me laugh, to think that God will take these older men and bring them into the most important task of their lifetimes when they are in their eighties.  I think it is wonderful.  It shows that it is the LORD, not our own strength or abilities, which allows us to accomplish anything.  I also note that it is their obedience to the LORD which sets this plan into motion.  However, it is very clear that it is the LORD who will accomplish the task of bring the Israelites out of Egypt, as He had promised.