Ex. 5:1-9,19-6:9; 7:3-5, What’s Going On Here?

Moses returned to Egypt, and met with the people and the elders of Israel (4:27-31).  He told them the LORD’s plan, performed the signs, and the people “believed” and “bowed their heads and worshiped” at the news that God was concerned with their affliction.  Good start.

Then Moses went to meet with Pharaoh for the first time, telling him that YAHWEH, the God of Israel, wants them to worship Him at a feast in the wilderness.  Moses makes the LORD the issue.  It is the LORD who said, “Let My people go.”  Pharaoh also makes the LORD the issue by responding, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?”

The results of the first meeting were not good, as far as Moses and the people of Jacob are concerned.  Pharaoh accused the people of loafing, increased their load, and showed no mercy.  The further result was that the people became upset with Moses (v20-21), and Moses became upset with God (v22-23).

Why did God allow this to happen?  There are what I would call “lesser” answers to that question.  He did it to begin the work of purifying the people who were His treasured people.  He did it to reveal Israel’s heart (v21), and also to reveal Moses’ heart (v22).  This is the first of many intercessions and discussions between God and Moses.  As we said previously, the maturing of Moses is a major part of the story of the Exodus and the wilderness wanderings.

But the greatest reason God allowed this had to do with Pharaoh, for the hardening of his heart, for the ultimate purpose that God would receive great honor (Ex. 7:3).  God could have turned Pharaoh’s heart so that he would let them go have their feast, and then, once in the desert they could have made a run for it to Canaan.  But God had a much greater plan that, in the end would devastate Egypt, send Israel out with much riches, make for an eternal testimony to Israel of God’s power and love for them, and, above all, glorify YAHWEH the God of Israel to be the Most High God above all gods!

You may be aware that Exodus tells us that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and that Pharaoh also hardened his own heart.  We will talk about this more, but for today we just want to define four terms used for “hardening.”

·       Heb. hazaq, used 9 of 12 times of God’s hardening.  It emphasizes the pressure that was exerted on Pharaoh.

·       Heb. kabed, used 5 of 6 times of Pharaoh’s hardening his heart.  It emphasizes the weight of a thing.

·       Greek skleruno, to render stubborn.  This is the term Paul used in Rom. 9:17-18 when he spoke of God’s hardening Pharaoh’s heart.

·       Greek poroo, to petrify.  This is used in Mark :52; 8:17 of the disciples.

Hardening of the heart is progressive, over a course of time, with repeated opportunities to respond, and the continued rejection resulting in “petrification.”