Exerting pressure for the Exodus
| 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. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous 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. 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. (Exodus7:1-5) |
Firstly, the LORD declares to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh." In this "commissioning" we see God bestowing authority on Moses to act as His representative before Pharaoh. God still uses people like you and me to act as His agents in the world. It's also nice to see that Moses is not alone, he works in a team with Aaron.
People struggle with the idea of God hardening a heart. Here it is quite simple: God gives Pharaoh nine opportunities to do the right thing. In essence, He has given Pharaoh "enough rope to hang himself." In other words, by the time we get to the tenth plague, we know that God's drastic action is justified because Pharaoh has proved that his heart is hard. God is not turning Pharaoh's heart dark, He simply proves how dark Pharaoh's heart is.
The progression of the plagues reveals a strategic and purposeful demonstration of God's supremacy over the Egyptian gods. Each plague targets a specific aspect of Egyptian religious and cultural life, systematically dismantling their belief in the power of their gods.
Additionally, Pharaoh symbolizes not only a single individual but also an oppressive system characterized by pride, arrogance, and injustice. There are times that we sense that Pharaoh is about to soften and then his officials convince him otherwise...
Ultimately, the plagues serve as a testament to the glory and righteousness of God. Despite Pharaoh's obstinacy and the formidable challenges posed by the Egyptian system, God's justice prevails, leading to the liberation of the Israelites and the vindication of His chosen people.
In our own lives we encounter modern-day Pharaohs: Systems of that oppress, intimidate and dehumanise. Yet, like Moses and Aaron, we are called to stand firm in our faith, trusting in God's sovereignty and working tirelessly for justice and righteousness. Just as the plagues ultimately led to liberation, our steadfast obedience and perseverance can lead to systems of oppression being overthrown and God's glory being revealed.
