The Beginning of the Plagues: God’s Power Revealed (Exodus 7:1–14)
The book of Exodus tells one of the most powerful stories in the Bible — the story of how God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. In Exodus 7:1–14, the story starts to pick up speed. God prepares to show His mighty power, not just to Pharaoh, but to all of Egypt. Let’s take a closer look at what happens.
Setting the Scene: God Gives Moses and Aaron Their Instructions
In the first few verses (Exodus 7:1–7), God tells Moses exactly what to do. He says that Moses will be “like God” to Pharaoh — meaning Moses would speak and act with God’s authority — and Aaron would be his helper, speaking the words Moses received from God.
God also warns them that Pharaoh will not listen easily. His heart would be stubborn. But that was part of God’s bigger plan: through many signs and miracles, God would show that He is the true Lord. Even Egypt would come to know that the God of Israel is real and powerful.
Moses and Aaron obey God right away, even though they are older (Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83!). Their obedience shows that it’s never too late to be used by God for something important.
The First Sign: Aaron’s Staff Turns into a Snake
Next, God sends Moses and Aaron to stand before Pharaoh. As a sign of God’s power, Aaron throws down his staff (a walking stick), and it turns into a snake right in front of Pharaoh and his officials (Exodus 7:8–10).
But then something surprising happens. Pharaoh calls his magicians, and they also make their staffs turn into snakes using what the Bible calls “secret arts” (Exodus 7:11-12). It seems like a tie — until Aaron’s snake swallows up all the others. This showed that God’s power is far greater than anything Pharaoh’s magicians could do.
Despite seeing this clear sign, Pharaoh refuses to listen. Just as God had said, Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn.
A Turning Point: Pharaoh Refuses to Listen
In verse 14, God speaks again to Moses. He says that Pharaoh’s heart is still hard. He won’t let the Israelites go. This sets the stage for the next major event: the first plague, where God turns the Nile River into blood.
The battle between God’s power and Pharaoh’s pride is just beginning.
Key Lessons for Us Today
There’s a lot we can learn from this part of the story:
- God is in control. No matter how powerful someone seems — even a king — God’s power is greater.
- There is real spiritual opposition. Pharaoh’s magicians weren’t just playing tricks. There are real forces that try to copy or twist God’s truth.
- Obedience matters. Moses and Aaron didn’t argue or hesitate. They obeyed God’s instructions, and He worked through them.
- God is patient. Even though Pharaoh disobeyed, God gave him many chances to listen before sending the plagues.
Conclusion
Exodus 7:1–14 shows us the beginning of an amazing showdown between God and Pharaoh. Even when Pharaoh refused to listen, God’s plan moved forward. His power was about to be revealed in a way no one could deny.
Next time, we’ll look at the first big act of judgment: when God turns the Nile River — the lifeline of Egypt — into blood. Stay tuned!
Exodus 7:1-14 (WEB)
7:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 3 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of 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 the children of Israel out from among them.”6 Moses and Aaron did so. As the LORD commanded them, so they did. 7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.8 The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Perform a miracle!’ then you shall tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.’ ”10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as the LORD had commanded. Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments. 12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as the LORD had spoken.14 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.