God’s Ways Are Greater Than Ours.

 The first time Moses went to ask Pharaoh to let Israel go, Things got a great deal worse, and the people blamed Moses.  While he believed God, even Moses was a little hesitant to go back, as we see 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?”   Moses was not representing some powerful and well known group who Pharaoh would recognize as a threat, so why would he listen? 

 

God realized Pharaoh would feel that way, and planned to make Pharaoh realize he was not the only person with power.  Since the Egyptians considered their Pharaoh as a god, God would make Moses appear as a god to Pharaoh, as Exodus 7:1-2 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.”

 

God warned that before he would give in, like most political leaders, Pharaoh would have to be convinced that Moses had enough more power than he did that he couldn’t successfully stand against him.  Only when he and the Egyptians realized he was only a man but God was truly a god would he allow the people to go, as Exodus 7:3-5 tells us.  “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.”

 

Although they were hesitant, Moses and Aaron had seen God’s power throughout their lives, and believing God, acted on his command believed God.  As Exodus 7:6-7 explains.  “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.”

 

To maintain his appearance as a god to the Egyptians, Pharaoh had a group of magicians who would do “magic” tricks to convince the people of his miraculous powers.  When Moses claimed to represent God, Pharaoh would expect him to do similar tricks to show his power.  If Pharaoh’s magicians could do a similar trick, he could pass it off as nothing his own magicians couldn’t do.  God told Moses and Aaron what to do first, in Exodus 7:8-10.  “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.”

 

Because of people’s instinctive fear of snakes, throughout history religious groups have used snakes to prove their religious power, including snake charmers in India, the Hopi Indians in Arizona and some charismatic churches in the southern United States.  Pharaoh’s magicians had developed a system where by the snakes would lie absolutely stiff, looking like some kind of cane or stick until dropped on the ground.   Aaron had used his walking stick for years, and knew it was just a stick,   It was a miracle when it turned into a snake, but the magicians throwing their hypnotized snakes on the ground appeared to be the same trick, as Exodus 7:11-12 tells us.   “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.” 

 

Aaron’s rod quickly demonstrated it had more power than the Magicians snakes, but Pharaoh didn’t take that into account, as Exodus 7:13 advises.  “And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”  Since his magicians could do something similar, Pharaoh just became more stubborn, determined not to give in.  Notice the scripture says God hardened his heart. God caused him to react that way because God’s plan went beyond just getting Israel out of captivity. 

 

Unfortunately we tend to get caught up in our immediate goal and not look any further.  As a result we get frustrated when things don’t go our way immediately.   God may have some far greater purpose in delay than we understand.  We need to remember what God says in Isaiah 55:8-9.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”