Know that I AM the LORD [Exodus 7]

1Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.  2"You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. 3"But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4"When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5"The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst."

 6So Moses and Aaron did it; as the LORD commanded them, thus they did. 7Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

 

In today's passage we see the beginning of the miracles and plagues that God used to deliver His people from slavery.  As God gave Moses and Aaron the preliminary instructions He told them that He was going to harden Pharaoh's heart, "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt."  As I pondered this this morning I saw the importance of Pharaoh's resistance.  If he had given in over snakes and blood, he would have changed his mind as quickly as he had given in.  But God wanted something more dramatic and convincing - something that would reach out and touch the very core of each person's heart.  Then, "The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst." There would be no doubt in their minds that the great I AM had visited their land.

 

We praise You, LORD, for touching hearts.  We praise You that Your are the great I Am.  Thank You that Moses and Aaron did all that You commanded them - even very hard things.  We praise You for consistently showing Your people who You are so there can be no doubt in our minds that Your are God Almighty.

Verna McCrillis, 4/26/2010