God Hardens Pharaoh’s Heart The Second Time
July 16, 2021
Commentary
The Lord told Moses that He was going to let his brother Aaron speak to the king for him (v. 1). He instructed Moses to relate to Aaron everything He wanted told to the king concerning letting His people go (v. 2). However He said He will make the king so stubborn he won’t listen no matter how many terrible things he does to him and his nation (vv. 3-4). Finally He will bring such great judgment on Egypt and the king he will let Israel’s families go. When this happens the Egyptians will know that He is Lord (v. 5). Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them (v. 6). At the time all of this took place Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three (v. 7).
The Lord told Moses that when the king asks them to perform a miracle he needs to instruct Aaron to cast his walking stick down in front of the king and it will turn into a snake (vv. 8-9). Moses and Aaron went before the king and his servants and did exactly as the Lord had commanded (v. 10). When Aaron did as the Lord instructed his cane turned into a snake just as the Lord said it would. Then the king called in his wise men and the magicians who used their secret powers to do the same thing (vv. 11-12). This only illustrates the fact that we must not underestimate the mighty powers which the devil has at his disposal. But Aaron’s snake swallowed up the sorcerers snakes which made it apparent that the power of Moses was superior. The king behaved just as the Lord said and stubbornly refused to listen (v. 13).
Application
I must never underestimate the power of Satan and think that I can handle him in my own strength. However I can always be sure that God is more powerful than Satan and can handle him.
Exodus 7:1– 13 (NET)
1 So the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh that he must release the Israelites from his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and although I will multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. I will reach into Egypt and bring out my regiments, my people the Israelites, from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5 Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I extend my hand over Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”
6 And Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Do a miracle,’ and you say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ it will become a snake.” 10 When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, they did so, just as the Lord had commanded them—Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants and it became a snake. 11 Then Pharaoh also summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the magicians of Egypt by their secret arts did the same thing. 12 Each man threw down his staff, and the staffs became snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.