Exodus 7 Commentary
The initial demand that Pharaoh releases Israel was treated with contempt and ridicule. Now the LORD will make it impossible for Pharaoh to believe so that a full picture is unpacked before the human race. Verse 3.
The LORD God began by showing Himself to Moses. Moses saw and believed. Then the elders of Israel saw and believed. Now the world of Pharaoh has to see. It won’t just be a couple of signs but a full package to leave everyone without an excuse for not believing.
The LORD commissions Aaron as Moses’ prophet in function. Is there a better description of a prophet or indeed of prophecy itself beyond these sacred words from the mouth of the LORD? A prophet gets word from God and delivers it to the people.
We would look at the miracle of ‘staff into a snake’ as a demonstration of superiority. The Pharaohs displayed their fierce superiority by adopting snake symbolism. Even the royal crown had a cobra prominently positioned in front. The LORD tells us that what Aaron has in his hand is superior. There is a higher power – a power higher than the Pharaoh.
Next, the LORD instructs Moses to turn the Nile into blood. The miracle is duplicated by the magicians which makes Pharaoh’s heart harder.
The LORD deliberately enters into a mini-race with the magicians, allowing them to rival a couple of signs. The miracle of ‘Nile into blood’ is duplicated perhaps to encourage the opposition. They should fully unpack their potential so that men don’t have any lingering doubts about disused potential, albeit useless potential.
It appears the LORD is loving this contest!
“But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts.” Verse 11 and 22. The world of “secret arts” is real. They can do physical things in a physical world. The world of God’s power is also real. These two powers exist and affect human activities in time and space.
But the differences are clear. The secret arts are available at man’s disposal. The power of God remains God’s power and the LORD directs it at His discretion. Moses is merely a mouthpiece. Take heed mortals, any power that man appears to initiate and control isn’t God’s power!
Pharaoh doesn’t have the power; neither do magicians. The power is in the “secret arts” – the power is satan’s power but he is not mentioned here. He is the master behind the secret arts. The magicians have subscribed to the system and can use it at will. Pharaoh can command it through the magicians who are under his payroll. Thus, an evil structure or system is created.
On the other hand, the power of the LORD God is based on obedience and Moses must repeat the instructions of the LORD God through Aaron. They are nothing without the word or the instructions of the LORD God.
In the holy script, the prophets of the LORD God would appear to initiate or control God’s power but hidden behind is the word or the instruction of the LORD God. The word of the LORD God or simply the Word or the Spirit defines the power of the LORD God.
Depending on the context or timing, we shall encounter the terms, “the word of the LORD”, “the Spirit of the LORD”, or simply the “Word” or “Spirit” as we journey through the holy script. The term “Word” will have an added value in the New Testament but it’s the same thing and very interesting, nevertheless!
More resources visit http://www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 