EXODUS CHAPTER SEVEN -------------------- Verse 1, Pink says that here begins the second part of the first division. The first part dealt more with the person of the deliverer, and now the work of redemption is to be dealt with. Pink says that Moses is no more timid, hesitant or discouraged. The conflict from this point on seems to be one more of deeds than one of words. "I have made thee a god to Pharaoh:" - Moses would be God's ambassador. God would deal with Pharaoh through Moses. Pink says, "Acting in God's stead, Moses was to rule over Egypt's proud king, commanding him what he should do, controlling him when he did wrong, and punishing him for his disobedience, so that Pharaoh had to apply to him for the removal of the plagues." Aaron thy brother shall be THY prophet: Compare Ex 4:15-16. Ex 4:15 And THOU shalt speak unto him, and PUT words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be THY spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, [even] he shall be to THEE instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. Verse 2, Moses was not free to speak what came to his mind, but only what God had commanded him. God's preachers today are commanded to do the same. They are to preach only the word of God and nothing else. 2Ti 4:2 Preach THE WORD; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Even Christ only preached what He had heard. Joh 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Joh 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. Compare: 1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. {proud: or, a fool} {doting: or, sick} to be taken with such an interest in a thing as amounts to a disease, to have a morbid fondness for. Verse 3, This verse is one of the deepest in all of the Bible. One that many have wrestled with. The unbelieving say that if God did such a thing that He would be the author of sin and would be unjust in punishing Pharaoh. Some would attempt to dull the sharp edge of this verse by saying that God just allowed Pharaoh to harden his own heart, and the scripture does indeed say that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, but this is a different expression. Here it says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Pink says that we should NOT try and explain this verse so that we can harmonize it with God's justice and righteousness. We are to just leave it as it is. It is not simply God being passive, but active. When he opens men's hearts to receive the gospel and softens men's hearts that they love His word, is it not that He actively does this or are we to believe that He is simply passive to man's free will? Speaking of the Egyptians God said: Ps 105:25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants. Without going into a lot of reasoning, we do know that God is not the author of sin. He always has his hand in the action where the sin is, but never in the sin where the action is. He ACTIVELY hardened their hearts, but the hate was already their dormant. Compare: Ro 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18* Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will HE HARDENETH. Josh 11:19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all [other] they took in battle. 20 For it was OF THE LORD TO HARDEN THEIR HEARTS, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, [and] that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. Deut 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as [appeareth] this day. ( The reference is to Nu 21:21-23 ) Remember the God of all the earth does nothing but what is right. Ps 33:4 For the word of the LORD [is] right; and all his works [are done] in truth. Ps 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments [are] right, and [that] thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Ps 119:128 Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; [and] I hate every false way. Verses 4-5, The reason that Pharaoh does not harken is so that God might lay his hand upon Egypt. Again we see God's sovereign hand in the situation. Here is the reason that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. It was for His glory! That He might display His power. He was PLEASED to display His power and grace toward Israel. Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must NEEDS BE that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! The Egyptians shall know who the LORD is IN JUDGEMENT. The whole world will know who the LORD is IN JUDGEMENT. Verse 6, This verse shows us that they just did as the LORD said. Before they had pleaded with Pharaoh ("we pray thee" - Ex 5:3); but now they would demand Pharaoh to let Israel go. This time they spoke all that the LORD COMMANDED them. Verse 7, The LORD used two old men. When we think of power we often times think of young robust men. God here used two men 80 years old and better. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. This also shows how long it had been that Israel was under bondage in Egypt. The were being oppressed when Moses was born and now he is 80 years old. Verses 8-12, We see here that Aaron did as the LORD had told him and cast his rod to the ground and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh was not impressed but called for the sorcerers to do the same. Some have tried to explain this away. That the magicians used a slight of hand and actually threw do serpents that they had on them. But notice the words of Holy Writ. "they also did in LIKE MANNER with their enchantments" "they cast down every man his ROD" "and they BECAME serpents" This was done by the power of Satan. If Satan had the power to transport Christ from the wilderness to a high mountain and show him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time (Luk 4:5) and then SET him on a pinnacle of the temple at Jerusalem (Luk 4:9); then he could easily perform this miracle. During the tribulation period, the antichrist and false prophet will have satanic powers to deceive the whole earth. "[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders," (2Th 2:9). Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods: Jesus Christ will have the ultimate victory. Satan shall bruise his heal, but Christ shall bruise his head. (Gen 3:15). Verse 13, Notice God hardened Pharaoh heart. It does not say that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, but that "he hardened Pharaoh's heart." For the purpose that he would not harken unto Moses, and this was done as the LORD had before said in verse 3 & 4 and 4:21. Compare: Ex 10:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: Ex 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. Ex 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. Ex 14:17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. Verse 14, Not that Pharaoh's heart is hard, but is HARDENED. Verses 15-25, The first plague. Some notes about the "Plagues of Egypt": 1) There were ten in number. Water into blood Frogs covered the land Lice Swarms of flies A grievous disease smote the cattle Boils and sores were sent on man and beast Thunder and hail Locusts consumed all vegetation A thick darkness covered the land for 3 days The firstborn of man and beast were slain Speaking of these plagues in the psalms it is said, "He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels [among them]." (Ps 78:49) 2) The purpose of the plagues: a) They gave a public manifestation of the mighty power of God Almighty. Even the magicians said, "This is the finger of God." (Ex 8:19). b) It was a divine visitation of wrath upon the Egyptians for their cruel treatment of God's people. Pharaoh finally acknowledged that he had sinned against their God and against them (10:16). c) It was a judgement of God against the gods (demons) of Egypt. This was how the magicians performed their feats. Nu 33:4 For the Egyptians buried all [their] firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments. d) Jehovah was far above all gods. e) A complete testing of human responsibility. The number 10 is the same number of commandments given to Moses in the law. Ten = Testimony - LAW and responsibility f) A solemn warning to other nations that God would curse those who would curse Israel. A promise given to Abraham. Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. g) A time of trial for Israel. They had probably seen or heard of the magicians power and knew that it was supernatural. Now they say the power of their great God. 3) The arrangement: The tenth is separated from all the others and the first nine are in groups of threes, which form three groups with three plagues in each. Pink says that the dividing line is plain in the scriptures. The first two plagues of each group is preceded by a warning, but no warning is given before the third plague of each of the three groups. So the 3rd, 6th and 9th plague have no warning preceding them. Pink says, "It is a reminder that God will not always strive; and that warning, repeated but unheeded, will be followed by judgement sudden and terrible." 4) A striking introversion in connection with the plagues: a) In the 1st the waters are turned to blood, a symbol of death; while in the 10th there is actual death and blood was shed for Israel and put upon the door posts to protect them from the tenth plague. b) In the 2nd the frogs are creatures of the night, while in the 9th there was a great darkness over the land. c) In the 3rd the magicians were made to exclaim that this was the finger of God, while in the 8th Pharaoh was made to exclaim that he had sinned against their God, Jehovah. d) In the 4th God exempted the land of Goshen so that there were no swarms of flies there and in the 7th we read that there was no hail in the land of Goshen. e) In the 5th and 6th plagues the cattle of Egypt are attacked in both. In the 6th man also. 5) The progressive nature of the plagues: At first it affected the comfort of the Egyptians, then their possessions and then their health and finally their lives. The last three plagues brought desolation and death. 6) The moral significance: Death broods over the scene. The wages of sin is death. The frogs perhaps speaks of the unclean spirits that governed Egypt and by which the magicians did their enchantments. Compare: Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. The lice speaks of the filth of world's sinful nature. The swarm of flies has Satan as it's head. "Beelzebud" means "Lord of the flies." The cattle (beasts of burden) speaks of the burden of sin that man is under. The boils speaks of the awful condition that man is in. Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. The hail and lightening speaks of God's wrath and hatred against sin and the disobedient. The locust speaks of the spiritual bareness of this world, a land of spiritual desolation. The dense darkness speaks of the spiritual darkness that men are in. In God is their light only. Light was sent into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (Joh 3:19). The death of the firstborn speaks of the second death that awaits those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb, whose blood was shed for His people. 7) They were designed to establish the faith of Israel. Israel had only seen the magic of the Egyptians and knew that it was supernatural. This showed them that Jehovah was the only true God and that the gods of Egypt were merely devils and evil spirits which were against Jehovah. 8) The conduct of the magicians: They were allowed to reproduce the first three plagues, but could go no further. They tried to do the same with the lice but "they could not" (8:18). If their enchantments were only slight of hand, then it would have been easier to exchange dust for lice than to turn water into blood and rods into serpents. Rev 16:14 says that "they are the spirits of devils, WORKING MIRACLES." The devil is an imitator of God. Compare: 2Ti 3:8 This is concerning false teachers in the last days. Notice the connection with those who withstood Moses, but could go no farther. Gill says that Jannes and Jambres were the chief magicians of Egypt. Mathew Henry says the same. Pink also says the same that these men were the chief magicians of Egypt. The Thompson Chain has a reference to Ex 7:11. So the last days will have men performing miracles which are really by the power of devils, men who really resist the truth, but would deceive men into thinking that they really had the truth. 9) These plagues have a prophetic significance: a) During the tribulation period, Israel will again be oppressed and afflicted. (Isa 60:14; Jer 30:5-8) b) They will again cry unto God and He will hear and answer (Jer 31:18-20) c) God will command their oppressors to, Let them go (Isa 43:6). d) God will again send TWO witnesses to work miracles which are plagues, causing discomfort (Rev 11:3-6). e) Israel's enemies will again perform miracles to deceive (Rev 13:13-15). f) God will again execute sore judgements upon the world of the wicked (Jer 25:15-16) g) God will protect his people (mainly Israel) from these judgements (Rev 7:4;12:6,14-16). h) Water will again be turned into blood (Rev 8:8; 16:4-5). i) Satanic frogs will come forth (Rev 16:13). j) A plague of locust shall be again sent, these come from the bottomless pit and are far worse (Rev 9:2-11). k) God will again send boils and grievous sore upon men (Rev 16:2). l) Hail-stones mixed with fire shall again fall from heaven (Rev 8:7). m) There shall be an awful darkness again (Isa 60:2; Rev 16:10). n) Just as Pharaoh hardened his heart, so will the wicked in the awful day to come (Rev 9:20-21). o) Death will consume multitudes (Rev 9:15). p) Israel will be delivered (Zec 14:3-4; Ro 11:26). Thus history will repeat itself. Yet the judgements to come will be far worse than the plagues of Egypt. Verses 15-25, The first plague. As we see blood in this first plaque, so too in the tribulation period, the moon shall "become as blood" (Rev 6:12). This will be a sign of what is coming. Blood speaks of death by violent means. Water is symbolic of the word of God (Eph 5:26; Joh 15:3; also Joh 4:10-11;7:38). This reminds us of how the Word was made flesh and suffered a violent death for our sins. Christ first miracle was changing water into wine, which is also symbolic of the blood that was shed for many. The question may come to mind, from where did the magicians get their water to duplicate the miracle. The answer may lie in verse 24. "They digged" for it. Or perhaps only the river was afflicted so that water reserves were not. Then the magicians did it to the water reserves. ????? This plague was directed at the Nile, which the Egyptians worshiped and from which they received their life giving water. Seven full days were fulfilled before the next plague came forth. The flood of Moses came on the seventh day. Seven is the number for completeness. The first plague was completed. Pink thinks that the first and second plague came on the Sabbath day, the seventh day of the week.