Exodus 7:7 - 14:28

Pharaoh was the title of the Kings of Egypt. The title showed the person on the throne as a representative of the sun god Ra. The Pharaoh we are to consider is the Pharaoh of the Exodus. His identity is unknown. Many state he was Rameses 11 but the Bible shows a much earlier Exodus than his reign of 1301 - 1234 BC. 1 Kings 6:1 indicates a dating of c. 1450 BC which indicates Amenhotep II as the Pharaoh of the Exodus. Study of Acts 13:18-21, however, gives a date of c. 1530 BC. (See Chronology, Topic 33, Book 1). The Pharaoh of the Exodus is shown to be superstitious and unstable, moving rapidly from right to wrong as he desired. He expected his own magicians to copy the miracle plagues of Moses and Aaron. He was ready to promise a course of conduct that only ended when he and his army were destroyed in the Red Sea. Pharaoh, the world's most powerful ruler of his time, was confronted by a man, sent by God, who had spent 40 years tending sheep on the backside of the desert. Ten plagues were performed by Moses to bring pressure on Pharaoh. Pharaoh, however, resisted God's power; eventually losing his life pursuing the children of Israel.

a) Exodus 7:7-13. The Lord tells Aaron through Moses to change his rod into a snake. Pharaoh orders his magicians to do the same. Aaron's snake swallows the magicians' snakes. Pharaoh's heart hardened (verse 13).

b) Exodus 7:14-25. The Nile was an idol river: it's water worshipped as life-giving. The first plague turned these waters into blood. God humiliated the Nile god. Pharaoh's heart was hardened (verse 22).

c) Exodus 8:1-15. Hekt, the goddess with the frog's head, was exposed when the land brought forth frogs through both Aaron and the Egyptian magicians. Pharaoh hardened his heart (verse 15).

d) Exodus 8:16-19. This plague was directed against Seb, the earth god. The magicians fail and say that it is God's work (verse 19). Pharaoh's heart was hardened (verse 19).

e) Exodus 8:20-32. The flies probably were the scarab beetles, being against Scarabaeus the sacred beetle. Having compromised, Pharaoh hardened his heart (verse 32).

f) Exodus 9:1-7. The death of the Egyptian cattle was directed towards Apis, the sacred Egyptian bull. The Jewish cattle were preserved. The heart of Pharaoh was hardened (verse 7).

g) Exodus 9:8-12. The affliction of boils was a judgment against Neit, the goddess of health. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart (verse 12).

h) Exodus 9:13-35. Hail and fire were judgments against Shu, the god of the atmosphere. Pharaoh's heart was hardened (verse 35).

i) Exodus 10:1-20. The Egyptians worshipped Serapia, the god of locusts. God sent a plague of locusts. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart (verse 1,20).

j) Exodus 10:21-29. The ninth plague, a supernatural darkness, showed how impotent Ra, the sun god was. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart (verse 27).

k) Exodus 11:1 - 12:36. The son of Pharaoh was the representative of the god-man. When the crown prince died, Pharaoh allowed the children of Israel to go.

a) God will not tolerate other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3).

b) Pharaoh at the start of the plague hardened his heart but eventually God hardened his heart (Romans 9-17,18).

c) Man's negative actions, if perpetuated long enough in spiritual matters, can result in the inability of that person to believe in Christ (Revelation 14:9-11; Hebrews 4:1-3).

d) God can use unbelievers to show His glory (Romans 9:17).

e) Miracles performed in God's power can be duplicated in some cases by people using Satan's power (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

f) Behind a Christian - non-Christian conflict is a spiritual conflict. The Christian walk is fought in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

g) Negative attitudes towards God are disastrous individually and nationally (Isaiah 57:21).