Instructions to Prepare For The Final Plague

God had repeatedly warned the Egyptians what was coming.  When he warned them about the hail, some of them listened and some did not.  Many of the plagues did not hit the area where the Israelites lived so God had given them no special instructions.  The final plague would affect all the land, including Goshen.  As a result of it, God had said the Egyptians would almost drive them from Egypt.  He also knew that Pharaoh would change his mind within a few days, and that they needed to get out of Egypt as quickly as possible. 

He gave special instructions as to how they were to get ready for this plague, in Exodus 12:1-14.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.”

They were to kill a lamb that evening, and paint the blood on both sides of the door jamb and across the top of the house where they were going to eat.  They were to have everything packed and be ready to leave as soon as they were given permission.  The meat was to be roasted over the fire so there would be no need for pots, and it was to be served with unleavened bread and wild herbs they gathered so there would be no dishes to wash when they got done.  Any leftovers were to be burned rather than trying to carry them along.   If a family was too small to eat an entire lamb, they were free to go to another family’s home and share with them, but they had to remain in the home where they ate. 

This was crucial because that night God was going to send the death angel through the land in any house that did not have the blood on the door, the eldest son would die as well as all the firstborn of their livestock.   If the blood had been applied to the door jamb as specified the death angel would Passover without killing anyone.   As a result, the Egyptians would be desperate for them to leave.  They were to simply wait where they were until told to leave.    

In the future, Israel was to re-enact what they did that night as a reminder of what God had done in setting them  free.  It was to be done every year on that specific date., as Exodus 12:14-20 tells us.  “ And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.”

For the next seven days, they were to eat only unleavened bread  commemorating the seven days they would spend fleeing the Egyptians, when they would journey night and day, taking only a little time to mix up water and meal and cook it before going on.   Anyone who refused to keep the feast as specified was to be cut off or excommunicated from Israel.  On the first and last days of the feast there was to be a holy assembly of the entire nation, and during the feast there was to be no leaven allowed in their homes. 

No Matter What It Costs

Apparently, God didn’t even announce the next plague, simply sending it unexpectedly, in Exodus 10:21-23.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”  For three days, it was as dark as being in a deep cave, with absolutely no light.   With no stars or moon or sun, they had no way of telling time, and the artificial lighting available was not good enough to enable them to accomplish most things effectively.  It was like they had gone blind for three days.  Almost nothing got done. 

Pharaoh knew exactly what had happened, as Exodus 10:24 tells us, but he was still afraid they wouldn’t come back.  “And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.”  To ensure their return, he demanded that they leave their children and belongings behind. 

Moses told him that would not be acceptable since they would need animals for the sacrifices and they were not sure what would be required since they had been in slavery four hundred years, as Exodus 10:25-26 tells us.  “And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.  Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.”

Even though the Egyptian economy had been destroyed and they had been unable to do anything for three days, Pharaoh was still determined to keep Israel as slaves.  Exodus 10:27-28 tells us, “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.  And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.”   He warned Moses that if he ever came back with another demand, he would be executed.  He was still so wrapped up in his own agenda, he never considered the fact that if Moses’ God could do those other things he probably could protect Moses. 

Moses told him that if that was the way he wanted it, that’s the way it would be.  God then told him what was going to happen next, in Exodus 10:29-11:8.   “And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more. 

And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.  And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.”

Moses warned Pharaoh that the oldest son in every family would die, as would the first born young of the animals those who had believed God and brought inside to protect them from the hail.   The Egyptian people would demand that Israel leave, even donating money to convince them to go.  Pharaoh would have no choice but to allow them to leave.   Moses was frustrated that Pharaoh was so stubborn. 

God warned Moses Pharaoh was not going to listen, so that everyone could see God’s power, in Exodus 11:9-10.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.   And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.”  No amount of miracles or persuasion was going to change Pharaoh’s mind.  It is incomprehensible how stubborn and evil selfish people can be.   As an example we have American politicians saying we will just have to allow American women to be raped if that’s what it takes to make illegal immigrants feel at home, or telling a family that the murder of their daughter was of less importance than the freedom of the immigrants. 

Those who provide sanctuary and protect the murderers and rapists are in fact accomplices in their crimes, knowingly making it possible for them to commit the crime or enabling them to avoid punishment. 

Breaking His Word Again

Pharaoh broke his promise to allow Israel to go as soon as the hail storm ended.  God explained that he caused pharaoh to be so stubborn so that he could show his power before Pharaoh and the Israelites could tell what God had done for them, in Exodus 10:1-2.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.”

The hail had wiped the livestock industry, and much of their crops.  God warned that if Pharaoh didn’t let Israel go, he would send locusts which would wipe out the rest of their crops, in Exodus 10:3-6.  “And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.  Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field: And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.”  The infestation would be the worst they had ever seen. 

The Egyptian people realized how bad things were and begged Pharaoh to let Israel go before it happened, in Exodus 10:7.  “And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?“  In an effort to appease the people, Pharaoh contacted Moses and Aaron asking who all would be going, in Exodus 10:8-11.  “And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?

And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.

And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.  Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.”  When he learned that they were all going and were going to take everything with them, Pharaoh decided it was just a front to get away and refused to allow them to go again. 

Exodus 10:12-15 tells us, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.  And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.  And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.  For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.” 

It was the worst swarm of locusts ever, and they wiped out everything that grew.  Like many people, Pharaoh failed to recognize his ongoing pattern of sin, asking for forgiveness just this one time, in Exodus 10:16-20.  “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.  Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only. And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD.  And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.”  People like Pharaoh think it unfair to remember what they did in the past. 

As soon as he got what he wanted, Pharaoh lapsed back into the same old attitude, refusing to let the people go free, in Exodus 10:20.  “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.” 

Stubbornness Leads To Disaster

Pharaoh had become so wrapped up in refusing to listen to God he would no longer listen to reason.  God sent Moses to him to warn what was going to happen if continued to refuse to listen, in Exodus 9:13-16.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.  For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.  And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” 

God warned that he would continue to send plagues until the Egyptians recognized the He was God and Pharaoh himself was dead.  In fact, God had caused pharaoh to become king and be so stubborn for the purpose of showing the people who God was.  Because Pharaoh insisted on controlling God’s people God described the next plague in  Exodus 9:17-19.  “As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?  Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.  Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.”

The next day there would be a terrible hailstorm, and anything they wanted to keep should be brought into shelter.  Anything left outdoors would be killed by the hail.  Some of the Egyptians listened while others did not, according to Exodus 9:20-21.  “He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.”  Some of them were thinking about what was happening while others went along with Pharaoh. 

God did exactly what he had promised, in Exodus 9:22-26.   “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.  And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.  So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.  And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.”  The hailstorm was far worse than the Egyptians had imagined,  beating down everything and killing the animals which had survived the disease.    It was accompanied with lightening which set fires which burned the brush and grass and probably some of the homes.  There was no hail in the area where the Israelites were. 

Shocked by the violence of the storm , Pharaoh acknowledged he should have listened this time, in Exodus 9:27-28.  “And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.  Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.”   He promised to let them go if he could be assured the hail and lightning storms would end.  Moses agreed to ask God to end the storms, but warned Pharaoh not to change his mind, in Exodus 9:29-30.  “And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's.  But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.”

The hailstorm almost wiped out Egypt’s livestock industry, and it would take nearly a hundred years to fully recover.  In addition it wiped out many of their crops, as we see in Exodus 9:31-32.  “And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.  But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.”  The early crops were nearly developed and the hail wiped them out.  Some of the later crops were less developed and would have time to recover, but all would suffer as a result. 

Moses went and prayed that the storms would end, and God stopped them, in Exodus 9:33-35.  “And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.  And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.  And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.”  As soon as the storm was over, Pharaoh forgot all about his promise, refusing to allow the people to go. 

Getting More Stubborn

Originally, Pharaoh’s refusal to obey God had been just a way of asserting his independence and power, much like a little child testing his limits.  After the plague of flies, his resolve hardened, much like the child who refuses to give in or acknowledge the pain no matter what happens.   They are determined that they will not change their mind or admit they were wrong for any reason, and continue to rebell, hoping their parents will just give up and let them do what they want, and that became Pharaoh’s attitude. 

God did not just give up.  He was willing to do whatever it took to teach the Egyptians what was right.  He sent Moses back to warn of another plague, in Exodus 9:1-6.  “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.  And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.  And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.  And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.”

For centuries, Egypt was known for their livestock breeding.  Other nations came to them to obtain the best possible breeding stock, and other nations bought large numbers of horses for military use.   Most diseases affect only certain species of animals, but the disease at this time affected all the different species, killing many of them.  It would take years for their breeding programs to recover.    None of the Israelite’s livestock was affected by the disease,   When he investigated, Pharaoh refused to change anything even though it mwant the collapse of a major part of Egypt’s economy, as we see in Exodus 9:7.  “And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.”

Instead of giving up God continued to increase the pressure on Pharaoh, as we see in Exodus 9:8-11.  “And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.  And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.  And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.  And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.” 

The boils afflicted everyone, including Pharaoh.  The magicians were in such pain they didn’t even try to confront Moses, but Pharaoh had made up his mind, so God strengthened his determination, as Exodus 9:12 tells us.  “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.”  He was feeling the pain along with the people, but he refused to make any changes, just becoming more stubborn as things got worse.     Unfortunately, when people get stubborn they stop thinking about anything but getting their way.   Logic no longer affects them. 

Deliberately Rebelling Against God

Because of his wealth and power, Pharaoh had been able to avoid most of the inconveniences caused by the water turning to blood and the frogs.  God directed Moses to bring another plague, in Exodus 8:16-17.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.  And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.” 

Even Pharaoh could not get completely away from the lice.   They came from the dirt, but they attacked and infested every animal and person, transferring from host to host.  Exodus 8:18-19 tells us the magicians were unable to imitate this plague.  “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.  Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. “   Up to this time they had been able to create an illusion of doing the same things.  They told Pharaoh this could not be a trick but was something only God could do.  Pharaoh’s pride caused him to decide even God couldn’t make him change his mind.  He was deliberately rebelling against God.

God didn’t give up, as Exodus 8:20-24 tells us.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.  And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.  And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.  And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.”

Swarms of flies were everywhere, biting and annoying people, contaminating their food and laying eggs in open wounds, excrement and rotting food so that maggots were everywhere, except in areas where the Jews lived.  Clearly this was directed solely at the Egyptians.  Even Pharaoh could not get away from them.  He offered a small concession if it would get rid of the flies, in Exodus 8:25.  “And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. “  He would let them have a day off to worship God but they were not to leave the local area. 

Moses said that would not be acceptable, because the Egyptians would be offended by their way of worship, resulting in them being attacked, in Exodus 8:26.  “And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?  We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.”  Desperate to get rid of the flies, Pharaoh agreed to let them go three days out so that the Egyptians would not be offended, in Exodus 8:28.  “And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.”

Moses didn’t trust Pharaoh, and warned him not to change his mind once the flies were gone, in Exodus 8:29-31.  “And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.  And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD.  And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. “

As soon as the flies were gone, Pharaoh reverted back to his former attitude, in Exodus 8:32.  “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.”  His promise was only an attempt to manipulate Moses and get his own way.  He had no intention of keeping it.  Selfish people, whether they are a drug addict, a lazy employee, an unfaithful mate, or a political figure, will promise almost anything to get their way.   Once they have what they want they make no effort to keep their promises because they’ve gotten what they wanted and don’t care about anything else.     

Crawling With Frogs

For a week the Egyptians had been forced to dig pits and drink the wwater that filtered in, and had been unable to catch fish for food.  Unfortunately Pharaoh was able to order others to do the work for him and escaped the frustration.  When God sent Moses to him again, in Exodus 8:1-4 he still didn’t take it seriously.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs: And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.” 

Pharaoh refused to even think about what Moses was telling him, so God directed Moses to make a production of bringing frogs out of the river, in Exodus 8:5-7.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.  And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.  And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. “ 

Because the Magicians were able to get more frogs to come out of the water, Pharaoh initially paid no attention.  After having frogs in his own house, he became aware of the problem and asked Moses to get rid of them, in Exodus 8:8-10a.  “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.  

And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

And he said, To morrow.”

With people to take care of cleaning out the frogs Pharaoh still wasn’t overly upset.  He opted to wait until the following day to have the frogs gone, probably hoping they’d go away by themselves and prove it wasn’t God’s doing.  Moses agreed to his request in Exodus 8:10b-14.  “And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.  And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.  And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.  And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.  And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.”

When the frogs all died, there were huge piles of rotting bodies left, stinking up the whole country to remind them, but there was less pressure so Pharaoh decided not to keep his promise to let the people go, according to Exodus 8:15.  “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”   

Pharaoh’s Heart is Hardened

James 1:13 tells us. “… God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”  Pharaoh had already made up his mind we was not going to listen to God.  When Exodus 7:13 tells us, “And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them…,” it means simply that God gave him the self-will or stubbornness to stick with his decision, so that others would see God’s power.  God did not cause him to be that way.  If Pharaoh gave in too easily the people might not see God’s power. 

Once Pharaoh’s mind was made up, God sent Moses to warn him of the consequences of his stubbornness, in Exodus 7:14- 18,  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.  Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.  And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.  Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.  And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.”

Egypt was dependent on the Nile River for transportation, for water for irrigation and drinking, for fish to eat, and for the floods that replenished their soil.  God warns that he is going to touch that river, so that it would not supply fish, or be fit for drinking, so that the people will know that it had no real power of its own, but was dependent on God.   God instructed Moses and Aaron what they needed to do to see this all happen, in Exodus 7:19. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.”

The results were exactly what God had warned, in Exodus 7:20-21.  “And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.  And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.”  The river was so polluted with blood that the people could not drink it, and all the fish died and began to rot.  The pollution also affected all their ponds and irrigation system as well. The stench of rotting fish was everywhere. 

When the Magicians were able to further pollute the water with their tricks, Pharaoh blew it off as nothing to worry about, leaving his people to deal with the problems, as Exodus 7:22-25 tells us.  “And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.  And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.  And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.  And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.”  It took and entire week for all the pollution to wash out to ea.  During that time, the people had to dig pits along the river and allow the water to filter through the sane to eliminate the pollution.  Pharaoh had people to do all the work for him so he was not affected very much but it made the people’s lives much harder.  Leaders who do not have to deal with the same problems do not understand the effects their decisions have on their people, which is one of the reasons why God gave the commands in Deuteronomy 17:14-20.  “When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.  Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”

Because it didn’t really affect him, Pharaoh didn’t even ask to have the blood taken away. 

The First Sign

God had charged Moses and Aaron with bringing the people out of Egypt regardless what the people thought.  He directed Moses to God to Pharaoh and tell him exactly what God said, in Exodus 6:28-30.  “And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.

And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?”  As Moses had asked earlier, why should Pharaoh listen when the Israelites didn’t.  After all he was not an eloquent or persuasive speaker and Pharaoh was considered a sort of god. 

God explained he was going to demonstrate that neither Pharaoh nor the other Egyptian gods were comparable to him.  Since they could not see God, they would see Moses as a god and Aaron as his priest, and God would do miracles among them.  God himself would cause Pharaoh to be stubborn so that all the Egyptians would recognize that God is the true God, as Exodus 7:1-5 describes.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.  Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.  And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.  But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Moses was eighty and Aaron eighty four when they set out to deliver Egypt according to Exodus 7:6-7.  “And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.  And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.”  We are never too old to do the Job God gives us, and as Ecclesiastes 8:8 tells us, we can’t retire from his service as long as we are alive.  “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.”  We belong to God and he decides what we are to do, not us.  We don’t have the power decide when we live or die, and we cannot bypass God’s authority. 

God was going to use a series of miraculous events to contrast his power with that of the Egyptian gods.  The first one he would use was the sign he had shown in the wilderness of Moses’ staff turning into a snake. Exodus 7:8-13 describes what happened.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.  And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.  And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”

We are told the Egyptian magicians had developed a trick whereby they caused a snake to become rigid, looking like a stick until it was dropped on the ground to impress the people with their powers.    Moses had carried his walking stick for years.  It was clearly just a piece of wood, and a miracle was required to turn it into a snake.   God had deliberately chosen this first miracle to emphasize he difference in what they did.  Moses snake swallowed their snakes, then turned back into a stick when Moses picked it up.   The magicians could see the difference, but since their effects looked similar, Pharaoh dismissed it as the same trick and refused to listen, exactly as God had warned. 

Just Do the Job God Gave You

When Moses requested permission to worship God, Pharaoh refused, saying the only reason they even thought about it was because they had too much free time.  He increased the amount of labor they were required to do and the people blamed Moses.  Moses himself felt like he had failed because things got worse instead of better.  He asked God why he let it get worse if he was supposed to make it better. 

God explained that he intended to do more than give them a few days off in Exodus 6:1-8.  “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.  And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.  And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.  And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.”

God wanted to show them his power, causing Pharaoh to literally drive them out of the land.  Had Pharaoh let them go when Moses asked, they would have still been slaves, and never have seen His power.  God then reminded Moses of the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He pointed out that he is Jehovah, the ‘self-existent one’ who created all things who has unlimited power.  Six hundred years before, he had promise Abraham that one day his descendants would possess the land of Canaan, and now he was ready to fulfill that promise.  He had not forgotten it.  Moses needed to remind the people of those promises and tell them it was God’s intention to fulfill them. 

Both Moses and the people had assumed things would happen immediately.  God sent Moses back to tell the people That they had more to look forward to and that they should not be discouraged.  When their expectations were not met immediately the people gave up hope, according to Exodus 6:9.  “And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.”

Even though it had resulted in things getting worse, god sent Moses to Pharaoh again, in Exodus 6:10-11.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.”  Moses asked why bother, since even the Israelites did not believe him, in Exodus 6:12.  “And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?”  After all, Israel had every reason for hoping he was telling the truth, while Pharaoh had no reason to believe him. 

God gave Moses and Aaron a charge to do what he commanded and bring Israel out of Egypt whether they believed or not, in Exodus 6:13.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”  God’s promises will be kept whether people believe him or not, as II Timothy 2:13 tells us.  “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”  Moses was to follow God’s instructions without worrying about whether anyone followed him or not. The results are up to God, not to us.

Things Got Worse

God had called Moses, who had surrendered to go.  Part of that surrender included following God’s command about circumcision, even though it upset his wife.  God had also been preparing the Israelites in Egypt.  When Moses had tried to act on his own, the people had not been ready.  When God sent him they were ready, as we see in Exodus 4:27-31.  “And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.  And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.  And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

Moses had worried that the people would not believe he was sent by God.  Because God had prepared them, they did not hesitate to believe him.  When they understood the purpose, they all took time to bow down and worship God for keeping his promise.  Confident the people were behind them, Moses and Aaron then approached Pharaoh, In Exodus 5:1-2.  “And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.  And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” 

Four hundred years before, in Joseph’s day, the Pharaoh had no question about God.  In Moses’ day, Pharaoh said he knew nothing about God, and had no intention of obeying him.  By that time, the Egyptians worshipped many gods, including the Nile River, the sun, and pharaoh himself was often considered a minor god.  He saw no reason for listening to some other God.  When Moses and Aaron made a minor request, he decided to show his power, in Exodus 5:3-9.  “And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.  And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.  And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.  And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.  Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.”

Originally, Moses only asked for a few days off to worship God.  Pharaoh decided to teach them a lesson.  He said the reason they were asking for a day to worship was because they had too much free time.  Since they had time to sit around and think about such things they needed to work harder.  From that time forward, they would have to obtain their materials while keeping up with their work.  His attitude was rather typical of those who have received great wealth or power without having to work very hard to get it. They have little or no concern for the effects of their actions, often even glorying in how they can make people struggle. 

Once the order was given, the local leaders implemented it, punishing people when they were not able to fulfill the demands, as Exodus 5:10-14 describes.  “And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.  Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.  So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.  And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.  And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?”

When the new policies are implemented and people begin to feel the effects, they may seek for changes in the policy.  As so often happens once a pol;icy hass been implemented, those in authority refuse to make any changes.  Exodus 5:15-17 describes Pharaoh’s reaction.  “Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?  There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.  Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.” 

When Pharaoh refused to alter his policies, the people blamed Moses and Aaron for making it worse, rather than placing the blame on the one who imposed the policy, in Exodus 5:19-21.  “And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.  And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.” 

Unfortunately, when people are looking for someone to blame, they frequently blame the wrong people.  Moses and Aaron were trying to free them from slavery, but the people accused them of trying to make it worse.  Moses was discouraged by what happened, as Exodus 5:22-23 tells us.  “And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.”  Frequently, efforts to fix problems make things worse temporarily, but if we trust God he will work it out.  It’s not the time to quit. 

Meeting God’s Standard

Since he was unwilling to trust God to enable him, agreed to send Aaron to speak for him.  With that assurance, Moses headed toward Egypt as Exodus 4:18-23 describes.  “And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive.

And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.  And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.  And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.”

When Moses told what he wanted, his father in law encouraged him.  Once he began, to go, God revealed that there were no longer any threats to his life and began to show him what he would need to do when he arrived.  Until Moses himself was committed to going, there was no point in giving him the details.  While God knows what is going to happen he rarely tells us much in advance, probably to keep us from getting distracted and getting ahead of ourselves. 

Six hundred years before, God had made a covenant with Abraham, in Genesis 17:9-14.  “And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”

Living among the Midianites, Moses had not bothered to circumcise his son, breaking Israel’s covenant with God.  God was not willing to ignore that, as Exodus 4:24-26 tells us.  “And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.  Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.   So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.”

Moses would be responsible for guiding Israel in fulfilling part of the covenant with Israel, as well as establishing an additional covenant.  As the leader, it was critical he meet the standards he would be setting before the people.  It is impossible to effectively teach people to follow standards you do not follow yourself.  This is why, in Paul’s listing of the requirements for pastors and church leaders is so important.   As I Timothy 3:5 asks, “For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” 

If Moses would not set the example by circumcise his own children, he would be teaching the people that God’s laws didn’t matte and they did not really need to follow them.  God was willing to kill Moses to prevent that.  Moses’ wife was not happy but she went along with the demand.  We must understand that fulfilling God’s calling requires obeying his commands even when our mate or others oppose it.   If their opinion is more important than God’s command, we cannot serve him, as Luke 14:26-27 says.  “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”  Even those who God calls must meet his standards.

Afraid to Try

Forty years before Moses had been totally confident of his ability to deliver Israel.  After forty years of learning how hard it was to lead a herd of sheep. Moses no longer thought he would be able to Lead Israel.  Experience had taught him that he couldn’t always convince the sheep to do what he wanted.  How was he going to convince people to do what he wanted.   He told God he didn’t think he could do it in Exodus 4:10  “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” 

God didn’t accept Moses’ excuse.   He reminded him that it was God who gave him every thing he had including the ability to speak in Exodus 4:11-12.  “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?  Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”  If he just go, God would give him the abilities he needed to get the people to follow him.    

One vewry common mistake today is to think that because a person has certain abilities they would make a good pastor, teacher, missionary, or even a husband or wife.  When God sent Samuel to anoint a new king to take Sausl place, in I Samuel 16:6-7, Samuel made the same mistake.  “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.   But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”  The heart attitude is far more important than talent or physical ability. 

In Paul’s descriptions of the requirements for pastors and deacons in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-16, the emphasis is on the person’s attitudes rather than speaking ability or charisma.  Throughout history, the greatest criminals, con artists and charlatans have also been some of the most eloquent and charismatic leaders.   Without a proper attitude of humility, they will not submit to god or his plans.  Moses had to lose that proud attitude before he could be used effectively by God. 

Understanding that he did not have the abilities to do it himself, Moses made the same mistake many others have made, not trusting God to give him the ability.  This lack of faith angered God, as Exodus 4:13-17 describes.  “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.  And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.  And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.  And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” 

God had called Moses to do the job, and he would not get out of it easily.  I Corinthians 9:17 tells us, “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”  Our hesitation may cost us rewards, but it does not relieve us of responsibility.    Because of his hesitation, God would send Aaron to help him.   While Moses didn’t know it at the time, sharing the leadership with Aaron would be a problem in the future.  Had he simply obeyed he could have avoided some problems later.   

Acting In The Spirit Rather Than The Flesh

When Moses had tried to do something about the discrimination and slavery of Israel, he had believed he could make things happen.  After forty years of living in the real world rather than the political and academic world of the Egyptian elite, he realized things were not nearly so cut and dried as he had thought.  People would not just blindly trust him and follow his ideas and philosophy.  They would need evidence that what he said would work before they dared commit themselves.  He asked God why they would believe him this time, in Exodus 3:13-22.  “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.  Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.  And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.  And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.  And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.”

The first difference would be that he was acting under the direction of God rather than his own initiative.  He would start by reminding them of the promises God had made to Israel and telling them God was planning to fulfill those promises.  Once they had accepted that, he was to go to Pharaoh and make a minor request that they be permitted to go into the wilderness and sacrifice to God.  They were not making some great demand that the Egyptians set them free.  It was a very reasonable request, but as God warned, Pharaoh would not honor it.  God would then act on their behalf and when he finished, the Egyptians would not only let them go, but pay them to leave. 

Moses questioned why they would believe God had sent him.   God provided some evidentiary signs to convince them, in Exodus 4:1-11.  “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand?

And he said, A rod.

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.  And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.”

People usually carried a walking stich when they traveled.  It helped maintain one’s balance, but also could be used as a weapon against snakes or other dangers.  Moses had probably carried his for many years.  For it to become a live snake was a miracle.  Similarly, for his hand to instantaneously develop leprosy, then instantaneously be healed was miraculous, especially as leprosy was considered an incurable disease?  For pure water to turn into blood would also be a miraculous event that would impress the people.  They would have reason for believing he was sent by God. 

While the differences between acting in the flesh and acting in the Spirit may not be obvious, the results are very different.   Spiritual results are based on what God does rather than on what we do.