Exodus 7

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Exodus Chapter 7

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Moses

Date Penned: (1450-1410 BC)

Overview: The Record of God's Deliverance of Israel (c 1-40)

Theme: Israel in Egypt (c 1-12)

Message: The Plagues Strike Egypt (v 1-25)

Exodus 7 Commentary

(7:1) Moses Gives God's Message to Pharaoh - God made Moses "a god to Pharaoh"-in other words, a powerful person who deserved to be listened to. Pharaoh himself was considered a god, so it was important that he recognize Moses as one of his peers. His refusal to give in to Moses shows, however, that he did not feel inferior to Moses

(7:11) Magicians Duplicate Moses' Miracles - How were these sorcerers and magicians able to duplicate Moses' miracles? Some of their feats involved trickery or illusion, and some may have used satanic power, since worshiping gods of the underworld was part of their religion, Ironically, whenever the sorcerers duplicated one of Moses' plagues, it only made matters worse. If the magicians had been as powerful as God, they would have reversed the plagues, not added to them.

(7:12) The Rod Becomes a Snake - God performed a miracle by turning Aaron's rod into a snake, but Pharaoh's magicians were able to duplicate the act through trickery or sorcery. Although miracles can help us believe, relying on them alone is dangerous. Satan can imitate some parts of God's work and lead people astray. Pharaoh focused on the miracle rather than the message. We can avoid this error by letting the Word of God be the basis of our faith. No miracle from God would endorse any message that is contrary to the teachings of his Word.

(7:17) The Waters Become Blood - God dramatically turned the waters of the Nile into blood to show Pharaoh who he was. Do you sometimes wish for miraculous signs so you can be sure about God? God has given you the miracle of eternal life through your faith in him-something Pharaoh never obtained. This is a quiet miracle and, though less evident right now, much more extraordinary than water turned to blood. The desire for spectacular signs may cause us to ignore the more subtle miracles God is working every day.

(7:20) God Gets Egypt's Attention - Egypt was a large country, but most of the population lived along the banks of the Nile River. This 3,000-mile waterway was truly a river of life for the Egyptians. It made life possible in a land that was mostly desert by providing water for drinking, farming, bathing, and fishing. Egyptian society was a ribbon of civilization lining the banks of this life source, rarely reaching very far into the surrounding desert. Without the Nile's water, Egypt could not have existed. Imagine Pharaoh's dismay when this sacred river turned to blood!

Dave Burnette's Life Application

A Hard Heart

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Exodus with Chapter 7 . In today's text we see the Lord tells Moses of what will happen to Pharaoh and how his heart will be hardened. Then the Lord demonstrates the miracles to Pharaoh and his disbelief causes his heart to be hardened just as the Lord had said would happen. Yesterday, we learned that Pharaoh did not believe in the God of Israel and His word to "let His People Go" delivered by "His messenger" Moses. After rejecting the "Word of the Lord" we now see his heart was hardened. This hard heart meant he took a position of disbelief and we will see in the chapters to come that he will not accept the reality as more Plagues are revealed. In making application we see a real hazard of rejecting the Word of the Lord which is delivered by Gods' Messenger. Today we have preachers that proclaim the Word of the Lord. Just as Pharaoh, when we reject the "Word of the Lord" our hearts can become hardened and we are not sensitive to what He tells us. This rejection closes a window of opportunity to be saved or receive instruction that will impact our lives. We should always heed what we hear form the reading and preaching of the Word of God. How about you? Do you halfheartedly listen to the Word of God? Let us learn from our text today and the example of Pharaoh to be aware to the message of God's Word lest our hearts become hardened which can have everlasting consequences.

Exodus 7

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Exodus 7

¹And 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, Shew 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.

¹⁴And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

¹⁵Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

¹⁶And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

¹⁷Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

¹⁸And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

¹⁹And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

²⁰And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote 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.

²¹And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

²²And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

²³And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

²⁴And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

²⁵And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.