1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
16 And thou shalt say unto him, 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.
17 Thus saith the LORD, 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.
18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.
19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.
Exodus Chapter 7 is a pivotal chapter in the biblical book of Exodus. It marks the beginning of the conflict between Moses, the leader of the Israelites, and Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. This chapter introduces the ten plagues that God will send upon Egypt in order to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. The main themes of this chapter include the power of God, the stubbornness of Pharaoh, and the importance of obedience to God's will. Through the story of the plagues, Exodus Chapter 7 teaches us about God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy, and the consequences of disobedience.
In the previous chapters of Exodus, we learn about the life of Moses and his encounter with God at the burning bush. God commands Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he lets the Israelites, who have been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, go free. Moses is hesitant and doubtful, but God assures him that He will be with him and will perform miraculous signs to convince Pharaoh. In Chapter 7, God tells Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart and that Pharaoh will not listen to Moses's demands. This sets the stage for the events that will unfold in this chapter.
God instructs Moses and his brother Aaron to go to Pharaoh and perform a sign to prove that they are sent by God. They are to turn Aaron's staff into a serpent. However, the Egyptian priests, by using their secret arts, are able to replicate this miracle. This first encounter between Moses and Pharaoh sets the tone for the rest of the chapter. It shows that Pharaoh is not willing to let the Israelites go, and he is not easily convinced by miraculous signs.
After the initial confrontation with Pharaoh, God commands Moses to go to the Nile River and strike the water with his staff. The water turns to blood, and all the fish die, causing a foul smell and making the water undrinkable. This is the first of the ten plagues that God will send upon Egypt. The Nile River was a source of life for the Egyptians, and this plague would have been a significant blow to their economy and daily life. Despite this, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he refuses to let the Israelites go.
The second plague that God sends upon Egypt is a plague of frogs. The frogs cover the land, and they even enter the homes of the Egyptians. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Heket, who was believed to be the goddess of fertility, water, and childbirth. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is a clear message to Pharaoh that the God of the Israelites is the one true God. However, even though Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to God to remove the frogs, he still does not let the Israelites go.
The third plague is a plague of gnats or lice, depending on the translation. These tiny insects cover the land and cause great discomfort and irritation to the Egyptians. This plague is significant because it is the first time that the Egyptian magicians are unable to replicate the miracle. They acknowledge that this is the work of God, but Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still does not let the Israelites go.
The fourth plague is a plague of flies. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Khepri, who was believed to be the god of creation and rebirth, represented by the scarab beetle. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is another clear message to Pharaoh that the God of the Israelites is the one true God. Despite this, Pharaoh still refuses to let the Israelites go.
The fifth plague is a plague of livestock disease. All the livestock in Egypt, including horses, donkeys, camels, and cattle, are struck with a disease and die. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Apis, who was believed to be the god of fertility and the protector of animals. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is another attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still does not let the Israelites go.
The sixth plague is a plague of boils. This plague affects both the Egyptians and the livestock that survived the previous plague. The boils are painful and cause great suffering. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Imhotep, who was believed to be the god of medicine and healing. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is another attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still does not let the Israelites go.
The seventh plague is a plague of hail. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Nut, who was believed to be the goddess of the sky and the protector of crops. The hail destroys the crops and kills any remaining livestock, causing further damage to the Egyptian economy. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is another attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still does not let the Israelites go.
The eighth plague is a plague of locusts. These insects cover the land and eat all the remaining crops, causing a famine in the land. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Seth, who was believed to be the god of storms and chaos. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is another attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still does not let the Israelites go.
The ninth plague is a plague of darkness. For three days, the entire land of Egypt is covered in thick darkness, so dark that the Egyptians cannot see each other or move from their homes. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Ra, who was believed to be the god of the sun. This plague shows God's power over the false gods of Egypt and is another attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still does not let the Israelites go.
The tenth and final plague is the most severe and devastating of all. God tells Moses that He will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the prisoners, and even the firstborn of the livestock. This plague is a direct attack on the Egyptian god Osiris, who was believed to be the god of the underworld and the judge of the dead. This plague shows God's ultimate power over life and death and is the final attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
The plagues of Egypt serve as a powerful demonstration of God's power and sovereignty. They show that He is in control of all creation and that He is not to be underestimated or challenged. The plagues also reveal God's justice and judgment upon the Egyptians for their oppression and mistreatment of the Israelites. Through the plagues, God shows that He is the one true God, and all other gods are powerless and false.
Another important theme in this chapter is the stubbornness of Pharaoh. Despite witnessing the powerful signs and plagues of God, Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go. His hardened heart represents the stubbornness and pride of humanity in the face of God's power and will. Pharaoh's refusal to obey God's commands ultimately leads to his downfall and the destruction of Egypt.
Through the story of the plagues, Exodus Chapter 7 teaches us about the importance of obedience to God. The plagues serve as a warning to Pharaoh and all people that disobedience to God's will has consequences. The Israelites, on the other hand, are obedient to God's commands, and they are spared from the plagues. This teaches us that obedience to God leads to blessings and protection, while disobedience leads to destruction.
In conclusion, Exodus Chapter 7 is a crucial chapter in the biblical book of Exodus. It introduces the ten plagues that God sends upon Egypt to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Through these plagues, God demonstrates His power, sovereignty, and justice. The plagues also reveal the stubbornness of Pharaoh and the importance of obedience to God's will. The story of the plagues teaches us about the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of obedience. Ultimately, Exodus Chapter 7 reminds us that God is in control, and His will shall prevail.
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