When Power Meets Pride: The Call to Submit

Bible Passage: Exodus 6:2-9:35

Summary: In this passage, God reassures Moses of His promises and sends him to confront Pharaoh. Despite God's powerful signs through Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened by his pride and the magicians mimic God's miracles, yet they lack genuine divine authority. As God continues to inflict plagues upon Egypt, Pharaoh remains obstinate, illustrating the struggle between divine sovereignty and human rebellion.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that while God displays His power and authority, human pride can lead to a refusal to acknowledge Him. It emphasizes that God's signs are meant to lead us to repentance and faith, warning against the spiritual blindness that resists His truth.

Big Idea: God’s signs may be resisted by pride and blindness, but His power ultimately prevails, calling us to humility and recognition of His authority in our lives.

1. Promises Proclaimed with Power

Exodus 6:2-13

2. The people and Their Fathers

Exodus 6:14-30

3. Pride Blocks Perception

Exodus 7:1-13

4. Plagues Prompt Reflection

Exodus 7:14-8:19

5. Persistent Plagues, Persistent Pride

Exodus 8:20-9:12

6. Powerful Plagues, Ultimate Purpose

Exodus 9:13-35

In Exodus 6:2-13, God begins by proclaiming His identity to Moses, saying, “I am the LORD (YHWH).” He reminds Moses that He appeared to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—as El Shaddai (God Almighty), but did not reveal Himself to them fully by His name, YHWH. This signifies that while the patriarchs knew and trusted God’s promises, they did not see the complete fulfillment of those promises in their lifetimes. Now, through Moses, God is about to reveal Himself as YHWH, the covenant-keeping God who acts in history to redeem His people.

God’s proclamation highlights a significant contrast between the faith of the patriarchs and Moses’ recurring doubts. The patriarchs, though they faced immense challenges, did not question God’s plans in the way Moses does here. For instance, Abraham obeyed without hesitation when commanded to leave his homeland (Genesis 12:1-4) or to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-3), trusting God’s purpose without requiring detailed assurances. Similarly, Isaac and Jacob endured trials with faith in God’s covenant. By contrast, Moses repeatedly questions his own ability, the success of God’s plan, and even God’s choice of him as a leader. This portion also reinforces God’s covenantal relationship with Israel.

This passage introduces the “Four Expressions of Redemption”—a key theme in Jewish tradition that is deeply tied to Passover. These expressions are found in verses 6-7:

1. “I will bring you out” (from the burdens of Egypt).

2. “I will deliver you” (from their bondage).

3. “I will redeem you” (with an outstretched arm and great judgments).

4. “I will take you to be My people” (and be your God).

These four promises form the basis for the four cups of wine drunk during the Passover Seder, symbolizing liberation and God’s faithfulness. A fifth expression, “I will bring you into the land” (verse 8), is associated with the future fulfillment of God’s promises and is often symbolized by the Cup of Elijah, which anticipates ultimate redemption.

These promises emphasize God’s active role in fulfilling His covenant, contrasting with the patriarchs’ era, where the promises were more forward-looking. Now, the time has come for Israel to witness the fulfillment of God’s covenant firsthand.

God’s proclamation of His identity as the God of the patriarchs connects Moses and the Israelites to the unbroken chain of divine promises. However, the narrative reveals a stark difference between the unquestioning faith of the patriarchs and Moses’ persistent doubts. While the patriarchs trusted God’s promises even without seeing their fulfillment, Moses struggles to trust fully despite direct encounters with God. This highlights Moses’ humanity and sets the stage for his growth into the leader who will shepherd Israel through their redemption.

In Exodus 6:14-30, the genealogy of Moses and Aaron is recorded, tracing their lineage through the tribe of Levi and establishing their legitimacy as leaders of Israel. This genealogy situates Moses and Aaron within the larger covenantal history of the Jewish people, linking them to the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From a Jewish theological perspective, genealogies are crucial because they affirm continuity, covenant identity, and divine purpose.

Importance of Genealogies in Jewish Thought:

1. Covenantal Identity: The genealogy underscores that Moses and Aaron are not outsiders but part of the covenantal family of Israel. As descendants of Levi, they belong to the tribe destined for priestly service and spiritual leadership, aligning their roles with God’s plan for Israel.

2. Connection to the Patriarchs: By linking Moses and Aaron back to Jacob’s sons, the text affirms that their mission to deliver Israel is a direct fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs. This grounding in ancestry reinforces the legitimacy of their divine calling.

3. Divine Order and Structure: Jewish tradition sees genealogies as a means of demonstrating God’s intentionality in choosing leaders. The listing of names, including significant figures like Levi’s sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, highlights the structured unfolding of God’s plan for Israel’s redemption.

4. Humanizing the Leaders: The genealogy situates Moses and Aaron within the broader community of Israel, emphasizing their humanity. They are not superhuman or detached figures; they come from the same lineage as those they are called to lead, reinforcing the idea that God uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary purposes.

The genealogy is framed within the narrative of Moses’ reluctance and God’s reassurance of His covenant. After listing the generations leading to Moses and Aaron, the text reaffirms their role as the ones chosen to speak to Pharaoh on behalf of God. Despite Moses’ doubts about his ability to lead and his repeated protests about his “uncircumcised lips,” the genealogy establishes that his authority is rooted in his place within the covenantal family.

From a Jewish theological perspective, this genealogy is more than a historical record; it is a testament to the continuity of God’s covenantal relationship with Israel. It reinforces Moses and Aaron’s divine appointment and legitimacy while emphasizing that their mission is part of God’s broader plan to fulfill His promises to the patriarchs. By connecting the present to the past, the genealogy reminds the Jewish people of their collective identity as God’s chosen people and their shared destiny in His redemptive work.

In Exodus 7:1-13, God tells Moses that He has made him “like God” to Pharaoh, and Aaron will serve as his prophet. This means that Moses and Aaron are to act as God’s representatives in confronting Pharaoh, delivering divine messages and performing signs to demonstrate God’s power. The first sign Moses and Aaron perform is turning Aaron’s staff into a serpent, a miraculous act that Pharaoh’s magicians replicate by using their own secret arts. However, Aaron’s serpent swallows the serpents of the magicians, symbolizing the superiority of God’s power over Pharaoh’s magic and the gods of Egypt.

Despite this miraculous sign, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, and he refuses to listen to Moses and Aaron. This refusal reflects Pharaoh’s identity as both a ruler and a “god-man,” a figure who believed his own power and divine status surpassed that of any foreign deity. In Egyptian theology, Pharaoh was considered a divine figure, so he dismisses the signs of the God of Israel as insignificant, seeing them as mere tricks or challenges to his own authority.

This passage highlights the deep tension between the power of God, represented by Moses and Aaron, and Pharaoh’s hardened heart. Despite overwhelming signs of divine authority, Pharaoh’s pride and self-perceived divinity keep him from yielding, setting the stage for further confrontations and the eventual plagues. It underscores the idea that even the most powerful human figures are ultimately powerless in the face of God’s will.

In Exodus 7:14-8:19, God sends a series of plagues to demonstrate His supremacy over the Egyptian gods, showing their impotence in the face of His power.

1. Plague of Blood (Exodus 7:14-24): God turns the Nile River into blood, challenging Hapi, the god of the Nile, who was thought to control the river’s fertility. The river becomes undrinkable, and the fish die, exposing Hapi’s inability to control the waters.

2. Plague of Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15): God sends a plague of frogs, overwhelming the land of Egypt. This afflicts the Egyptians and challenges Heket, the frog-headed goddess of fertility, who was believed to bring abundance and life. The frogs, symbols of fertility, become a curse, showing that Heket cannot protect the land or reverse the plague. Pharaoh’s magicians briefly replicate the plague but cannot stop it, highlighting their powerlessness.

3. Plague of Gnats (Exodus 8:16-19): God sends gnats (or lice) to afflict the Egyptians, attacking Seb, the god of the earth, who was believed to control the soil and its creatures. The magicians try but fail to replicate this plague, and in their frustration, they admit, “This is the finger of God.” They recognize that God, the Creator, is at work against them.

Despite these overwhelming signs of God’s power over the Egyptian deities, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened. He refuses to listen to Moses and Aaron, stubbornly rejecting the idea of Israel’s release. This passage highlights the futility of Egypt’s gods in comparison to the sovereignty of God, yet Pharaoh’s pride and resistance continue to thwart his acknowledgment of God’s authority.

In Exodus 8:20-9:12, God continues to demonstrate His power over Egypt’s gods through a series of plagues, showing their impotence in the face of His authority.

4. Plague of Flies (Exodus 8:20-32): God sends swarms of flies to afflict Egypt while sparing the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live. This plague challenges Khepri, the god of resurrection, represented by a scarab beetle, and Vatchi, the goddess of protection, who was believed to shield the people from harm. The swarming flies, causing great distress, expose these gods’ inability to protect the Egyptians.

5. Plague on Livestock (Exodus 9:1-7): God strikes down the Egyptian livestock with a deadly disease, killing their cattle, sheep, and horses, but sparing those of Israel. This plague directly challenges Apis, the bull god, revered for his strength and fertility. The destruction of Egypt’s valuable livestock reveals that Apis, like all the Egyptian gods, is powerless before God.

6. Plague of Boils (Exodus 9:8-12): God sends boils and sores upon the Egyptians, afflicting both people and animals. This plague targets Sekhmet, the goddess of epidemics and healing. Despite the Egyptians’ belief that she could bring health or destruction, she cannot protect them from God’s power. The magicians themselves are struck with boils, confirming the total failure of Egypt’s deities to intervene.

For the first time, Israel is spared from the plagues, highlighting God’s protection of His people. However, despite these powerful signs, God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, ensuring that he will continue to resist God’s command to let the Israelites go. This passage underscores the contrast between God’s omnipotence and Pharaoh’s obstinance, setting the stage for further confrontations and the eventual liberation of Israel.

7. Plague of Hail (Exodus 9:13-35) God sends a devastating plague of hail and fire upon Egypt, demonstrating His power over several Egyptian gods, including Nut (the sky goddess), Seth (the god of storms), and Shu (the god of the atmosphere). These gods were believed to have control over the elements and the weather, but they are powerless to stop the destruction that God brings. The hail, accompanied by fire, strikes down everything in the fields, destroying crops, livestock, and property, and showing that Egypt’s gods cannot protect their land or people from God’s judgment.

Pharaoh, realizing that he is being directly judged by the God of Israel, confesses his sin and acknowledges that he has been wrong in opposing God’s commands. He briefly attempts to negotiate with Moses, offering to let the Israelites go if the plague ceases. However, his repentance is superficial. Once the hail stops, Pharaoh’s heart hardens again, and he refuses to let Israel go, showing his deep-seated pride and resistance to doing what is right.

Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to humble himself and acknowledge God’s sovereignty reflects his ultimate pride and self-deification. He had proclaimed himself a god, mistreated the Israelites, and even ordered the killing of their children. God’s judgment was against him for these actions, and Pharaoh’s inability to repent fully underscores his stubbornness and pride. Despite the clear signs of God’s power and judgment, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened, setting the stage for the final confrontations to come.