The Great I Am Vs. Stone, Metal And Wood Series

February 22, 2025

Moses has lost all his confidence.

Pharaoh had said “NO!” then he increased Israel’s workload. Now the Israelites wanted Moses to just go away.

Despite Yahweh’s declaration, “I will redeem Israel,” Moses was still certain that Pharaoh would not listen to him.

Definitely a confidence problem….

So far, Pharaoh has maintained that he does not know this God of slaves.

Well, Yahweh is about to introduce himself ---- He will make himself known.

Exodus 7:5 – … “And the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it."

Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83.

Yahweh started off slowly.

“Go to Pharaoh and if he asks you for a miracle, throw your staff down and it will become a snake.”

Moses and Aaron did as commanded.

Pharaoh smirked. “Is that the best you can do?” (not in the Bible)

He summoned the state wisemen and sorcerers. They too threw down their staffs and they became snakes.

Aaron’s staff slithered over and ate the Egyptian’s staffs.

Instead of pausing to consider this turn of events, Pharaoh’s heart became hard – just as Yahweh had said it would.

It is my firm belief that Yahweh would have preferred the headline “Moses’s staff eats magicians’ staff - Pharaoh frees slaves!” but Pharaoh wanted to play, “My gods are bigger than your God” ---- so, let the games begin!

Yahweh turned up the wick

“Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding. Tomorrow morning, go to the Nile and wait for him. Say, ‘Yahweh said to you: let my people go, but you have not listened. By this you will know that I am Yahweh. With this staff I will strike the water of the Nile and it will change to blood. All the fish will die, the river will stink and your people will not be able to drink the water.’”

"Then tell Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the Nile -- over the streams and canals, ponds and reservoirs' - they will all turn to blood. Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden buckets and stone jars."

Moses and Aaron did as commanded. The Nile turned to blood, all the fish died and the river stank.

Through their secret arts, the magicians did the same thing and Pharaoh’s heart became hard – just as Yahweh had said it would.

Pharaoh turned on his heels and went home. Meanwhile the Egyptians dug wells for water.

The 1st plague was underway. Now is a good time to point out that the “signs and wonders” of Exodus 7:8-12:30 are far from random. This was not a political battle between Moses and Pharaoh. The very presence and activity of the court magicians, tells us that something more was going on – this was spiritual warfare. The battle was between the God of Israel and the gods of Egypt. Each plague targeted a specific god, goddess or set of deities and was intended to cause the Egyptians to re-evaluate their belief system and the gods they worshiped. The Egyptians will learn that their gods of stone, metal and wood are no match for the God of the Universe.

7 days went by…

Frogs

“Go to Pharaoh. Tell him if he refuses to let my people go, ‘I will plague the whole country with frogs – there will be frogs everywhere!’ Then stretch out your staff over the Nile and cause frogs to come up and cover the land.”

The magicians did the same thing through their magic arts – even more frogs – Yay!

Finally, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and asked them to pray to Yahweh to remove the frogs then he would let the people go and worship.

Moses talked to Yahweh. The frogs died (except in the river) and they were piled into heaps ---- the land reeked!

However…..

• Exodus 8:15 - When Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them - just as Yahweh had said.

Gnats

“Tell Aaron to strike the ground with his staff. The dust will become gnats throughout the land.”

Moses and Aaron did as commanded. Gnats covered both men and animals.

The Magicians tried to do the same, but this time they failed

• Exodus 8:19 - Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard, and he did not listen to them - just as the Yahweh had said.

Flies

“In the morning go to Pharaoh. Tell him if he does not let my people go, I will send flies on Egypt – but there will be no flies in Goshen. I am going to make a distinction between you and my people and you will know that I am Yahweh.”