The Confrontation

God At WAR

Text:

Exodus 5:1–7:7

Big Idea:

God exposes and defeats all false powers—ancient or modern—demonstrating that He alone is sovereign.

Theme:

God challenges Pharaoh’s power and Egypt’s gods.

I. The Clash of Powers

I have a question: Who do you think you are?

Not long ago, I was stuck in one of those never-ending construction zones—the kind where you can’t see where the work begins or ends, just miles of cones, dust, and delay. At the center of it all stood one man. He wore a bright orange vest, dark sunglasses, and held a large handheld sign: 'STOP' on one side, 'SLOW' on the other. No crew around him. No equipment in motion. Just him—planting his feet in the middle of the road like he was Moses parting traffic.

And the thing is—he really looked like he believed he was in charge. He held that sign not like a tool but like a scepter. His posture, his pace, the way he ignored impatient drivers... it was clear: in his mind, he wasn’t just doing traffic control—he was traffic control. And because he believed it so confidently, everyone else acted accordingly. Cars stopped. Engines idled. Nobody moved unless he gave the signal. His authority existed only because he believed it did—and because others bought into it.

It struck me how perception can shape reality—at least for a moment. He wasn’t the one who drew the plans. He didn’t authorize the project. He wasn’t the engineer, the contractor, or the boss. But in that space, he carried himself like he owned the road.

Bridge to Pharaoh:

That’s Pharaoh in Exodus 5 and 7. He’s not just sitting on the throne—he believes he built the throne. He’s not just holding the reins of empire—he thinks he holds the keys to heaven and earth. He sees himself not as a servant of higher power, but as the highest power. And for a while, people believe it. His delusion drives policy. It shapes how he treats others. It even determines who lives and who dies.

But Pharaoh, like our sign-holder, is standing on ground he didn’t make, holding authority that doesn’t ultimately belong to him. He can wave the ‘STOP’ sign all he wants, but when the real Boss shows up—when the Sovereign God of Israel steps onto the site—the delusion begins to crack. Who does Pharaoh think he is?

The cone-frontation is coming. Pharaoh’s illusion of power is about to collide with the God who is power. And the question then—and now—is simple: Who’s the boss? The guy holding the sign... or the God who laid the foundation of the earth?"

II. God’s Sovereign Demand (Exodus 5:1–2)

In the previous chapter Moses and Aaron are received well by the Israelites, there is enthusiasm and faith for what might take place. But in this section between chapters 5 and 7 things go sideways pretty quick.

Moses delivers the command from God to Pharaoh “Let my people go…” – Not a suggestion but a command from the Sovereign Lord. The LORD in classic messenger style does not seek to negotiate nor establish a political relationship in anyway but orders the sovereign leader of Egypt to release the Israelites that they may go and worship their God, the true God of the universe in the wilderness. Thus, rejecting the Pharaoh’s claim over the community.(NBBC pg. 88)

Pharaoh enslaving Israel, God’s chosen people is the equivalent of “stealing from God”

This initiation anticipates a looming conflict. God is going to fight for his people.

God is a jealous God. Exodus 20:5, God is not envious of what he does not have and is not rightfully his, so this jealousness is not the “sin” we understand of jealousy but rather the Israelites are God’s sacred possession and their worship belongs to God alone as well as their security.

Therefore Pharaoh is to relinquish all claims over the Israelite people. He must submit to God.

Rising action as Pharaoh responds: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” Pharaoh sees himself has equal to or above.

Pharaoh, the “god of Egypt” responds as we might expect, the sovereign god of Egypt will not submit to “the God of the slaves” No one gives him orders and he does not acknowledge any claim by any deity claimed by the people “he owns” and exploits for his service. Pharaoh sees only himself as the final ultimate authority.

Pharaoh insists on Yahweh yielding to him. Who does he think he is?

Transition: Pharaoh is a real character in history engaged in a real event. “Archeological discoveries affirm many of the named actions described in The Bible. Bricks made with straw, ancient Hebrew relics found in northern Egypt around Goshen, religious festivals honoring deities, and work quota for slaves all give credence to an actual event that took place in real history. Because Pharaoh is not some antagonist of a story but is the archetype of the state of humanity.

Point: Pharaoh’s heart reflects the human heart in rebellion against God’s authority. We reach back to Genesis 3, and have the contrast of rebellion and surrender.

Pharaoh does not only rebel against God but hold contempt against God.

Application: Many today still ask, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey Him?”

Cross Reference: Psalm 2 – “Why do the nations rage…?”

Truth: God's authority is not up for debate.

III. God Exposes False Powers (Exodus 5:3–23)

Transition: The result of Moses and Aaron are not fruitful for the Israelites, in fact a negative result is incurred.

Pharaoh blames Moses and Aaron as intent on slowing down or stopping Egypt’s economy thus weakening his empire and his reign. They are now a threat to national security. Commerce must be first over all.

Pharaoh increases Israel's oppression—his power seems secure.

But this moment reveals a crucial truth: Power without righteousness is tyranny. Pharaoh accuses Moses and Aaron of spreading lies! Pharaoh is seeking to undermine and derail God’s purpose in favor of himself.

Modern Application:

False gods offer power, but not peace.

What are the false “gods” that seem powerful today? They don’t have temples or altars, but they demand our loyalty just the same—success, control, wealth, political power, personal identity, and celebrity status. These are the forces that promise meaning, power, and security—but cannot deliver peace.

One of the clearest examples is commerce itself. In past generations, business often paused to make space for religious observance—stores closed on Sundays, schools honored sacred holidays, time was made for worship. Today, commerce is king. The economy doesn’t stop for anything sacred. Religious conviction must now fit into the margins, if at all.

And behind that commercial engine are the modern Pharaohs—those who control production, labor, and wealth. Think about how products are made in countries like China, Vietnam, or regions of Africa and South America, where workers are paid cents on the dollar, labor in unsafe conditions, and have no voice. Many of the companies we rely on exploit these systems to keep prices low and profits high. Human rights abuses, child labor, and forced silence are often part of the deal.

These powerful systems and people act like gods. They set the rules. They decide what life is worth. They crush those who get in the way. Like Pharaoh, they believe they are the center of the story. But just like in Exodus, there is a cone-frontation coming. There is only one true God. And He sees the bricks... and hears the cries.

IV. God Prepares His Deliverer (Exodus 6:1–13)

Moses and Aaron are dejected and complain to God about the backfire against the people. There was supposed to be a great positive movement but instead there came hardship, violence, and oppression.

Human hubris is often at odds with God’s plan of action. What we see as a common sense approach is not how God approaches. Just because we are working toward God’s justice and values does not mean that it is going to go well for us.

A Modern example: In the early 1990s, as tensions rose in Rwanda between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, Christian leaders—both local and international—warned of coming violence. They pleaded with the government and the UN to intervene, to pursue peace and prevent bloodshed. But like Pharaoh in Exodus, the authorities hardened their hearts. The Rwandan government rejected the calls for reconciliation. The UN even withdrew peacekeepers when they were most needed.

When the genocide broke out in 1994, over 800,000 people were murdered in just 100 days—many inside church buildings where they had sought refuge. Christian voices had spoken truth to power, but power refused to listen—and the cost was catastrophic. Like Moses many Christian leaders cried to God wondering why this took place.

Just because God demands does not mean humanity submits. When sin and evil are in the world people are faced with a choice. God is not the author of violence, injustice, and evil, humanity is fully capable of it on our own and with the enemy of God at work in the world he seeks to perfect human capacity for evil. Bonhoeffer said “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” What this means is We either die to ourselves and follow Him, or we reject and "kill" Christ by choosing our own way over His. We can not despair over what does not go the way with believe it should. Because God wins in the end. (Job’s complaint and God’s response) Job cries out to God to vindicate his suffering but God does not justify the Divine activity but simply declares Job’s in ability to question when and how God should act. In the face of complaint God declares who He is.

How does God respond to Moses and Aaron in their complaint?

God reaffirms His covenant name—“I am the Lord” (YHWH)—to Moses.

He promises to act: “I will bring you out… I will deliver you… I will redeem you… I will take you as My own people…”

Moses is discouraged, but God reminds him: It’s not about your ability, but My sovereignty.

Application: God uses weak vessels to confront powerful lies.

Encouragement for us: Don’t let opposition silence your obedience.

V. God Begins the Showdown (Exodus 7:1–7)

God turns Aaron into a mouthpiece and Moses into a sign.

He tells them Pharaoh’s heart will be hard so that God may multiply His signs and wonders.

This is not just a political conflict—it is spiritual warfare.

Theological Point: God is not one of many gods—He is the Only God.

Isaiah 45:5–6 – “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

VI. Gospel Connection: Jesus and the Greater Victory

Just as Yahweh confronted Pharaoh, Jesus confronted and disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.

Colossians 2:15 – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.”

On the cross, Jesus defeated sin, death, and every false god of our age.

Gospel Implication: You don’t have to live under oppression—Jesus sets captives free.

VII. Application: Modern "Gods" God Challenges

Question for reflection and small group:

What are the "Pharaohs" and false gods in our world today that God is exposing?

Consumerism, comfort, control, pride, politics, even religious legalism.

Call to action:

Trust in the true God. Let Him dethrone the idols in your life.

1 John 5:21 – “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

VIII. Conclusion: God Alone Is Sovereign

When God acts, no one can stop Him. He will make Himself known. No room for rivals. (You shall have no other gods before me Ex. 20:3)

Don’t fear the powers of this world—fear the One who reigns over all.

God is not just challenging the gods—He is replacing them with Himself.

Worship Response:

“We worship You alone, Sovereign Lord, over all powers and principalities.”

Exodus is not constrained to liberation but the ultimate Ultimatum in which God will upend everything the Egyptians believe to be true.

Optional Closing Illustration:

A missionary in a foreign land once said, “The people feared the spirits of the trees, the rivers, and their ancestors—until they heard the name of Jesus. Then the fear was replaced with joy.”

Pharaoh claims divinity and absolute authority; Yahweh sends Moses as His prophet, demanding, “Let my people go, that they may worship me” (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh asks defiantly, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him?” (Exodus 5:2). This is not ignorance—it is a challenge to Yahweh’s sovereignty. The Plagues as a Power Encounter Each plague in Exodus is a polemic against Egyptian gods and Pharaoh’s supposed divine control: