Moses Meets Pharaoh
Moses and his brother Aaron was sent to Pharaoh to get him to let His people go. Pharaoh refused to listen to the LORD God and we see the 10 plagues that the LORD God sent to show His power and Wonders so the World would forever know the Power and might of the LORD God. We should never forget. Exodus 5-12
Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh that the LORD God of Israel said to, Let my people go, that hey ay hold a feast to the LORD in the wilderness. Pharaoh replied that he does not know the LORD, so why should he obey his voice. He would not let Israel go.
Moses and Aaron explained to Pharaoh that the God of the Hebrews met with them and they need to take the three day journey into the desert, and make a sacrifice unto the LORD God. If they did not go then there would be a pestilence, or with the sword.
This did not make Pharaoh happy so he commanded that the taskmasters of the people that they shall not give the people straw to make bricks. The Hebrew people would have to gather their own straw. The numbers of bricks were not to be lessened. If the Hebrew people had time to cry to their God to make a sacrifice to Him then they have time to gather their own straw.
The people were upset that they had to gather their own straw and still produce the same number of bricks and they felt they had been betrayed by Moses because he had made Pharaoh turn against them. Moses returned to the LORD and wanted to know why He was treating His people so badly by allowing the Pharaoh to do evil against this people.
The LORD said to Moses that now he shall see what the LORD will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand shall Pharaoh will let them go, and with a strong hand shall Pharaoh drive them out of his land. Because I am the LORD: I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
The LORD said to Moses that the LORD has made Moses a god to Pharaoh; and Aaron shall by his prophet. The LORD shall command Moses and Aaron shall speak unto Pharaoh that he sends the children of Israel out of his land. The LORD said he would harden the heart of Pharaoh, and multiply His signs and His wonders in the land of Egypt.
The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when He stretch forth His hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them.
The LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron saying when Pharaoh want a miracle Moses shall tell Aaron to take the rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. Pharaoh called his wise men and the sorcerers; the magicians of Egypt, and did the same with their enchantments. Every man’s rod became a serpent; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. Pharaoh’s heart became hardened and he refused to let the people go.
The LORD told Moses to go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out unto the water and stand by the river and say: “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. 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.” Exodus 7:16-18
Moses did as he was told so that the fish in the river died and the river did stink, and the Egyptians were not able to drink of the water of the river. Every pond, and water in the land of Egypt including in vessels became blood. This lasted for seven days.
Pharaoh refused to allow the people to go. Moses was sent again to tell Pharaoh if he refused to let the people go then the LORD would smite all the borders with frogs. The river shall ring forth frogs which shall go up and go into their houses, in their bedchamber, upon their bed, and into the house of the servants, and upon the people, in their ovens the frog will be everywhere. Aaron stretched out his hand and caused frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron to beg the LORD to take away the frogs and he will let the people go so they may sacrifice unto the LORD. Moses said tomorrow he would remove the frogs according to the Word of the LORD so that Pharaoh will know there is none like the LORD our God.
The LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. They gathered them up upon heaps; and the land stank. When Pharaoh saw this he hardened his heart, and did not listen to the LORD.
The LORD said unto Moses, to tell Aaron to stretch out his rod and hit the dust of the land that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. Aaron did as he was told and hit the dust of the earth and it became lice in man, and beast throughout all the land of Egypt. The magicians could not do the same and told Pharaoh that this was the finger of God, and pharaoh’s heart was hardened.
The LORD told Moses to go early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and tell him to let My people go that they may serve Me. If Pharaoh will not listen the LORD will send swarms of flies upon the people, into their houses, and the houses of all the Egyptians. There will be no swarms of flies in the land of Goshen; so Pharaoh will know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. The Lord will put a division between His people and pharaoh’s people.
Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said for them to go sacrifice to the LORD God. Moses insisted they go the three days journey into the wilderness because to sacrifice in Egypt would be an abomination to the Egyptians. Pharaoh agreed to all the children of Israel to go to the wilderness but not far. So Moses ask the LORD to remove the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and from his people. Once the swarms of flies were removed Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
Once again the LORD told Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let My people go that they may serve Me. If he refused this time the hand of the LORD would give them grievous murrain (pestilence or plague) upon his cattle in the field, upon the horses, camels, oxen, sheep and donkeys. This plague would not affect the animals of the children of Israel. Pharaoh still would not all the people to go.
Next the LORD told Moses to say unto Aaron to take a handful of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking with blisters upon man, and beast throughout all the land of Egypt. Still the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to the LORD.
The next plague was the plague of grievous hail that rain down on Pharaoh such as has not been in Egypt since the foundation even until now. The LORD told them to gather the cattle and all that they have in the field; upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field and not brought home the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die. Those that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.
The hail came in all the land of Egypt upon man and beast, upon every herb of the field. Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along the ground. It was so grievous the hail smote all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast, every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field. Only the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were there was no hail.
Pharaoh sent, for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Have the LORD stop the mighty thundering and hail and I will let you go. Moses left the city and the LORD stopped the rain of hail and thunders. Pharaoh hardened his heart and did not allow the children of Israel to leave.
Once again Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told them if he did not let the people go the LORD God would bring locusts into the land. They shall cover the earth so that one cannot see and they shall eat the residue of that that escaped the hail, they shall eat every tree that grows in the field, they shall fill the houses of Pharaoh and the servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians. Pharaoh refused and the LORD brought the locust. They covered the face of the earth so that the land was dark and they did eat every herb of the land, and fruit of the trees there was no green thing in the trees or herbs of the field through all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh again called Moses and Aaron and said that he had sinned and asked for forgiveness and asks the LORD to take this death away for him. The LORD turned a mighty strong west wind which took away the locusts and cast them into the Red sea. The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so he would not let the children of Israel go.
The LORD told Moses to stretch out his hand toward heaven and there was darkness over the land of Egypt. The thick darkness fell over the land of Egypt three days. No one saw anyone, nor did they rise from his place for three day only the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
The LORD told Moses there was one last plague He would bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he would let the children of Israel go. Moses was to speak to the people of Israel for them to barrow his neighbor’s jewels of silver and gold. Then at midnight the LORD would go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the maidservants and even the firstborn of the beasts.
None of the children of Israel shall be harmed. This is so we may know how the LORD puts a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. This was to be remembered forever and should be celebrated as the Passover of the LORD. They were to take the blood of a lamb and put it on two sides of the posts and on the upper door post of the house where they eat.
The LORD will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt the LORD will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and told them to get out of his land to take the children of Israel, their flocks and herds and go. The children of Israel should never forget the power of the LORD God and how He rescued them out of the land of Egypt.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
How many times have we been ask to do something the LORD has asked us to do and refused? This could be in obeying your parents in doing chores, such as cleaning your room or helping your brother or sister do the dishes. These do not sound like big things but the point is if the LORD tells us to do anything then that is what we should be doing. We cannot be like Pharaoh who refused the LORD God.
The celebration of Passover was an ordinance given to Moses for the children of Israel by the LORD. This was to be celebrated as a sacrifice of the LORD who passed over the houses of the children of Israel while they were in Egypt. It is also the time to remember the plagues the LORD God poured out on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt. We, and the adopted children of the LORD God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, should also remember what the LORD did in the land of Egypt.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Moses Meets Pharaoh:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1778 ,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) “Moses Meets Pharaoh:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1778 ,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Moses Meets Pharaoh:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1778 , (accessed).
