Exodus 6:28-7:7 - Our Sovereign God
Exodus 6:28-7:7 - Our Sovereign God
Read Exodus 6:28-7:7.
Introduction⤒🔗
A missionary, serving in the South Pacific, relates a personal experience he had while ministering in the countryside of Tahiti.
The missionary and a local Tahitian pastor were walking through waist high grass on their way to visit a small thatched hut. As they walked towards the hut, they heard a low, throaty growl from the hidden depths of the grass. Stopping to discern what was making this ominous sound, they both felt a chill of fear.
Suddenly, a Doberman pinscher leaped up from out of the tall grass and came bounding towards them, his sharp teeth bared in an awful snarl. The missionary could see every detail of the attacking dog as though the whole thing were occurring in slow motion; he stood directly in the dog’s path, paralyzed with fear.
As the Doberman made his final leap, so close that the missionary could smell his foul breath, the dog’s head was violently twisted to the side. Savagely slammed down to the ground, as if by some invisible hand, he lay stunned, his feet waving in the air like an overturned beetle. Then the missionary saw what he had failed to notice before because of his fear: the Doberman was on a chain.
Later, when the two men walked back from the house, across the field of tall grass, they ignored the leaping, barking dog. They were no longer afraid of him because, no matter how ferocious and sinister he looked or sounded, he could only go as far as his chain allowed.
We must realize that the devil, too, is on a “chain,” and at the other end of that chain is the strong hand of the LORD, holding it fast with an unyielding grip.1 As Christians, we should be encouraged to know that the LORD is the sovereign God who will surely accomplish His purpose of redeeming His church.
Because the LORD is the Sovereign God, Be Assured that Even Those Who Oppose Him are Subject to His Control←⤒🔗
Consider the final instructions the LORD gives to Moses as He sends him to the king of Egypt. Moses is to speak to Pharaoh, instructing him to let the children of Israel depart from his land (6:29; 7:2). But the LORD warns Moses that Pharaoh will not listen (7:4). Then the LORD informs Moses that He will lay His hand upon Egypt and bring His people out by means of great judgments (7:4b).
Look still more closely at those words of instruction to Moses: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart...Pharaoh will not listen to you” (7:3-4). Exodus 7:3-4 is actually a summary statement foretelling the LORD’s act of hardening Pharaoh’s heart as an act of judgment upon Pharaoh for hardening his own heart against the LORD.
Exodus 28 is another example of a passage that begins with a summary statement, with the remainder of the chapter supplying the details.
Back in Exodus 3:19 we read, “I know that the king of Egypt will not give you permission to go; no, not unless a mighty hand compels him to do so;” and in Exodus 5:23-6:1 we read of the interaction between Moses and the LORD concerning Pharaoh’s obstinacy:
23Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has been hostile towards this people, and you have not delivered your people at all. 6:1Then the LORD said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; because of my strong hand he will let them go; indeed, because of my strong hand he will drive them out of his land.
Six times, Pharaoh stubbornly resisted the commandment of God, each time hardening his heart against the LORD:
First, at the initial interview with Moses when Moses turned the rod into a serpent:
10So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt also did in like manner with their enchantments: 12every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.Ex. 7:10-13
Second, in response to the first plague, the water of the Nile turned into blood:
19Then the LORD spoke to Moses, Say to Aaron, Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone. 20And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded. So, he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So, there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex. 7:19-22
Third, following the second plague, the plague of frogs:
6So, Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt... 8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD... 12Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs, which He had brought against Pharaoh. 13So the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. 14They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex. 8:6, 8, 12-15
Fourth, in response to the third plague, the plague of lice:
16The LORD said to Moses, Say to Aaron, Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 17And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18Now the magicians worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So, there were lice on man and beast. 19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God. But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had said. Ex. 8:16-19
Fifth, following the fourth plague, the plague of flies:
24Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies... 28So Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me... 30So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. 31And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. 32But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the peoplego. Ex. 8:24,28,30-32
Sixth, in response to the fifth plague, the disease on the livestock:
5Then the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land. 6So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. 7Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go. Ex. 9:5-7
Then, starting with the sixth plague, the plague of boils, we read, “the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (9:12). Following that sixth plague—and the preliminary hardening of Pharaoh’s heart as an act of warning in response to Pharaoh’s own persistent hardening of his heart against the LORD—the LORD informs Pharaoh that if he continues to persist in his rebellion, “I will send the full force of my plagues against you;” literally, “I will...send all my plagues upon your heart” (9:14).
The point of no return came at the conclusion of the seventh plague, the plague of the hail storm. When Pharaoh saw that the hail stopped, “he sinned again,” (literally, “he sinned still more”). Here was a continuing and deepening act of sin, “he and his officials hardened their hearts” (9:34). In consequence, and as an act of judgment, Pharaoh’s heart “was hardened” by the LORD (9:35). While the New International Version reads, “So Pharaoh’s heart was hard,” The American Standard Version more accurately brings out the passive sense of the Hebrew verb ptַnָ by translating the statement as, “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.”
Thus, Exodus 7:3-4 is a summary statement, foretelling the LORD’s act of judgment in hardening Pharaoh’s heart as the consequence of Pharaoh’s own act of repeatedly hardening his heart against the LORD. Take note of Job’s rhetorical question, “Who has hardened himself against [the LORD] and succeeded?” (Job 9:4b)
Look again at the LORD’s words of instruction to Moses and note carefully the way He identifies Himself: “Now on the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29he said to him, ‘I am the LORD’” (6:28-29). The divine name, the LORD (or, Jehovah) is derived from the Hebrew verb “to be,” or, “I am.”
In Exodus 3:14, God elaborates upon His name and His identity, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM THAT I AM.’” The Hebrew phrase contains the meaning, “I AM BECAUSE I AM;” He is self-existent, depending upon no one and nothing. The Lord Jesus testified, “the Father has life in himself” (Jn. 5:26). The LORD is the Source, or, Creator, of all things: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The LORD is the Sustainer of all things: “He is before all things, and by him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). The LORD is the Supreme Purpose for all existence: “from him, and through him, and for him, are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36).
The Hebrew phrase by which the LORD identifies Himself to Moses also has the meaning, “I AM WHO I AM.” The LORD is self-defining, no one tells Him who He is or what He can do. As King Nebuchadnezzar was led to testify, “He does as he pleases with the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can push away his hand, or demand of him, ‘What are you doing?’” (Dan. 4:35b) In Ephesians 1:11, the LORD is described as the One who “causes all things to work for the sake of his own plan”—i.e. the LORD causes all things to happen in such a way that they will contribute to the fulfillment of His own sovereign will and purpose.
Because the LORD is the Sovereign God, let us be assured that even those who oppose Him are subject to His will. “The Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth’” (Rom. 9:17). As Job testifies, “His wisdom is profound; his power is vast. Who has hardened himself against [the Lord] and succeeded?” (Job 9:4)
Because the LORD is the Sovereign God, Be Assured that He shall Conquer All His and Our Enemies←⤒🔗
Right from the outset, this was not merely a political war, nor merely a cultural war, but a spiritual battle. The initial sign performed before Pharaoh, (turning a staff into a serpent), related directly to the art of snake charming practiced among the Egyptians. The LORD was challenging the gods of Egypt. When Pharaoh summons the magicians (Ex. 7:11-12), he is summoning the gods of Egypt by means of their appointed spokesmen, (the magicians), to meet the LORD’s challenge and contest against Him. The fact that Aaron’s staff swallowed up the magicians’ rods (7:12) is a portent of what is to come; namely, the divine victory of the LORD over Egypt and all of its gods.
The spiritual battle waged by the LORD against the gods of the empire is dramatically presented in the first plague: the turning of the Nile River into blood (7:14-25). The Nile was viewed by Egypt as the source of its prosperity and life; it was honored as Egypt’s supreme deity.2 When Pharaoh went out to the Nile early in the morning, he went out to offer sacrifice and worship. It is here that Moses is sent to confront him with the demand of the LORD.
It should be noted that every year the Nile “turned into blood.” At the season of low water, the Nile was green and undrinkable; but at the season of high water, the Nile became red and wholesome, it was said to have “turned into blood.”3 But on this occasion it was different: this time the Nile was actually turned into blood. But it was not blood that was the symbol and means of life; on the contrary, this time it was blood poured out in death:
17This 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. 18The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.Ex. 7:17-18
The very first plague became a prophecy of what the LORD would do to this pagan nation, (and what He will finally do to every pagan nation), as well as to the powers of darkness that possess such nations: “I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD” (Ex. 12:12b).
In His conflict with His enemies, notice the LORD’s patience—but it is a long-suffering and patience that must eventually give way to judgment when it is persistently met with defiance and neglect. Early on, when Pharaoh shows some inclination towards obeying the LORD’s demand, the LORD immediately offers to employ His divine power for Pharaoh, rather than against him:
8Pharaoh 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.' 9Moses 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.' 10'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.' Ex. 8:8-10
The first nine plagues are administered in a re-occurring cycle, with the first three plagues forming the first cycle, plagues four through six the second cycle, and plagues seven through nine the third cycle.
In each cycle, Moses is first sent out to meet Pharaoh at the banks of the Nile River, to announce an impeding plague (1st, 4th, 7th plagues); next, Moses is sent in to Pharaoh’s court, to warn of another impending plague (2nd, 5th, 8th plagues); then, the final plague in the series occurs unannounced (3rd, 6th, 9th plagues). By means of these three cycles, there is a divine seeking out of Pharaoh, (with the desire for his repentance), this is followed by a coming in to Pharaoh, (with the purpose of urging upon him the importance of repentance). When both of these efforts fail, there comes judgment without further warning, the type of judgment described in Proverbs 29:1, “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”
Each time the cycle is repeated, the chastisement becomes more severe and more ominous as it continues to be met by sinful rebellion on the part of Pharaoh:
- 1st cycle of plagues (plagues 1-3): the Nile is turned into blood, and restored after seven days (7:24-25); frogs fill the land and the land is filled with their stench (8:14); gnats come upon the land and inflict their painful sting (8:16-18).
- 2nd cycle of plagues (plagues 4-6): there now come dense, or, grievous, swarms of flies (8:24); a disease upon cattle, which produces death to animal life (9:3,6); boils, which are so severe that the magicians could not stand before Moses (9:11).
- 3rd cycle of plagues (plagues 7-9): a severe hailstorm that destroys the lives of all who are exposed to it, both animals and mankind (9:19); locusts that devour all the fruit trees and the crops not previously destroyed by the hailstorm (10:5,15); dense darkness (10:21-23), indicating the withdrawal of God’s grace and being given over to God’s judgment, note 2 Peter 2:4, “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but consigned them to hell, putting them in dark pits where they are being kept for the day of judgment.”
At last, the long-suffering patience of God and the warnings of God must give way to the final judgment, judgment that comes in the form of the 10th plague:
4So, Moses said, “This is what the LORD says, ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.Ex. 11:4-5
This time, the LORD will personally go forth to execute His divine judgment. The death of the first born represented the whole nation, note the comment of the Egyptian leaders, “We will all die;” literally, “We are all dead men” (Ex. 12:33).
Because the LORD is the sovereign God, let us be assured that He shall conquer all His and our enemies:
10Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; surely, I will help you; surely, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11Listen! All those who rage against you will be brought to shame and disgrace; those who oppose you will be as nothing and will perish. 12You will seek them—those who fight against you—but you will not find them; those who wage war against you will be like nothing, like nothing at all. 13[Such will be the case] because I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand and say to you, Do not be afraid; I will help you. 14Do not be afraid, O Jacob you worm, and you men of Israel; I will help you, declares the LORD. Indeed, your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Isa. 41:10-14
Because the LORD is the Sovereign God, Be Assured that the World Shall Finally Acknowledge Him as God←⤒🔗
The divine purpose for these judgments upon this world empire is stated as follows in Exodus 7:17-18,
17This 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. 18The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.”
His purpose is that all may know that the LORD is the Lord over nature, the God who stands distinct from nature and above nature and all created powers, (the very things that Egypt honored as divine).
In Exodus 8:22, His divine purpose is further stated in these terms: “that they might know that I, the LORD, am in this land;” or, “I am the LORD in the midst of the land [of Egypt].” His purpose is that all may know that the LORD is the Ruler over the nations of the earth.
Then, again, His divine purpose is still further expressed in Exodus 9:29, “that they might know that the earth belongs to the LORD.” His purpose is that all may know that the LORD is the Sovereign Ruler over nature and all things are under His control. To demonstrate this, the LORD caused the violent hailstorm to cease at the command of His servant, Moses.
Yet one more purpose is expressed in Exodus 8:22-23,
22...that they might know that the LORD makes a distinction between Israel [His people] and Egypt [representative of the world of mankind in league with the devil and in rebellion against the LORD]: 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. 23I will make a distinction between my people and your people.
His purpose is that all may know that the LORD is both the Redeemer of His people and the Judge of the world. To demonstrate this fact, He delivered the land of Goshen, where His people Israel lived, from being subjected to the last two cycles of plagues.
What were the results of these divine judgments that fell upon the world of Egypt?
The magicians, the representatives and servants of darkness, could not stand before Moses, the servant of the LORD (Ex. 9:11). Pharaoh grudgingly confesses, “The LORD is righteous, I and my people are wicked” (Ex. 9:27). As mankind is exposed to the holy majesty of God, evidenced here by the violent hailstorm with thunder and lightning bolts from heaven, there is the acknowledgment both of the righteousness of the LORD as well as the sinfulness of man.
When the people of Israel departed from the ruins of this formerly oppressive power, they plundered the Egyptians: “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians” (Ex. 12:35-36). Here is one instance of the enactment of the truth expressed in Ecclesiastes 2:26, a passage that speaks about the final and divine “re-distribution of wealth,” “[God] gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to the man who pleases him; but to the sinner [God] gives the arduous task of gathering and storing up wealth so that He may give it to the one that pleases Him.”
Because the LORD is the sovereign God, let us be assured that the world shall finally acknowledge Him as God:
12The LORD of hosts has a day in store for all that is proud and arrogant, for all that is exalted and they will be humbled... 17The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and the LORD alone shall be exalted on that day, 18and the idols will totally disappear... 20On that day, men will throw away to the rodents and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold that they made to worship, 21in order to flee to the caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the terror of the LORD and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to mightily shake the earth. Isa. 2:12,17-18,20-21
Conclusion←⤒🔗
As a Christian, you should be encouraged to know that the LORD is the sovereign God who will accomplish His good purpose for His church and will glorify His holy name.
In the words of the hymn writer, Maltbie D. Babcock:
This is my Father’s world.
O let me n’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft’ so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.
Discussion Questions←⤒🔗
1. What does the LORD instruct Moses to tell Pharaoh? See Ex. 7:2a Did Moses fulfill his commission? See Ex. 7:6 What commission does the LORD give to His spokesmen? See Jer. 23:28b; Acts 20:27 Do you encourage your pastor to do the same?
2You are to speak everything I command you, and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, instructing him to allow the children of Israel to depart from his land. Ex. 7:2
6Moses and Aaron did so—they did just as the LORD commanded. Ex. 7:6
28b...he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. Jer. 23:28b
The Apostle Paul declares to the Ephesian church: I did not hold back from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)
2. When He has delivered Israel with mighty acts of judgment, what will the Egyptians know? See Ex. 7:5 What does the LORD further inform us as to the purpose of His great acts performed upon Egypt? See Ex. 9:29 Of what does the LORD inform us in Isaiah 2:12, 17-18? Do we, as Christians, pray for the coming of that day?
Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand over Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them. Ex. 7:5
29And Moses said to [Pharaoh], 'As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands unto the LORD; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the LORD.' Ex. 9:29
12The LORD of hosts has a day in store for all that is proud and arrogant, for all that is exalted and they will be humbled... 17The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and the LORD alone shall be exalted on that day, 18and the idols will totally disappear. Isa. 2:12, 17-18
3. Exodus 7:8-12 records Moses’s initial interview with Pharaoh. What miraculous sign is Moses instructed to perform? Who does Pharaoh summon to answer the LORD’s challenge? What is the result of this confrontation? What becomes evident from the initial interview, is it merely a struggle between the people of Israel and the earthly empire of Egypt, or is it much more? Note Ex. 12:12b Are we aware that as Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual conflict? See Eph. 6:12.
10So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt also did in like manner with their enchantments: 12every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex. 7:10-13
12b...against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. I am the LORD. Ex. 12:12b
12...our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenly realms.Eph. 6:12
4. As Christians, do we take confidence in the fact that the victory belongs to the LORD? Where was the victory won? See Col. 2:15 What will be the final outcome of this conflict? See Rom. 16:20a; Rev. 20:10.
15Having disarmed the principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by [the cross]. Col. 2:15
20aAnd the God of peace shall soon crush Satan under your feet. Rom. 16:20a
10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet also are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev. 20:10
5. What pattern do you find occurring in the first three plagues (see Ex. 7:14-15; 8:1; 8:16), a pattern that is repeated in each of the next two cycles of plagues (Ex. 8:20; 9:1; 9:8 and 9:13; 10:1; 10:21)? What does this pattern teach us about the gracious long-suffering of God? What is the divine purpose of this long-suffering? See Rom. 2:4 But what happens when it is ignored? See Prov. 29:1.
14So the LORD said to Moses, '...15Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him...'Ex. 7:14-15
1And the LORD spoke to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.’Ex. 8:1
16And the LORD said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.' Ex. 8:16
4...do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not realizing that the goodness of God [is intended to] lead you to repentance?Rom. 2:4
1He that is often reproved, [but] hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.Prow. 29:1
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