Exodus 7:1-131And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 2Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. 3And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. 6And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they. 7And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. 8And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10And 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. 11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:1‑13)
In spite of Moses’ discouragement at the attitude of the people and the open antagonism of Pharaoh, God calmly proceeds to bring about the redemption of Israel, and Moses is again instructed to appear before Pharaoh. “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee... And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay My hand upon Egypt... by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” vv.1-5.
God’s purpose was to bring Israel into blessing and preeminence in the earth. Their own folly and departure has often brought down His judgment upon them, and at times He used the oppression of their enemies to discipline them. Yet God has not held blameless those enemies who were thus used, for their enmity against Israel spoke of their rebellion against Him as well. He might have to punish His people for their sins, but at the same time He has pronounced judgment against all those who would oppose them. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” Isaiah 54:1717No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17).
Some have found difficulty in the Lord’s saying, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,” but it will be helpful to note that it is not said of Pharaoh until after he had contemptuously; rejected the claims of the Lord. This hardening of Pharaoh’s heart did not take place until after Pharaoh himself had declared, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?... I know not the LORD.”
Long years later, even the Philistines, enemies of Israel, confessed that Pharaoh and the Egyptians had hardened their hearts through their own willfulness. They said: “Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?” 1 Samuel 6:66Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? (1 Samuel 6:6). God’s offer of mercy has never been closed to anyone until the heart has definitely rejected Him.
Pharaoh was now to see the signs and wonders: “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it bore Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent... 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. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” vv. 8-12.
It must have been humiliating to the magicians to see their serpents swallowed up by the rod of Aaron, for it was an evident token that the power of God was greater than that of Satan who worked through them. Pharaoh was not convinced, however; he refused to bow to this display and would not let the people go.
ML 09/29/1968