Scripture Text
Exodus 7:1-13 -- "So the LORD said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the LORD commanded them, so they did. And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ” So 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. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said."
MAIN TRUTH
God’s communication methods differ based on His purpose for the audience—He empowers those He calls to follow Him and demonstrates His authority to those He confronts.
KEY SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
- Exodus 7:1 — Moses appointed as “god to Pharaoh” with Aaron as his “prophet”
- Exodus 7:3-5 — Divine prediction of hardening and multiplication of signs
- Exodus 7:8-12 — Credential miracle: staff to serpent, magicians’ limited success
- Exodus 7:13 — Pharaoh’s heart hardens as predicted
MAIN SECTIONS TABLE
| Section | Focus | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Commission (vv. 1-7) | Empowerment for Followers | Clear roles, authority, and preparation for service |
| Credential Miracle (vv. 8-12) | Authentication for Opponents | Signs demonstrate divine authority over human power |
| Hardened Response (v. 13) | Fulfillment of Prediction | Even clear evidence cannot overcome willful rebellion |
MAIN TOPICS
- Divine Authority — Moses receives supernatural authority as God’s representative
- Communication Methods — Different approaches for different audiences and purposes
- Signs and Wonders — Miraculous authentication of divine authority and message
- Progressive Hardening — Resistance to divine truth despite clear evidence
- Empowerment vs. Confrontation — God equips followers but challenges opponents
- Divine Purpose — All communication serves to reveal God’s character and accomplish His will
KEY APPLICATIONS
- Recognize God’s Purposes — His communication methods reflect His intentions for us
- Respond to Empowerment — When God equips us, step forward in faithful service
- Submit to Authority — When God challenges us, align our hearts with His will
- Expect Opposition — Divine truth will face resistance from hardened hearts
- Trust Divine Strategy — God’s methods serve His larger purposes of revealing His character
STUDY SUMMARY
Exodus 7:1-13 reveals how God employs distinctly different communication methods based on His purposes for each audience. With Moses and Aaron—those He calls to follow Him—God communicates through empowerment, clarity, and detailed preparation. He transforms Moses from an inadequate spokesman into a divine representative with supernatural authority, clearly defines roles, and prepares them for coming challenges.
With Pharaoh and the Egyptians—those He confronts in judgment—God communicates through signs, wonders, and progressive demonstration of power. The credential miracle of Aaron’s staff becoming a serpent serves as divine authentication, while the magicians’ limited ability to duplicate it ultimately demonstrates divine supremacy when Aaron’s staff devours theirs.
Both communication methods serve God’s ultimate purpose of revealing His character and accomplishing His will. The empowerment of His servants and the confrontation of His enemies both contribute to the universal recognition that “I am the LORD.” The key is not whether God is communicating—He always is—but whether we respond appropriately to His communication, whether it comes as empowerment for service or challenge to submission.
“See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.” – Exodus 7:1