Exodus 7:14-8:32

Exodus 7:14-8:32

Since Pharaoh refused to listen to God’s commands, God sent Moses to issue the first of what would become known as the 10 plagues. God needed full obedience from Moses to accomplish this task, and Moses did obey. He went back to Egypt with Aaron and told Pharaoh what the consequences would be for his disobedience to God. Once again, the actions of one man was about to have an effect on the lives of many. God was going to punish not just Pharaoh, but the entire country of Egypt by turning the Nile River into blood. But once more we see that just because we are obedient to God’s commands does not mean that our life is going to work out nicely. Sometimes trials still come to those who are being faithful, but we should still remain obedient to God. This is what happened to Moses after the first plague. Pharaoh duplicated the sign with his magicians and made it appear to the Egyptians that Moses’ God was no better than him.

One week later God sent Moses on a second task, this time to plague the nation with frogs. It played out just as the first plague. Pharaoh refused to listen, Moses and Aaron sent the second plague (from God), and Pharaoh’s magicians duplicated the plague. But after this second plague, Pharaoh began to see that God had some greater power than he did. He asked Moses to have God get rid of the frogs. He also promised Moses that he would let the Israelites go if God got rid of the frogs. But after God showed His power, ridding the country of the frogs, Pharaoh hardened his heart. He had gotten what he wanted and had no reason to get rid of the Israelites. So he broke his promise and made them stay.

God then had Moses and Aaron plague the nation with gnats, similar to the frogs. The difference with this third plague was that Pharaoh’s magicians were unable to mock this sign. They could not figure out how to create gnats in the land, and they realized that there was something special about Moses’ God. They recognized His power, and told Pharaoh who God was. But Pharaoh wanted no part of it, and he once again hardened his heart to all that he was being told. Not only was Pharaoh being introduced to God through Moses, but his own servants and magicians were showing him the truth. Yet Pharaoh was too concerned about himself, and he was not willing to recognize God’s power.

So God prepared for the fourth plague, a swarm of flies. But this plague was different, as it would only affect the Egyptians. God wanted to make a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. So He protected His people from the flies but allowed the flies to destroy the land of Egypt. Once more, Pharaoh began to recognize God’s power, but he reacted out of fear. He just wanted the flies out of Egypt, and he did not have any intention to let the Israelites leave. So once more, he broke the promise he made to Moses. It is easy to be frustrated with Pharaoh, thinking that he would eventually understand the truth about God. Recall the example from the beginning of Exodus 7 about witnessing. We may never see the results, but we must never cease from spreading the Gospel, showing God to the nations. Moses was doing his part, remaining obedient to God and showing Pharaoh God’s power.

Matt