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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Exodus 7:17 'Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood. you shall know - Ex 7:5 Ex 5:2 Ex 6:7 1Sa 17:46,47 1Ki 20:28 2Ki 19:19 Ps 9:16 83:18 Eze 29:9 30:8,19 32:15 38:23 39:28 Da 4:17,32,37 5:21,23 it will be turned to blood - Ex 1:22 Ex 4:9 Ps 78:44 Ps 105:29 Rev 8:8 Rev 16:3-6 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries KHNUM "GOD" OF SOURCE OF THE NILE ONE WAY TO COME TO KNOW GOD In Exodus 7:14-19 God reveals two specific purposes - (1)That He would be known, and (2) that His people would be free to worship (serve Him). The deity that may have been "targeted" in this first salvo against the Nile River was the so-called god named Hapi Hapi was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egyptian religion. The flood deposited rich silt (fertile soil) on the river's banks, allowing the Egyptians to grow crops.[1] Hapi was greatly celebrated among the Egyptians. Some of the titles of Hapi were "Lord of the Fish and Birds of the Marshes" and "Lord of the River Bringing Vegetation". Hapi is typically depicted as an androgynous figure with a big belly and large drooping breasts (ED: WHICH WOULD HAVE REFLECTED FERTILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANNUAL NILE FLOODS), wearing a loincloth and ceremonial false beard.[2] (Wikipedia) Recall that when Moses and Aaron made their first visit to Pharaoh, his reply was “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” (Ex 5:2) Here God says in essence I will help you know me by this first plague. In Ex 7:5 God had said it was also the Egyptians who would know Him when He stretched out His hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel. This statement indicates that "stretch out My hand on Egypt" encompasses all 10 of the plagues, because they were not allowed to go until the tenth plague. Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD - By what? By the following sign (plague). And what was the purpose? The Pharaoh would know that Jehovah Alone is God, the great I Am. He would see that the true and living God, Jehovah, would definitively defeat the "great Khnum" the so-called god of the source of the Nile. And so God began His "attack" purposefully and directly against the life source of the entire nation of Egypt to demonstrate His power. In the ancient world when a nation would defeat another nation, the victorious general would place his foot on the neck of the defeated foe. In effect Jehovah had placed His foot on the impotent god Khnum, reminiscent of David's prophecy of the Messiah-King in Psalm 110:1-2 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD (FATHER) says to my Lord (SON): "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet." The LORD will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of Thine enemies. Parallel Passages: Exodus 1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.” (THE NILE HAD BEEN USED BY PHARAOH TO TAKE LIFE OF HEBREW SONS). Exodus 4:9 “But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” (THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE A "PREVIEW" OF COMING ATTRACTIONS) Psalm 78:43-44 When He performed His signs in Egypt And His marvels in the field of Zoan, 44 And turned their rivers to blood, And their streams, they could not drink. Psalm 105:26-29 He sent Moses His servant, And Aaron, whom He had chosen. 27 They performed His wondrous acts among them, And miracles in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness and made it dark; And they did not rebel against His words. 29 He turned their waters into blood And caused their fish to die. Behold (see above on hinneh), I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand and it will be turned to blood - Observe that Aaron (cf Ex 7:19) holds the staff, but God says "I will strike...with the staff." To strike the Nile is to strike the first blow at the very heart of Egypt's existence. If there was no Nile, there would be no Egypt! Aaron was God's instrument, His vessel of honor. What Aaron did, God did through him! Note that turned to blood means exactly that -- blood, not like blood or reddish colored water but literal blood! I am an pathologist and have dealt extensively for over 30 years with analyses and diagnoses related to blood, and yet I do not understand how God turned the water to blood, but I believe it without a shadow of a doubt, because God said it! He does not ask us to understand everything He does (after all He is Transcendent and Incomprehensible!) but He does ask us to believe! THOUGHT #1 - One is reminded of 2 Ti 2:21+ that each of God's bond-servants are to be "a vessel for honor, sanctified (set apart), useful to the Master, prepared for every good (God initiated,Spirit energized) work." Would you consider yourself a "vessel for honor" based on your choices this past week? If not, confess any known sins of thought, word or deed and repent and "be ready," for you are now once again a "vessel for honor" for the Lord's use in His timing and for His purposes. THOUGHT #2 - Note that Jehovah would use judgment to make Himself known to Pharaoh. This is but a foretaste of all who like Pharaoh have hardened their hearts to Jehovah. He will bring judgment on the world and then they will know He is LORD, but they will still refuse to bow to Him (Rev 6:15-17+, Rev 16:9, 11+ - Rev 16:21+ "men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail"). However, the day will come as Paul described when even these Christ rejecters will have no choice but will be forced to bow -- For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11+) Turned to blood - The Heb. word does not denote red coloring such as might be seen when red clay is washed downstream, but denotes actual substance, i.e., blood. (MacArthur). Mattoon - Eighty years earlier, Pharaoh's daughter was at this river and rescued baby Moses. Moses faces a different king now. The tables are turned and the Nile River becomes a place of death for the Egyptians instead of Jewish baby boys. In this first plague, God dealt first with the instrument of death that killed thousands of Jewish baby boys that were drowned and perhaps eaten by crocodiles. The bloody Nile would be a reminder of the bloodshed eighty years earlier. God was confronting Egypt with its sin. Exodus 7:18 The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will find difficulty in drinking water from the Nile. the fish - Ex 7:21 will become foul- Ex 7:24 Nu 11:20 21:5 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE PROPHECY OF FOUL FISH AND FETID WATER Fetid means having offensive odor, a stale, nauseating smell as of something decaying (dead fish)! Ps 105:29b says God "caused their fish to die." Did the die because of low oxygen content in the water? Or were they directly killed by God? Either way their death is the result of a sovereign, supernatural work of God. The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will find difficulty in drinking water from the Nile - Note the results are (1) death in the water (2) stench coming from the water (3) scarcity of drinking water. Recall that the Nile River was considered the life blood of Egypt, and even considered as divine. God first strike is at the heart of the nation, the Nile River. Become foul (0887)(baash) means to have a bad smell or to stink. To be repulsive. It denotes a bad physical smell (blood in the Nile - Ex 7:21) or odor of spoiled manna (Ex 16:20). In a figurative sense, it speaks of a person who becomes strongly revolting to another, a metaphorical "stench in the nostrils." "When Moses struck the water of the Nile, the fish died and the river became foul (Ex 7:18, 21). After the plague of the frogs, the land was foul (stank). When some tried to save their allotted share of manna, it bred worms and emitted a stink (Ex 16:20). But the double portion gathered on the sixth day did not become foul (Exodus 16:24). This term, stink, is also used by the Hebrew foremen of the Israelite slave force who complained to Moses and Aaron that they had made Israel's savour odious in Pharoah's presence (Ex 5:21)." ( Louis Goldberg) Find difficulty (03811)(laah) means to become weary or impatient, not be able, not have the capacity to carry out a function or task. It can refer either to physical weariness (Jer 12:5, Ge 19:11) or psychological weariness (Job 4:5) Disgust is also indicated when the Egyptians are said to be too "tired" to drink the corrupted waters of the Nile (Exodus 7:18) The Hebrews were wearied by too many" pagan, religious advisors (Isaiah 47:13). First used of the sodomites who wearied themselves trying to get to the 2 angels with Lot (Ge 19:11) God is weary of Israel's feasts (Is 1:14) God is weary holding wrath in (Jer 6:11). People "weary themselves committing iniquity." (Jer 9:5) The use of this word here carries the idea of making oneself weary in doing something, or "to strenuously exert oneself." It seems always to indicate exhausted patience. The term seems to imply that the Egyptians were not able to drink the contaminated water, and so would expend all their energy looking for water to drink, in frustration of course. They exhausted themselves in hunting for water. Laah - 19x in 18v - become impatient(1), exhausted(1), find difficulty(1), impatient(1), parched(1), tired(2), try the patience(2), wearied(4), wearies(1), weary(5). Gen. 19:11; Exod. 7:18; Job 4:2; Job 4:5; Job 16:7; Ps. 68: 9; Prov. 26:15; Isa. 1:14; Isa. 7:13; Isa. 16:12; Isa. 47:13; Jer. 6:11; Jer. 9:5; Jer. 12:5; Jer. 15:6; Jer. 20:9; Ezek. 24:12; Mic. 6:3
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Spurgeon - Checkbook of Faith - THE ungodly world is hard to teach. Egypt does not know Jehovah, and therefore dares to set up his idols, and even ventures to ask—“Who is the Lord?” Yet the Lord means to break proud hearts, whether they will or not. When his judgments thunder over their heads, darken their skies, destroy their harvests, and slay their sons, they begin to discern somewhat of Jehovah’s power. There will yet be such things done in the earth as shall bring sceptics to their knees. Let us not be dismayed because of their blasphemies, for the Lord can take care of his own name, and he will do so in a very effectual manner. The salvation of his own people was another potent means of making Egypt know that the God of Israel was Jehovah, the living and true God. No Israelite died by any one of the ten plagues. None of the chosen seed were drowned in the Red Sea. Even so, the salvation of the elect, and the sure glorification of all true believers, will make the most obstinate of God’s enemies acknowledge that Jehovah he is the God. Oh, that his convincing power would go forth by his Holy Spirit in the preaching of the gospel, till all nations shall bow at the name of Jesus, and call him Lord! F B
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Spurgeon comments on this psalm - As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years. Moses himself lived longer than this, but his was the exception not the rule: in his day life had come to be very much the same in duration as it is with us. This is brevity itself compared with the men of the elder time; it is nothing when contrasted with eternity. Yet is life long enough for virtue and piety, and all too long for vice and blasphemy. Moses here in the original writes in a disconnected manner, as if he would set forth the utter insignificance of man's hurried existence. His words may be rendered, "The days of our years! In them seventy years": as much as to say, "The days of our years? What about them? Are they worth mentioning? The account is utterly insignificant, their full tale is but seventy." Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow. The unusual strength which overleaps the bound of threescore and ten only lands the aged man in a region where life is a weariness and a woe. The strength of old age, its very prime and pride, are but labour and sorrow; what must its weakness be? What panting for breath! What toiling to move! What a failing of the senses! What a crushing sense of weakness! The evil days are come and the years wherein a man cries, "I have no pleasure in them." The grasshopper has become a burden and desire faileth. Such is old age. Yet mellowed by hallowed experience, and solaced by immortal hopes, the latter days of aged Christians are not so much to be pitied as envied. The sun is setting and the heat of the day is over, but sweet is the calm and cool of the eventide: and the fair day melts away, not into a dark and dreary night, but into a glorious, unclouded, eternal day. The mortal fades to make room for the immortal; the old man falls asleep to wake up in the region of perennial youth. For soon it is gone and we fly away. The cable is broken and the vessel sails upon the sea of eternity; the chain is snapped and the eagle mounts to its native air above the clouds. Moses mourned for men as he thus sung: and well he might, as all his comrades fell at his side. His words are more nearly rendered, "He drives us fast and we fly away; "as the quails were blown along by the strong west wind, so are men hurried before the tempests of death. To us, however, as believers, the winds are favourable; they bear us as the gales bear the swallows away from the wintry realms, to lands "Where everlasting spring abides And never withering flowers." Who wishes it to be otherwise? Wherefore should we linger here? What has this poor world to offer us that we should tarry on its shores? Away, away! This is not our rest. Heavenward, Ho! Let the Lord's winds drive fast if so he ordains, for they waft us the more swiftly to himself, and our own dear country. (Psalm 90) Exodus 7:8 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD SPEAKS TO BOTH MEN Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying - Now the great drama of divine redemption begins to unfold in vivid demonstrations of the power of the Almighty God. We have heard these stories since children, but we do well to read them begging the Spirit to open the eyes our our heart to see the greatness of our God and His immeasurable love for those who belong to Him by an everlasting covenant. Yes, Lord, by Your Spirit may the eyes of our heart may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward us who believe. In Jesus' Name. Amen (Eph 1:18-19+) Believer's Study Bible - Here begins the first great concentrated period of biblical miracles. The second period comes in the days of Elijah and Elisha, and the third covers the life of Jesus and His apostles. A miracle is a signature of God, His sign of confirmation that the proclaimed message is truly His revelation. Miracles do not contradict God's created order; they are real events, although they transcend the normal pattern of cause and effect. Exodus 7:8-10 UNMASKING THE MAGICIANS "Now the magicians of Egypt....cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents." (Exodus 7:11,12) When I was young, I often wondered how the magicians of Egypt could make snakes out of their rods in the presence of Pharaoh like Aaron had done. I knew God had divinely commissioned His ambassadors to perform a miracle, but were those on Satan’s side permitted special demonic power to do the same? Perhaps in reproducing some of the plagues they were, but I don’t think that was true in this case. Commentators say that serpents engraved on Egyptian monuments have the appearance of an Irish-thorn cane, with the head turned over the body as a handle. From this they conclude that the magicians knew how to paralyze a snake by putting pressure on the back of its neck so that it would become rigid. The sorcerers used these reptiles as walking sticks. The people would stare in amazement when they threw these ‘canes’ on the ground, for with the pressure released, the snakes would begin to crawl away. Then the magicians would seize the serpents and pinch their neck nerves, and they again became paralyzed and stiff. Prior to the account in Exodus 7, Moses had been told to take his staff, which through God’s power had become a serpent, and hold it not by the neck but “by the tail” to turn it into a rod (Ex. 4:4). Assuming that Aaron did the same thing in Pharaoh’s presence, it would be obvious that his act was a true miracle and not trickery. O Let us learn from Thy blest Word Base error to discern, And by Thy Spirit’s light and help From Satan’s snares to turn. -- Bosch Error often comes dressed in the garment of truth Exodus 7:9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Work a miracle,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'" Work a miracle - Isa 7:11 Mt 12:39 Jn 2:18 Jn 6:30 Jn 10:38 Take your staff - Ex 7:10-12 Ex 4:2,17,20 9:23 10:13 that it may become a serpent- Ps 74:12,13 Eze 29:3 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SIGN OF THE STAFF When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Work a miracle' - Pharaoh was in essence asking for accreditation of Moses and Aaron and his request would be answered more than he wanted! Pharaoh's request for a miracle foreshadows the repeated requests by the unbelieving Jews who said to Jesus "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” (Jn 2:18+, cf Jn 6:30). And even as the majority of the Jews refused to believe in Jesus despite the many signs and wonders He performed, so too we see Pharaoh's heart refuses to believe the signs that point to the one true God. O yes, he will come to know Him, but not as Redeemer, but Judge! Then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.' - It is interesting that this is the first sign God had given Moses to perform before the sons of Israel that they might believe he was sent by God and for their good. (Ex 4:2-4,5+, Ex 4:29-30, 31+). Believer's Study Bible - The significance of the miraculous sign is in its challenge to the Egyptian sorcerers and in its demonstration that the true conflict is between Yahweh and the false Egyptian gods (Ex 7:12; Nu 33:4). The conflict will show the marked superiority of the God of Israel. In most, if not all the miracles, there were particular Egyptian gods believed to protect the Egyptians from each of Yahweh's plagues. Exodus 7:10 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. as the LORD had commanded - Ex 7:9 iit became a serpent - Ex 4:3 Am 9:3 Mk 16:18 Lu 10:19 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SIGN OF THE SERPENT God intentionally started with this, knowing exactly what Pharaoh's magicians would do. He could have begun with Plague #3 gnats which the magicians could not reproduce. With the staff to serpent, water to blood and frogs, God knew the magicians would be able to at least in part reproduce these signs. The net effect would be that Pharaoh's heart would become a bit more hardened each time. One can only imagine his face when the gnats flew in, in hordes! So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the LORD had commanded - Recall they had been before Pharaoh in Ex 5:1-3,4+ but without success. But forgetting what lay behind, they press on in immediate obedience to God's command. They are now fortified by His Word. They had been fortified to an extent by His Word before, but now they really believe His Word and are willing to risk their lives in unquestioning obedience.
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” —Exodus 7:12 This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of the divine handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine principle is cast into the heart, though the devil may fashion a counterfeit, and produce swarms of opponents, as sure as ever God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God’s grace takes possession of a man, the world’s magicians may throw down all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and poisonous as a serpent, but Aaron’s rod will swallow up their rods. The sweet attractions of the cross will woo and win the man’s heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will now have an eye for the upper spheres, and a wing to mount into celestial heights. When grace has won the day the worldling seeks the world to come. The same fact is to be observed in the life of the believer. What multitudes of foes has our faith had to meet! Our old sins—the devil threw them down before us, and they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah, but the cross of Jesus destroys them all. Faith in Christ makes short work of all our sins. Then the devil has launched forth another host of serpents in the form of worldly trials, temptations, unbelief; but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them, and overcomes them all. The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honours. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there are many persons who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron’s rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ be anything he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul! Exodus 7:13 Yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex 7:4 4:21 8:15 10:1,20,27 14:17 De 2:30 Zec 7:11,12 Ro 1:28 2:5 Heb 3:7,8,13 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PHARAOH'S HARD HEART Yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened (See summary Table of Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart) - Here the text does not distinguish who produced the hardening, Pharaoh or God. Do you see the "definition" of a hardened heart? It is a heart that refuses to listen to God (or God's representative)! And remember that listen means more than simply hear words spoken, but includes a response to the words spoken, a heart response that is willing to obey what is heard. As James 1:22+ says "prove (command = present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." And to make sure we understand Pharaoh's heart condition, the next passage adds "stubborn!" Note that Moses uses two words for hardening the heart. The less frequently used word is the one used here which is chazaq meaning strengthened and in context hardened. The more common word used is kabad which has the basic meaning of to be heavy like "heavy with sin." When used of Pharaoh's heart it means be morally stubborn regarding a change of action or attitude. (Ex 8:15; Ex 8:32; Ex 9:7; Ex 9:34; Ex 10:1; Ex 14:4; Ex 14:17) Note it is somewhat ironic that the verb kabad is used here for hardening but is used later for honoring (first God, then parents in Ex 14:18; Ex 20:12)! Driver says that when chazaq is used (Ex 7:13 = "hardened" and Ex 7:14 = "is stubborn"), it indicates a will or attitude that is unyielding and firm, but when kabad is used, it stresses the will as being slow to move, unimpressionable, slow to be affected (Moses used the noun form kabed to describe his tongue in Ex 4:10). Rod Mattoon - Pharaoh's heart had become hard because of sin and a hard heart will not be receptive to God's revelations, but will rebel against the decrees of the Lord. Pharaoh's heart hardened as God had said. The Lord knew this was going to happen. Pharaoh focused on the miracles, not the message. Matching miracles was a test of power and credentials. God's Word is to be the basis of faith, beloved, not miracles. This error that Pharaoh made is the same one that many are making today. Mark it down, if a miracle of God takes place, the miracle will not lead people to contradict or disobey God's Word. It will not rob God of His glory. We are not to be on a quest for supernatural miracles to get in touch with God. We have His supernatural Word that can speak to our heart if we will let it speak to us. God's Word can help us go from coldness to boldness. And he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said - Note the two effects of his hard heart - (1) Pharaoh did not listen to Moses and Aaron. (2) God's prophecy was fulfilled, which would (should) serve to fortify their faith, one of the great values of studying Bible prophecy (something many in the church seem to shy away from as too divisive, too confusing, etc). The text does not say specifically what Pharaoh did not listen to, but if we compare God's earlier words (and the words in Ex 7:14, especially Ex 7:16), it undoubtedly was a call "to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land." (Ex 7:2, 7:4+, cf Ex 5:1, 3+) A Few Passages related to a hard heart... Proverbs 28:14 How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (AS DID PHARAOH!) Proverbs 29:1 A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Acts 28:27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”’ Romans 1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, Rod Mattoon - A man was driving down a bumpy country road when he saw a bag of cement beside the road. It appeared to have fallen off a delivery truck as it hit one of the bumps in the rough road. Being a person who did not like to see anything wasted, the man stopped to pick up the lost bag of cement. When he reached down to pick up this heavy bag, to his surprise, he discovered it was not soft and limber, as he had expected, but had solidified into an immovable piece of cement. Beloved, often our lives are like that bag of cement. They take on shapes that were not intended and become hardened in that shape. That bag of cement was meant to become a part of some beautiful, useful structure but, because it did not reach its place of service, because it was not used for its intended purpose, it became a useless rock in the form of a bag of cement. God wants to make something beautiful of your life. Don't let His will and purpose be thwarted by spiritual neglect or a bump in the road of life. Don't let bitterness and anger toward the Lord, rob you of His wonderful blessings. When we resist the Lord, we become cold. As the sun can soften butter, it can also harden clay. God's Word can soften or harden you based on your response to it. As God was squeezing Pharaoh, revealing what was in his heart, He will do the same to us. When we are judged by the Lord, we will be seen as we really are with no camouflage at all. HARDENING THE HEART OF PHARAOH Hardened - Study all 18 instances in Exodus which mention the hardening of the heart of Pharaoh. Notice which are prophecy, which are ambiguous as to the hardening agent, which are caused by Jehovah and which reflect the choice of Pharaoh's self-will. I think you will find this an interesting exercise as you wrestle with this subject of God hardening a person's heart. Ex 4:21+ The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Ex 7:3+ But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. Ex 7:13+ Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex 7:22+ But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex 8:15+ But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex 8:19+ Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Ex 8:32+ But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. Ex 9:7+ Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. Ex 9:12+ And the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses. Ex 9:34+ But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. Ex 9:35+ Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses. Ex 10:1+ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, Ex 10:20+ But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go. Ex 10:27+ But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. Ex 11:10+ Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land. Ex 14:4+ “Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. Ex 14:8+ The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly. Ex 14:17+ “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. Summary - 6x Jehovah definitely hardened Pharaoh’s heart. 4x Jehovah gave a prophecy (I will). 5x the agent hardening is not stated. 3x Pharaoh hardened his own heart. The first definite mention of one hardening Pharaoh’s heart is Pharaoh (Ex 8:15). Exodus 7:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go. Pharaoh's heart is stubborn - Ex 8:15 10:1,20,27 Zec 7:12 He refuses to let the people go - Ex 4:23 Ex 8:2 9:2 10:4 Isa 1:20 Jer 8:5 9:6 Heb 12:25 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Egyptian "Scales" of Justice (See notes below) PHARAOH'S "HEAVY" HEART Stubborn means refusing to change one's mind or course of action despite pressure and good reasons given to do so. One who is stubborn is unyielding, resolute, marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield, and unreasonably immovable in purpose or will Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go - Literally his heart "has become heavy." The Septuagint translates kabed; (heavy) with the verb bareo meaning to be weighed down, burdened and is in the perfect tense indicating this is the persistent state of Pharaoh's heart. It is hard, will remain hard and will yet become even harder as the plagues unfold! He was tenaciously unwilling, marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield. A hard heart is a stubborn heart. In this case it refuses God's will which is to release Israel, God's people. This passage echoes the words of God to Pharaoh in Ex 4:23+ “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’” John Currid has a fascinating note on the concept of a "heavy heart" - A third Hebrew term is now engaged to present the nature of Pharaoh’s heart. It is kābēd, which in its most basic sense means ‘to be heavy’. The term is used in a literal quantitative sense: for example, Absalom’s hair (2 Sa 14:26) and Moses’ hands (Ex 17:12) were both heavy. But kābēd may also bear a qualitative sense—that is, that something is weighty, or full of a particular quality or trait. Therefore, this verse is saying that Pharaoh’s heart is weighted down with something. But what is it? The idea that ‘Pharaoh’s heart is heavy’ is an intriguing expression in view of the Egyptian background of the New Kingdom period in which the exodus occurred. At this time the Egyptians believed that when someone died the person went to judgment in the underworld. The individual’s heart—which was thought to be the very essence of the person—was weighed on the scales of truth. On one pan sat the feather of truth and righteousness; on the other lay the heart of the deceased. If the heart was heavy or weighty with misdeeds, the person was unjust, condemned and thrown to the Devouress to be eaten. If the heart was pure, the deceased would go to the Egyptian afterlife. In the exodus account the verdict that Pharaoh’s heart was heavy reflects the concept of his heart being filled with iniquity and injustice. His dealings with Israel, and for that matter his own character in general, were unrighteous. God was simply judging Pharaoh as one with a heavy, sinful heart! (A Study Commentary on Exodus - Volume 1) Stubborn (03515)(kabed; note there is considerable overlap with Strong's # 03513 - kabad) verb meaning to weigh heavily, to be heavy, to be made heavy, to make dull, to let weigh down, to harden, to multiply. In some contexts = to honor (1 Chr 4:9, 1 Chr 11:21, 25). It is used literally of Eli who was "old and heavy" (1 Sa 4:18), of Absalom's hair (heavy - 2 Sa 14:26). The first use in Ge 12:10 = famine was severe. Ge 13:2 (Ge 41:31, 43:1, 47:13) = rich in livestock. Ge 50:9 = great company. Ge 50:10 = sorrowful lamentation. Ex 4:10 = slow of speech and slow of tongue. Ex 7:14 = stubborn. Ex 8:24 = great swarms. Ex 9:3 = servere pestilence. Ex 9:18 (Ex 9:24) = heavy hail. Ex 10:14 = numerous (locusts). Ex 12:38 = large number of livestock. Ex 17:12 = Moses' hands were heavy. Ex 18:18 = task is too heavy. Ex 19:16 = thick cloud. Nu 11:14 = too burdensome (people). Nu 20:20 = heavy force. Isa 1:4 = People weighed down with iniquity. Ezek. 3:5; Ezek. 3:6 = difficult language. 1 Ki 12:4 (1 Ki 12:11, 2 Chr 10:10, 14) = a heavy yoke (taxation by Solomon). Kabed - 42x in 40v - burdensome(1), difficult(2), great(4), grievous(1), heavier(1), heavy(11), huge(1), large(4), large number(1), much(1), numerous(1), rich(1), severe(7), slow(2), sorrowful(1), stubborn(1), thick(1), weighed down(1). Gen. 12:10; Gen. 13:2; Gen. 41:31; Gen. 43:1; Gen. 47:4; Gen. 47:13; Gen. 50:9; Gen. 50:10; Gen. 50:11; Ex 4:10; Ex 7:14; Ex 8:24; Ex 9:3; Ex 9:18; Ex 9:24; Ex 10:14; Ex 12:38; Ex 17:12; Ex 18:18; Ex. 19:16; Nu 11:14; Nu 20:20; 1 Sa 4:18; 2 Sa 14:26; 1 Ki. 3:9; 1 Ki. 10:2; 1 Ki. 12:4; 1 Ki. 12:11; 2 Ki. 6:14; 2 Ki. 18:17; 2 Chr. 9:1; 2 Chr. 10:4; 2 Chr. 10:11; Ps. 38:4 = my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me. ; Prov. 27:3; Isa. 1:4; Isa. 32:2; Isa. 36:2; Ezek. 3:5; Ezek. 3:6 Exodus 7:15 "Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and station yourself to meet him on the bank of the Nile; and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent. as he is going out to the water, - Ex 2:5 8:20 Eze 29:3 the staff - Ex 7:10 4:2-4 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE FIRST PLAGUE: WATER TO BLOOD The first recorded miracle of Jesus was water to wine (probably red wine) (Jn 2:1-11+), but here Jehovah's first miracle is water to red blood! God is going to respond to Pharaoh's stubborn (heavy) heart with a command to confront the commander of Egypt. Moses is not the same man he was in Ex 4:10, 13! Throughout the 10 plagues, when he confronts Pharaoh (4 he inflicts without warning), he does so obediently and courageously. He has come to truly know Jehovah as the LORD Who is able to perform what He commands Moses to carry out (Ex 6:1-2+). While section marks the first of 10 plagues, note that the word plague is used only in Ex 9:14, Ex 11:1 and Ex 12:13. Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water - Moses and Aaron receive a simple, clear command from God - GO!. This one involves timing (must occur in the morning), so immediate obedience is required. Do we realize that when God tells us to do something, delay is not only disobedience but may even be "disaster" in that we miss the "appointment" (or opportunity - cf Eph 5:16NET+) which God had intended or prepared for us to walk in (cf Eph 2:10+). Moses and Aaron were not to miss this special appointment, one which would set in play the most dramatic confrontation between good and evil in the entire Old Testament, really in all the history of the world! God grant us Your grace to not miss Your "pre-planned" appointments you have foreordained for each of us to walk in for Your glory (Mt 5:16+). In Jesus' Name. Amen. THOUGHT - What attribute of God is clearly portrayed in this passage? The Providence of God. Remember that even the English word gives us some sense of God providence For it is derived from the Latin providere which is composed of pro = beforehand + videre = to see, which gives us a good picture of the meaning of providence - God sees beforehand! Obviously when applied to God, providence is closely related to God's omniscience (He sees all and knows all at all times). The distinction is that in His Providence, God not only sees but does! In other words, God provides for the future which He alone can see! This transcendent truth will (or should) provide comfort to His children. However, the doctrine of divine providence might arouse anger or even frighten you, depending on what you believe about God the Father and Jesus His Son. Although theologians wax long and eloquent on this topic, in simple terms, the pivotal questions are "Is God able?" and "Do I believe?" In the morning - Moses had three morning meetings with Pharaoh - (1) Ex 7:15+ to warn of first plague against the Nile River, (2) Ex 8:20+ to warn of fourth plague of swarms of insects and (3) Ex 9:13+ apparently in the palace where Moses gives a long warning to Pharaoh and announces the sixth plague, heavy hail (Ex 9:18+). Mattoon - One reason why the Pharaoh may have been at the river was to worship it. The Nile River was worshiped as a god. It represented the chief god of Egypt. Hapi or Apis, the bull god, was the god of the Nile. Isis was the goddess of the Nile. Khnum was the ram god and was the guardian of the Nile. The Nile River was considered as the body and blood of Osiris himself. The yearly flooding symbolized the miraculous rebirth of Osiris, god of earth and vegetation according to the Egyptians. J Ligon Duncan emphasizes the parallel with Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses at the Nile and now Moses encountering Pharaoh on the Nile ("What goes around comes around!") - We don’t know exactly why Pharaoh was there. It’s a little surprising to find Pharaoh at the banks of the Nile, but perhaps there was some sort of morning ritual connected with the religion that circled around the Nile. The Nile was considered divine, and perhaps Pharaoh was out participating in this ritual. But the fact that Moses meets Pharaoh there is extremely important. Remember that once upon a time the daughter of Pharaoh had met Moses on the banks of the Nile, and her actions would forever change the future of the life of Moses. Now, Moses meets Pharaoh on the banks of the Nile, and his actions will not only forever change the life of Pharaoh, but of Pharaoh’s household. The language here deliberately mirrors the language of Exodus 2:3-9+, when Pharaoh’s daughter meets Moses and discovers him and draws him out of the water on the banks of the Nile. John Currid comments "The text does not tell us why Pharaoh was going to the water in the morning, although that act seems to have been habitual (cf. 8:20). Perhaps he was merely going for a morning stroll, or maybe even using the Nile for a bath (cf. Ex 2:5). However, it may have been a daily ceremonial or ritual act to pay homage to the god of the Nile. The commencement of the plagues with the act of striking of the Nile waters, and the god personified in them, adds further support to this theological interpretation of Pharaoh’s activity. The language of this verse is reminiscent of Exodus 2:3–4. In that episode, Moses’ sister ‘stood along the bank of the Nile’ to see what would happen to the child that had been placed in the basket. The reason for the literary parallel is to point out that both scenes serve as the moment of ‘incipient redemption’. In the first episode Moses is soon to be delivered from death; in the second the entire nation of Israel is about to be redeemed out of Egypt, the land of death." (Ibid) And station yourself to meet him on the bank of the Nile - The implication of station yourself is that they are in place (waiting) before the Pharaoh arrives. Moses and Aaron were walking fully by faith and not by sight! And indeed their faith was now walking! Faith is an "action verb" for true, saving faith always acts! Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone!