That they may know the Lord

• 1^st – A HARD heart … vs. 1-7
  • 1^st – God told Moses – I have made you LIKE a God to Pharoah… vs. 1-2
    • And Aaron was LIKE a prophet for Moses – he was the speaker for Moses…
      • Moses would SPEAK (piel) to Aaron all the God commanded…
      • And Aaron would SPEAK (piel) to Pharaoh – telling him to let Israel out (piel) of his land!
    • Pharaoh was far from God – did not know the Lord – could not hear His voice…
      • And he needed someone to introduce God to him – speak on behalf of the Lord…
      • God used Moses and Aaron to share His Word – so Pharaoh could know Him!
      • When we talk about God – talk about the Bible – often people do not understand…
      • The problem is people just do not know the Lord – no one has told them…
      • We have the opportunity – the privilege – of being the one to share Jesus with them…
      • But many times we are ashy because we do not know what to say…
      • Yet it is not our words people need to hear – they need the Word of God…
      • Do not worry about what to say – just open our mouth – God will speak through us!
  • 2^nd – I will harden his heart… vs. 3
    • God told Moses HE would harden the heart of Pharaoh…
      • But there is a question about WHO hardened the heart first – Pharaoh / or God
      • Paul uses the example of Pharaoh to talk about HOW we are saved – Romans 9
      • Does God CHOOSE who goes to heaven and to hell – or do we CHOOSE!
      • Romans 9:18 – “He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens…”
      • God CHOOSES – He shows mercy on whom He WANTS – hardens whom He WANTS!
      • But that would seem to mean God CHOOSES who goes to heaven and hell…
      • That seems unfair to us – if God hardens people – it seems unfair He judges them…
      • If the people did NOT have a CHOICE – then why punish them for what God CHOSE!
    • The example of a potter…
      • Romans 9:21 – “A Potter makes jars out of clay, does not he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration, another to throw garbage into?” [NLT]
      • The potter is God – He had every right to make one man righteous – another hard
      • God is in complete control – He can do whatever he wants – He is SOVEREIGN!
      • It still seems unfair to us – NOT that we can question God – but somehow still not right…
      • It does not seem to be very loving – it seems more like cruelty – and God is love!
      • I John 4:16 – “We have known and believed the love God has for us. God is love…”
    • The answer to this dilemma lies in the EXAMPLE of Pharaoh…
      • God – seeing ahead of time what would happen – knew what Pharaoh would do…
      • God hardened the heart of Pharoah – because Pharaoh had CHOSEN to harden his heart…
      • Pharaoh chose to harden his heart FIRST – then God confirmed his choice!
      • Romans 8:29 – “God knew his people in ADVANCE, and He chose them…” [NLT]
    • Two different WORDS for HARDEN…
      • Exodus 8:15 / 8:22 / 9:34 – Pharaoh CHOSE to HARDEN his heart…
      • HARDENED – [כָּבַד] – to make dull or unresponsive (hiphil – caused to be hard)!
      • Exodus 9:12 / 10:20 / 10:27 – the Lord HARDENED the heart of Pharoah…
      • HARDENED – [חָזַק]– to set in place – to make FIRM (piel – intensively)!
    • God loves us – and does NOT want anyone to perish…
      • God made it easy – because He desires for everyone to be saved – II Peter 3:9
      • It does not matter who we are – God makes salvation available for all!
      • Romans 10:13 – “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
    • God is a gentleman – He will NOT force us to do anything we do not want to…
      • God does not make anyone go to heaven – He only provides the way…
      • Just because He offers us the gift – it does not mean we have to take it…
      • We still have a choice – we still have to choose to receive salvation…
      • But there can come a place when we have said so many times – we do NOT want God…
      • That God finally agrees and SETS IN PLACE our CHOICE!
      • Genesis 6:3 – “The LORD said, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”
  • 3^rd – The result of a HARD heart… vs. 3-5
    • God would multiply His SIGNS and WONDERS in Egypt…
      • WONDERS (niphal) – BEYOND POWERFUL – speaking of the ten plagues!
      • But even these Pharoah would NOT listen to…
      • SO THAT – God could bring out His ARMY / PEOPLE / ISRAEL with great JUDGEMENTS…
      • The hardness of Pharaoh would allow God to reveal His power in the people of Israel!
    • THEN – all of Egypt would SEE [יָדַע] – I AM the Lord [יְהוָה]…
      • If Pharaoh had let the children of Israel go right away – NO miracles…
      • It was his HARD heart that gave the opportunity for God to show His POWER to Egypt…
      • It was through the WONDERS and PALGUES the Egyptians got to KNOW the Lord!
      • It is true that God KNOWS what choice we will make – BELIEVE in Jesus – or HARDEN…
      • But no matter what our CHOICE – God will use it for His glory!
      • Like the brothers of Joseph who sold him into slavery for jealously!
      • Genesis 50:20 – “God turned into good what you meant for evil…”
  • 4^th – Moses and Aaron were 80/83 years old when the stood before Pharaoh… vs. 6-7
    • When we picture Moses and Aaron in our minds – we think young / handsome / strong…
    • The reality was much different – grandpas – they were already OLD men!
    • God is not limited to using those of a certain age – He can use ANYONE…
    • We are never too OLD or YOUNG for the Lord to use us – just be available!
    • God is not limited to using a certain age – He can use the YOUNG and the OLD alike!
    • I Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers…”

• 2^nd – Miracle before Pharaoh… vs. 8-13
  • 1^st – Throw down your Rod… vs. 8-10
    • God told Moses – when you go before Pharoah – and he demands a MIRACLE…
    • Moses was to command Aaron – throw down your rod – it will become a SNAKE…
    • So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded!
    • One of the THREE signs God gave to convince the leaders of Israel – Exodus 4:1-5
    • Signs that were MORE than enough to convince those who were looking for God…
    • But NOT enough to convince a man – Pharaoh – whose heart did not want to believe!
    • Often – we think that if only we could see Jesus – see a miracle – we would believe…
    • But if we do not believe – even if we saw Jesus / miracle – we would not believe…
    • Seeing is not believing – believing is HOW we see – FAITH opens our eyes to see!
  • 2^nd– Copying the miracle… vs. 11-13
    • Pharaoh called for his WISE men and MAGICIANS…
      • The magicians of Egypt also threw down their rods – and they became serpents…
      • Although the serpent of Aaron – ATE all of the serpents of the Magicians!
    • Satan has the power to DUPLICATE miracles – he can be very convincing!
      • There is a danger to following SIGNS and WONDERS…
      • Satan can – and will – imitate God – he can look just like the real thing!
      • II Corinthians 11:14 – “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
      • The only way to know the truth is by being men and women of the Word
      • Jesus Word is the Truth – it is how we know the truth from a lie – John 17:17
      • II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
    • The WISE men of Egypt – Jannes and Jambres…
      • II Timothy 3:8-9 – “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth… but they will progress no further, for their FOLLY will be MANIFEST to all…”
      • They could duplicate SOME of the miracles – in the end their FOLLY was MANIFEST…
      • Their true motive – resist the truth of Moses taught – became obvious over time!
      • Luke 6:44 – “For every tree is known by its own fruit.”
      • How do you know what the motive of someone is – look at their fruit…
      • They can say anything – but they cannot change their fruit – it is from the heart…
      • People are either go to point us to Jesus – or try and distract us from following Him!
    • Pharaoh’s heart grew hard…
      • The result of listening to WISE men – rather than the word of God – HARD heart!
      • A lot of people right now are listening to Social Media – government…
      • And wondering where God is in the midst of a pandemic – overcome by FEAR…
      • FEAR is the opposite of FAITH – if we have FAITH we will not have FEAR!
      • II Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love…”
      • If we do not listen to the Lord – listen to His Word – look to Jesus…
      • Instead listen to wisdom of MEN – we will end up with a hard heart towards Jesus!

• 3^rd – First plague – the Nile turns to blood… vs. 14-25
  • 1^st – River of blood… vs. 14-25
    • The heart of Pharoah was HARD [כָּבַד] – he refused (piel) to let Israel go…
      • Moses was to meet the Pharaoh in the morning by the Nile River…
      • Moses would say to him – the Lord says to let my people go – but you will NOT hear…
      • By this you will KNOW I AM the Lord [יְהוָה] – the river will become BLOOD!
      • Moses would then take the rod and strike the water of the Nile – it would become blood!
      • Not only the water of the Nile – but ponds / pools / streams / buckets / even pitchers!
    • The Egyptians trusted in the Nile – depended on the Nile – for everything…
      • It was their sole source of water / food / transportation / they worshiped the river…
      • All of the fish died – creating a horrible stench – the RIVER was good for nothing!
      • The people had to dig around the river to find water to even DRINK…
      • For SEVEN days the Nile River was filled with blood!
    • But again the magicians were able to duplicate the miracle…
      • And the heart of Pharaoh HARDENED – and he did NOT listen to Moses…
      • So – Pharaoh went into his house – and was not CONVINCED by the FIRST plague!
      • God might be GREATER than the Nile River – but there were other gods in Egypt!
  • 2^nd – The MANY gods of Egypt…
    • God brought TEN plagues on the Egyptians…
      • We might not understand the list – find it a peculiar assortment of maladies…
      • Nile became blood / frogs / lice / flies / death of livestock…
      • Boils / hail and fire / locusts / darkness / and finally the death angel…
      • But the Egyptians would have understood the message God was giving to them…
      • Each one of the plagues corresponded to an Egyptian deity!
    • No god greater than the Lord…
      • 1 – The Nile to BLOOD – HAPI was the Egyptian god of the Nile
      • 2 – FROGS – HEQT was Goddess of fertility – had the face of a frog
      • 3 – Dust of the earth became LICE – GEB the Egyptian god over the dust of earth
      • 4 – FLIES – KHEPRI the Egyptian god of creation – face of a fly
      • 5 – Death of LIVESTOCK – HATHOR the goddess of love – face of a cow
      • 6 – BOILS – ISIS was the Egyptian goddess of medicine and peace
      • 7 – Hail and fire rain down from the SKY – NUT the Egyptian goddess of the sky
      • 8 – Storm of LOCUSTS – SET god of storms and disorder
      • 9 – Complete DARKNESS for three days – RA the sun god
      • 10 – Death of the FIRSTBORN – PHARAOH the ultimate god of Egypt
      • God was showing the Egyptians He was greater than any of their gods…
    • Who do we put out trust in…
      • We often put our trust in the things of this world – money / possessions…
      • But when they fail – when our foundation crumbles – we are left with nothing… 
      • If the foundation of our life is not solid as a rock – then it is sand…

• And when the storms of life come – we will end up loosing everything – Matthew 7:26-27
• God loves us enough to show us nothing / no one else is a good foundation for our lives!
• 4^th – Second plague – the Frogs… vs. 1-15
  • 1^st – Strike the land with FROGS… vs. 1-7
    • If Pharaoh did not let Israel God – God will SMITE the land with FROGS…
      • FROGS were nothing new in Egypt – the Nile River was always full of frogs… 
      • Likely the Egyptians did not mind frogs – they kept down the insect population…
      • But this was not just a couple of frogs – it was frogs EVERYWHERE!
      • In their houses / in their beds / in their ovens / in their bowls / even on the people
      • And they were not little frogs – average Nile frog 15cm long – weighs 1kg!
      • Egyptians worshiped frogs – HEQT goddess of fertility – so they could not kill them…
      • You would think that would be enough to convince Pharaoh to let the people go!
    • The Egyptian magicians copied the plague…
      • They had been able to make a rod into a snake – just like Moses and Aaron…
      • They had been able to make water into blood – just like Moses and Aaron…
      • Now they were able to make frogs appear as well!
      • They did not do anything original – the best they could do was copy God!
      • Satan is not very creative – he tends to just copy what the Lord does…
      • Then he tries to convince us that his way is – GOOD enough – we do NOT need the Lord!
      • God created marriage – satan tries to convince us that living together is GOOD enough…
      • God created us to worship Him – satan tries to get us to worship anything but the Lord…
      • He tries to convince us living for money – pleasure – fame – is GOOD enough!
      • But everything satan does is only a counterfeit / copy of God – SECOND best…
      • It is the Chinese imitation of the genuine product – looks similar but it does not last!
  • 2^nd – I will let your people go… vs. 8-11
    • Pharaoh called for Moses – ask the Lord to PLEASE take away (jussive) the FROGS…
      • If you do I will REALLY let (piel – cohortative) – not lying – Israel go…
      • Pharaoh had enough – agreed to let the people of Israel go – if Moses took away the frogs…
    • Moses gave Pharaoh the GLORY – of choosing when the frogs would go…
      • The reason for the CHOICE – so Pharaoh would know there was no one like the Lord…
      • It is possible the frogs could have just happened to die – not an act of God…
      • But since Moses had them die on the day Pharaoh asked – there could be no doubt!
    • What is amazing is that Pharaoh said – TOMORROW…
      • Frogs where everywhere – they were stinking up the whole land of Egypt
      • You would think Pharaoh would have said – NOW! Immediately! Today!
      • Yet Pharaoh was so proud – so defiant – so determined he was still in control…
      • He told Moses to wait for ONE more day – he could take away the frogs TOMORROW!
      • Sin is subtle – when we start – we are CONVINCED we are in CONTROL…
      • No one gets into sin thinking they will become slaves to their sin…
      • We convince ourselves we can stop anytime we want…
      • But we are only deceiving ourselves – we are a slave to our sin!
      • John 8:34 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin…”
  • 3^rd – Lying to the Lord… vs. 12-15
    • The next day all the frogs – except those in the river – died…
    • The Egyptians piled all the dead frogs into great piles – and the land stank!
    • But the moment Pharaoh saw the plague had passed – he HARDENED his heart again!
    • He was willing to say Lord help – in the midst of the TRIAL…
    • But the moment the TRIAL was past – he FORGOT his words – went back to his old ways!
    • Too often when we face the consequences of our CHOICES – we cry out to the Lord for help…
    • God – if you get me out of this – I will be a good person / I will go to church / I will…
    • But we are not truly REPENTANT – we just want God to get us out of TROUBLE…
    • The moment the TROUBLE passes – we seem to FORGET our PROMISES to God…
    • We end up going right back to the lifestyle that got us into TROUBLE in the first place!

• 5^th – Third Plague – the Lice… vs. 16-19
  • 1^st – Lice throughout the Land… vs. 16-17
    • Aaron struck his rod on the DUST – all the DUST became LICE and filled the land…
    • Both man and animal were covered with LICE…
    • LICE – 6x in OT – can either describe gnats / maggots / or lice…
    • Egypt is a desert – there is a LOT of DUST everywhere…
    • If it all became LICE – the little sapat-sapat – would cover EVERYTING! 
  • 2^nd – The FINGER of God… vs. 18-19
    • The magicians tried to copy this plague – and they could not (or any that would follow)
      • They called it – the FINGER of God – fingerprint – proof God was behind the plague…
      • The magicians were now convinced the Lord was the one true God…
      • But Pharaoh would NOT listen to them – and his heart grew HARD!
    • The magicians had first convinced Pharaoh not to believe Moses and the Lord…
      • It was because they had been able to duplicate the miracles Pharaoh hardened his heart…
      • But now – even though the magicians were convinced – Pharaoh still did NOT believe…
      • Pharaoh had used the magicians – to EXCUSE / JUSTIFY his HARD heart…
      • But now you could see the real reason he did not believe – he did NOT want to!
      • I had a friend many years ago who believed in evolution – because of the facts…
      • He challenged me that if I could show him he was wrong – he would change his mind…
      • I took up the challenge and studies up on Evolution vs. Creation…
      • I came back and dismantled the Evolution theory – he admitted he could NOT defend it…
      • But he still believed in Evolution – because he wanted to!
      • People have all sorts of EXCUSES as to why they do not live for / believe in Jesus…
      • The bottom line is they do NOT believe – because they do NOT want to!
      • They love their sin– and they would rather have their sin – than have Jesus – John 3:19

• 6^th – Fourth Plague – the Flies… vs. 20-32
  • 1^st – Set apart… vs. 20-24
    • God told Moses – rise early in the morning – tell Pharaoh to let me people go…
      • If not – God would bring a SWARMS of flies – covering people / houses / even the ground…
      • SWARMS – flies are in italics – but likely refer to an infestation of FLIES!
      • There is a chicken poultry near the church in Himamaylan – NOT properly maintained…
      • When they harvest the chickens – THOUSANDS of FLIES cover everything!
      • It is irritating – VERY unhealthy – one of the most disgusting things you can experience!!
    • God would SET APART the Land of Goshen…
      • For the FIRST time – the plague would have NO effect on the people of Israel…
      • The FLIES would ONLY be in the land of Egypt – NONE would enter Goshen!
      • So that you will KNOW – I AM the Lord [יְהוָה] – and I in the MIDST of the Land!
      • When God poured our His wrath on Sodom – He FIRST spared the life of righteous Lot!
      • Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
      • God will not punish the righteous for the sins / rebellion of the wicked…
      • If we choose to sin – we will be held accountable – REAP what we SOW – Galatians 6:7
      • But we are not responsible for others – every man must answers for his own actions!
  • 2^nd – Sacrifice to God – IN the land… vs. 25
    • Pharaoh called for Moses – GO (imperative) sacrifice to God in the land…
      • In other words a compromise – Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to God…
      • But they could worship their God – in the land of Egypt!
    • Serve the Lord – but still be in the world…
      • The world / satan would love nothing more than to get us to reject Jesus Christ…
      • But if they cannot get us to reject the Lord – at least compromise our walk with Him…
      • You can believe in Jesus – but education / money / job is MORE important…
      • Or you can believe in Jesus – just do NOT go to Bible studies – watch ONLINE instead…
      • Or you can go to a Bible study – just do NOT go every week – maybe once a month…
      • Or you can go to a Bible study – just do NOT invite anyone to go with you!
      • Anything to keep us from living our lives sold out for Jesus Christ
      • Anything to water down our FAITH in the Lord – COMPROMISE our walk with Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Following the command of the Lord… vs. 26-32
    • Moses replied – it is not RIGHT to do so…
      • To offer a SACRIFICE to the Lord – it would be an ABOMINATION to the Egyptians…
      • Egyptians did not worship the Lord – and might STONE the Israelites…
      • Instead – let the people go three days into the wilderness – just as God said!
    • Moses would not compromise – he would waver from the command of the Lord…
      • It would have been very tempting to give – make life easier – no persecution…
      • It can seem to be the better option to give in to the pressure of the world…
      • Certainly it would mean people / family / friends would give us an easier time…
      • But whom are we seeking to please – men or God!
      • If we seek to please MEN – then we are NOT serving Jesus!
      • Galatians 1:10 – “Do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”
    • Pharaoh again offered to let them go – but NOT very far away…
      • Moses agreed to INTERCEED for Pharaoh – ask the Lord to remove the FLIES…
      • And the Lord did as Moses said – not ONE fly was left in all Egypt…
      • But he warned the Pharaoh to NOT lie again – promising but not following through…
      • Yet as soon as the Lord removed all the flies – Pharaoh HARDENED his heart again!