3And I will make Pharaoh’s heart hard, and multiply My signs and My wonders (miracles) in the land of Egypt. 4But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I shall lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts [like a defensive army, tribe by tribe], My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment (the plagues). 5The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” Exodus 7:3-5 AMP
As we continue to assess the journey of Moses in regards to God’s directives and promises to him, I want to venture into a personal conversation between he and God after his first conversation with Pharaoh that resulted in increased labor for the Israelites. Here we see God give greater insight to Moses into what actually lay ahead in the “negotiations” with Pharaoh for the Israelites.
We must actually “LISTEN” and comprehend to the best of our ability to what God says and/or reveals to us in our encounters/conversations with him. Doing this will help us to manage our expectations and limit Satan’s ability to deceive us or twist God’s original word/promise. In verse 3 God informs Moses that he will make Pharaoh’s heart hard, I think we must pause here so that you understand what this actually means; God did not “make” Pharaoh’s heart hard in that he made Pharaoh hate him, what God did was expose Pharaoh’s heart. Pharaoh saw himself as a god, and the giver of good things for Egyptians, much like a supreme ruler. He considered himself equal to the other gods that Egyptians worshipped and was even considered a deity among his people, so Moses arriving and saying that his God was demanding that his people be released, it would be received as a threat and challenge by Pharaoh. God hardening Pharaoh’s heart was related to him openly and defiantly challenging Pharaoh’s ability to continue to hold his people in bondage. God knew that Pharaoh out of pride would resist Moses’ requests, so he was prepared to perform a number of miracles in the presence of Pharaoh and all of Egypt that he knew no level of sorcery or deception could duplicate or outperform. God had already decided that he would defeat not only Pharaoh but the thoughts and beliefs of Egyptians to prove himself to them, AND to his own people who had not experienced him for over 400 years.
You may have read that paragraph and asked, “what has that got to do with Moses?” The verses above are important because God is informing Moses that he should expect things to get tougher before they get better for him and the Israelites. God is confirming several things before they even occur:
- Pharaoh’s heart will become harder, and therefore his actions will become more hateful and resistant. Moses and the Israelites will suffer as a result of Pharaoh’s stubbornness, but God is already prepared to perform signs and miracles that will confirm his authority, and defeat Pharaoh.
- The Israelites AND Moses will survive this ordeal. The fact that God is saying that they will march out of Egypt is confirmation that they will survive and see the power of God displayed. They will experience victory in that situation which is something that they had not experienced in their lives or in many generations before them.
- The Egyptians and Pharaoh will know that Israelites are God’s chosen people when they see them leave Egypt at the conclusion of God’s acts.
It is important that Moses remembers these verses in his later encounters and what may have felt like defeats at the hand of Pharaoh and his sorcerers. If Moses listened to and believed God’s words then he would be prepared for what occurred later because he had been forewarned that there would be difficulties and opposition, BUT victory was certain.
Reflection Time
Have you ever been “surprised” by something that God had already told you would occur? Do you think that God ever arranges for people to hate him, or not accept him? Is it possible for people with “hard” hearts to return to God? If so, how? Is it enough for you to know that God will give you the victory, or do you need for everything to also go smoothly in the midst of the journey?
