How difficult is it to come out of the devil’s iron grip on our lives? Is it similar to overcoming substance abuse, pornography, out of control gambling, or some other addiction? Is sin therefore also slavery to an addiction? Let’s look at Exodus 7.
What assignments did God give Moses and Aaron?
So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. (Exodus 7:1-2 NKJV)
What was God’s purpose for Pharaoh and the people of Egypt?
But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 7:3-5 NLT)
Did the brothers obey God? How old were the two brothers Moses and Aaron?
Moses and Aaron did so. As Yahweh commanded them, so they did. Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:6-7 WEB)
Did a miraculous sign change Pharaoh’s stubborn heart?
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Do one of your amazing acts,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your shepherd’s rod and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will turn into a cobra.’” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw down his shepherd’s rod in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it turned into a cobra. Then Pharaoh called together his wise men and wizards, and Egypt’s religious experts did the same thing by using their secret knowledge. Each one threw down his rod, and they turned into cobras. But then Aaron’s rod swallowed up each of their rods. However, Pharaoh remained stubborn. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:8-13 CEB)
Did God have an even more impressive sign to show Pharaoh?
The Lord said to Moses: The Egyptian king stubbornly refuses to change his mind and let the people go. Tomorrow morning take the stick that turned into a snake, then wait beside the Nile River for the king. Tell him, “The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to order you to release his people, so they can worship him in the desert. But until now, you have paid no attention. “The Lord is going to do something to show you that he really is the Lord. I will strike the Nile with this stick, and the water will turn into blood. The fish will die, the river will stink, and none of you Egyptians will be able to drink the water.” Moses, then command Aaron to hold his stick over the water. And when he does, every drop of water in Egypt will turn into blood, including rivers, canals, ponds, and even the water in buckets and jars. (Exodus 7:14-19 CEV)
Did this first plague change Pharaoh’s stubborn heart?
Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. (Exodus 7:20-24 ESV)
How long was the interval between this and the next event?
Seven days passed after the Lord struck the Nile. (Exodus 7:25 HCSB)
How difficult is it to come out of the devil’s iron grip on our lives? Is it similar to overcoming substance abuse, pornography, out of control gambling, or some other addiction? Is sin therefore also slavery to an addiction? You decide!
