(1) Pharaoh's heart is hardened v.3. He refused to listen v.13,14, 16.
From the beginning of his calling, Moses knew very well that what he would do was not easy. Pharaoh would resist him 4:21.
7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and although I will multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt
(NET) The verb (here the Hiphil for “I will harden”) summarizes Pharaoh’s resistance to what God would be doing through Moses—he would stubbornly resist and refuse to submit; he would be resolved in his opposition.
After the 1st miracle, Aaron's staff turned into snake and swallowed up the other staffs/snakes,
After the 1st miracle, Aaron's staff turned into snake and swallowed up the other staffs/snakes,
7:13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.
7:14 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to release the people.
[hard v.13] (NET) indicates a will or attitude that is unyielding and firm, but when [hard in v.14] is used, it stresses the will as being slow to move, unimpressionable, slow to be affected.
7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts, and so Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron—just as the LORD had predicted. 7:23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not pay any attention to this.
[hard v.13] (NET) indicates a will or attitude that is unyielding and firm, but when [hard in v.14] is used, it stresses the will as being slow to move, unimpressionable, slow to be affected.
7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts, and so Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron—just as the LORD had predicted. 7:23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not pay any attention to this.
When Moses and Aaron first went to Pharaoh, he said, "who is God that I need to listen to Him?" 5:2. After he witnesses the first 2 miracles, his heart should have been moved, but he did not. His unresponsiveness was unusual. Aaron's staff swallowed the magicians' staffs!
Reflection: Is our heart hard like Pharaoh? Are we unimpressionable? No matter how God disciplines us we have not repented? When we know that what we do is against God's will our heart is not touched or grieved?
(2) As a contrast to Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron did just as what the LORD had commanded them to do v.2, 6, 10, 20.
Note, what God had told them was that what they said would not be listened to by Pharaoh until the end. In other words, what they did would be in a sense, a "waste of time."
Reflection: Would you be as faithful as Moses and Aaron? Will you go to the hard-hearted persons and share the Gospel (even you know that many of them will not listen)? In other words, what we need is not a result driven heart, because we will not see the result after a long while.
(3) Both the 1st and 2nd plague were duplicated by the Egyptians. God's warning was graduated. Why did God still tell Moses and Aaron do that? God spared the people of Egypt from the severe plague until the later time. People could still find ways to live in the beginning v.24.
Reflection: God has also given us many warnings. Do not miss them and delay our repentance.
Audrey
Comments