Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it." Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them. (Ex. 7:1-6 NIV)
Is there anything more annoying, more frustrating or more discouraging than talking to someone who will not listen to you? Parents know this and so do teachers, and other leaders. Perhaps that is why God continually warned Moses in advance that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened and he would not listen to him.
Verse 6 says “Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.” This verse is key to understanding the story that follows. Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and Aaron, but they did exactly as the Lord commanded them to do. From this point forward, there were no more excuses, no more arguments, and no more expressions of doubt. The two obeyed God precisely. There would have been no plagues and no exodus from the land, if Moses and Aaron had not obeyed.
We cannot expect God to use us to do great things, if we are not willing to turn our lives over to Him and follow his commands. It could not have been easy for Moses and Aaron to approach the most powerful man on earth and make demands that they knew he would not like. It must have been frightening to stand in his presence, expecting to hear him order their execution at any moment. It was probably very difficult to go back to their people and tell them that Pharaoh had once again mocked them and would not let the people go. They had to overcome fear, doubt, ridicule, and discouragement. Nevertheless they obeyed.
Go Down Moses
When Israel was in Egypt’s land, Let my people go
Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go.
Go down Moses, way down in Egypt’s land,
Tell old Pharaoh: Let my people go.
The Lord told Moses what to do, Let my people go.
To lead the children of Israel through, Let my people go.
The pillar of cloud shall clear the way A fire by night, shade by day,
As Israel stood by the waterside, God did command it divide.
When they had reached the other shore, Let my people go.
They sang the song of triumph o’er, Let my people go.
(African American Spiritual)
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