February 1 - Exodus 7-9: Pharaoh Does Not Change

Today’s Reading: Exodus 7-9

The Message 

English Standard Version

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Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is proving his power and ability to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses returned to Pharaoh to prove God's sovereignty.
Aaron's rod became a snake. So did the Egyptian magicians' rods and Pharaoh did not change.
God turned the Nile River into blood. The magicians did the same. Pharaoh did not change.
God brought many frogs. The magicians could not compete. Pharaoh wavered but did not change.
God brought gnats. Pharaoh did not change.
God brought flies. Pharaoh did not change.
God killed Egyptian livestock. Pharaoh did not change.
God gave Egyptians boils. Pharaoh did not change.
God rained hail. Pharaoh did not change.
None of the plagues affected the Israelites.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God presents Himself as the creator who will be respected.

One day after presenting Himself as "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," God has changed His introduction. He is the Creator of the universe and all must respect Him. This is because the Egyptians have no Promise with God. Their relationship comes secondhand through Joseph and Jacob's family. God presents Himself in the way the people know Him.

God's show of power is explicit: to show the Egyptians that He is God.

All of the plagues come for one reason. God will show the Egyptians that He is the Creator of the universe and that He will be respected. Every time Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to obey, God punishes the Egyptian people more. Remember, whether Pharaoh is to blame for this or not is not the purpose of the text. Showing God's power is the purpose of the text. God's punishment is to convince others to respect Him, not to destroy a nation or people. This is seen in the next point.

Some of the Egyptian people respected God and were spared.

By the time God brought hail to the people, some of the Egyptians respected God and sheltered their herds. God did not destroy them. All who respect God will be saved.

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