Overview:

Exodus 7 marks the beginning of God’s direct intervention in the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. God reaffirms His command to Moses and Aaron, preparing them for their confrontation with Pharaoh. God also informs Moses that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened, ensuring that the release of the Israelites will come through a display of divine power rather than human persuasion. This chapter sets the stage for the series of plagues that will fall upon Egypt, beginning with the first plague in which the Nile River is turned into blood.

The chapter divides into two key sections: the preparation for Moses and Aaron’s mission and the execution of the first plague. In the first section, God establishes the roles of Moses and Aaron, with Moses acting as God’s representative (“as God”) to Pharaoh and Aaron acting as his prophet. God reaffirms that despite the coming opposition, His plan to free Israel will prevail, and Pharaoh’s defiance will only magnify God’s glory.

The second section details the first miraculous sign, in which Aaron’s staff is transformed into a snake before Pharaoh and his court. Although Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the miracle, Aaron’s staff swallows theirs, symbolizing God’s supremacy over the powers of Egypt. This is followed by the first plague, where the waters of the Nile are turned into blood, rendering the river undrinkable and killing its fish. Pharaoh’s hardened heart leads him to dismiss the sign, but the plague marks the beginning of God’s judgment against Egypt.

Historical and Literary Context:

Exodus 7 introduces the first of the ten plagues that will systematically dismantle Egypt’s economy, religion, and power structure. Each plague represents a direct challenge to the gods of Egypt, revealing the futility of their power in comparison to Yahweh. The Nile River, considered a lifeblood of Egypt, was worshipped as a divine entity, and its transformation into blood symbolizes God’s judgment against Egypt’s idolatry.

Pharaoh, viewed as a god-king in Egyptian society, becomes a representative figure of human defiance against God. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is a recurring theme throughout the plagues, illustrating both Pharaoh’s personal rebellion and God’s sovereign judgment. The escalating severity of the plagues is designed to demonstrate Yahweh’s unmatched power, ultimately leading to the liberation of Israel.

Literarily, the chapter begins the “plague narrative” that stretches across several chapters. The language of confrontation, judgment, and signs underscores the central theme of God’s sovereign authority over the rulers and deities of Egypt.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points:

God’s Sovereign Authority Over Rulers and Nations:

The chapter emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all rulers, including Pharaoh, who is seen as a divine figure in Egyptian society. Despite Pharaoh’s power and status, God reveals that he is merely an instrument through which God’s power will be displayed.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country’” (Exodus 7:1-2).

Moses’ role as “God” to Pharaoh highlights the authority God grants to His servant, while Pharaoh’s resistance showcases God’s ultimate control over human history.

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart:

The theme of Pharaoh’s hardened heart runs throughout the chapter. God informs Moses from the outset that Pharaoh will refuse to listen, but this will only serve to magnify God’s power.

“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites” (Exodus 7:3-4).

This hardening of Pharaoh’s heart reflects both divine judgment and human defiance. God allows Pharaoh’s stubbornness to run its course, using it to display His glory in delivering His people.

The Superiority of God Over the Powers of Egypt:

Aaron’s staff turning into a snake and devouring the magicians’ staffs symbolizes the supremacy of God over Egypt’s magicians and their supposed power.

“Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs” (Exodus 7:10-12).

This act foreshadows the plagues that will systematically dismantle Egypt’s religious and political power, proving Yahweh to be the one true God.

God’s Judgment Through the Plagues:

The first plague—turning the Nile into blood—serves as a visible sign of God’s judgment. The Nile, a source of life for Egypt, becomes a symbol of death, as its waters turn to blood, killing fish and rendering the water undrinkable.

“Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt” (Exodus 7:20-21).

This first plague sets the tone for the following judgments, demonstrating that God’s power extends over all creation, including Egypt’s most sacred and life-sustaining resources.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis:

Exodus 7:1-2:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country.”

God clarifies the roles of Moses and Aaron, with Moses acting as God’s representative to Pharaoh and Aaron serving as his spokesperson. This dynamic emphasizes the prophetic nature of their mission, as Aaron speaks on behalf of God to Pharaoh, delivering the message of liberation.

Exodus 7:3-4:

“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.”

God reveals that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened, preventing him from releasing the Israelites immediately. This divine hardening allows for the full display of God’s power through the plagues, showcasing His judgment and authority over Egypt.

Exodus 7:5:

“And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

The purpose of the plagues is to reveal God’s sovereignty not only to Pharaoh but to all of Egypt. God’s acts of judgment will serve as a testimony to His power and will prove His identity as the one true God.

Exodus 7:6-7:

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

These verses highlight the obedience of Moses and Aaron, despite their advanced age. Their willingness to act in obedience to God’s command is a model for faithfulness, even in the face of great opposition and personal inadequacy.

Exodus 7:8-13:

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

In this scene, Aaron’s staff becoming a snake symbolizes God’s power over Pharaoh’s court. Although Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the miracle, Aaron’s staff swallowing theirs demonstrates the supremacy of God over Egypt’s sorcery. This sign foreshadows the coming plagues, each of which will demonstrate God’s superiority over Egypt’s gods.

Exodus 7:14-19:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. This 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. The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”

God instructs Moses to warn Pharaoh that the first plague will strike the Nile, Egypt’s most important resource. The transformation of the Nile into blood symbolizes God’s judgment against Egypt’s false gods and its oppressive regime.

Exodus 7:20-21:

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

The first plague occurs exactly as God described. The Nile, which was central to Egypt’s economy, religion, and daily life, is turned into a source of death. This act of judgment demonstrates God’s power over Egypt’s gods and begins the unraveling of Egypt’s power and prosperity.

Exodus 7:22-25:

But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the river. Seven days passed after the Lord struck the Nile.

Despite the severity of the plague, Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the sign, and Pharaoh hardens his heart, refusing to acknowledge God’s power. His indifference to the suffering of his people reveals his stubbornness, setting the stage for the continued escalation of God’s judgment through the coming plagues.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ:

Exodus 7 highlights the theme of God’s sovereignty over human rulers and false gods. Just as God reveals His supremacy over Pharaoh and Egypt’s magicians, Jesus Christ demonstrated His power over sin, death, and the forces of evil through His miracles and resurrection. Pharaoh’s hardened heart and defiance mirror the rejection that Jesus faced from the religious and political authorities of His day, who refused to acknowledge His divine authority.

The plagues, beginning with the turning of the Nile into blood, point to God’s judgment against idolatry and sin. This foreshadows the ultimate judgment that Christ will bring at His return, when all false powers will be dismantled and His kingdom will be established in full.

Sermon Outline and Flow:

1. Introduction: The Confrontation Begins
   • Highlight the beginning of the plagues and the escalation of the confrontation between Moses, as God’s representative, and Pharaoh, as the symbol of human defiance.
2. Point 1: God’s Sovereignty Over Human Rulers
   • Explore how God establishes His authority over Pharaoh and Egypt through Moses and Aaron.
   • Application: God’s sovereignty remains unchallenged today, even in the face of human defiance.
3. Point 2: The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart
   • Discuss the theme of Pharaoh’s hardened heart and how God uses it to magnify His power.
   • Application: We must be careful not to harden our hearts against God’s will in our own lives.
4. Point 3: The Supremacy of God Over False Powers
   • Highlight the symbolic meaning of Aaron’s staff swallowing the magicians’ staffs and the turning of the Nile into blood.
   • Application: God alone has power over all creation, and we must turn from idols and false sources of security.

Illustrations and Examples:

• Share a story of how someone’s defiance against God led to difficult consequences, but ultimately resulted in God’s glory being revealed.
• Use a historical example of God demonstrating His sovereignty over rulers or nations in unexpected ways.

Application for Today’s Christian:

Exodus 7 teaches us about the importance of recognizing God’s sovereignty in our lives and the danger of hardening our hearts against His will. Just as Pharaoh refused to acknowledge God’s power, leading to increased judgment, we too can become resistant to God’s leading if we allow pride or stubbornness to dominate our hearts. The chapter calls us to submit to God’s authority, knowing that His power is greater than any force in this world.

Connection to the Father in Exodus 7:

God the Father’s authority over all creation is emphasized in this chapter. His power over Egypt’s rulers and gods is displayed through the plagues, demonstrating that there is no higher authority than Yahweh. God’s desire to deliver His people reflects His fatherly care, as He moves decisively to bring about their freedom from oppression.

Connection to Jesus Christ in Exodus 7:

The confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh mirrors the confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities of His day. Just as Pharaoh’s hardened heart led to increasing judgment, the rejection of Christ by the leaders of His time led to the ultimate judgment on sin through the cross. Jesus, as the ultimate deliverer, fulfills the mission foreshadowed by Moses, leading His people out of spiritual bondage.

Connection to the Holy Spirit in Exodus 7:

The Holy Spirit’s role in empowering believers for ministry is reflected in the way God equips Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh. Just as they were given signs to demonstrate God’s power, the Spirit empowers believers today with gifts and abilities to testify to God’s truth and authority. The Spirit also works to soften hearts, preventing the hardening that we see in Pharaoh.

Connection to God’s Love in Exodus 7:

God’s love is seen in His determination to free His people from oppression. Despite Pharaoh’s defiance, God’s plan for deliverance is unwavering, and His judgment against Egypt is a demonstration of His justice and compassion for the suffering Israelites. God’s love for His people is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who delivers us from the bondage of sin and death.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does Exodus 7 reveal God’s sovereignty over human rulers and false powers, and what does this teach us about our own submission to His authority?
2. In what ways can we guard our hearts against becoming hardened to God’s will, like Pharaoh?
3. How do the signs in this chapter (Aaron’s staff, the Nile turning to blood) point to God’s power and supremacy over creation?
4. How does the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh foreshadow the confrontation between Jesus and the authorities in His time?
5. How can we rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to confront the challenges we face in proclaiming God’s truth in today’s world?