Give in to God - Exodus 7

Exodus 7:1-11:10 "Give in to God" 

Readings: 7:1-13; 11:1-10. 

 

Intro: Throwing down the Gauntlet 

 

1) Power & People in the Plagues 

 

The Snake Crusher (7:8-13) 

 

 

Supreme Power: Blood (7:14-24); Frogs (7:25-8:15); Gnats (8:16-19) 

 

Distinction: Flies (8:20-32); Livestock (9:1-7); Boils (9:8-12) 

 

Devastation: Hail & Lightning (9:13-35); Locusts* (10:1-20); Darkness (10:21-29) 

 

Justice: Death of the Firstborn – The Passover (11:1-12:30) 

 

 

2) Purpose in the Plagues 

 

Recall: Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.' (5:2) 

 

Just: So that you know... 

• by this you will know that I am the Lord (7:17) 
• so that you know there is no one like the Lord our God (8:10) 
• so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land (8:22) 
• so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth (9:14) 
• so you may know that the earth is the Lord’s (9:29) 
• that you may know that I am the Lord (10:2) 

 

 

 

Hard-Hearted Response: 

• God declares he will harden Pharaoh's heart (Ex. 4:21; 7:3-4a; 14:4) 
• The Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart (Ex. 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; 10:27; 11:10; 14:8) 
• Pharaoh's heart was hard (Ex. 7:13; 7:14; 7:22 unyielding; 8:19; 9:7 unyielding; 9:35; 14:5) 
• Pharaoh hardens his own heart (Ex. 8:15; 8:32; 9:34) 

 

 

He [Pharaoh] would not listen (Ex. 7:13; 7:22; 8:15; 8:19; 9:12)  

Would not let the people go (Ex. 8:32; 9:7; 9:35; 10:20; 10:27; 11:10) 

 

Not all bad: 

• … the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ (8:19) 
• Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. (9:20) 
• (The Lord made the Egyptians favourably disposed towards the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)  (11:3) 

 

 

3) Persistent Passion 

 

Where are the God’s people in these chapters? 

 

• I will, I am continued (7:3-5) 

 

 

• Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:12-15) 

 

 

Questions to chew on: 1) Read Exodus 4:21-23; How does these verses reveal the power and sovereignty of God before the events of chapters 7 to 11?  2) How does chapter 7:8-13 show that God's power is greater than Pharoah and the Egyptian gods?   3) Reflect on the hardness of Pharoah's heart and of Israel in the wilderness; in what ways are you tempted to harden your heart against God? What are the areas where you most need to give in to God?  4) Give thanks that the all-powerful God over all creation, who hardens hearts is also able to soften hearts for repentance. Pray that he would soften yours and the hearts of those you are praying for to come to know Jesus too.

Memory verse: Exodus 9 v 16   "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

My own questions for later: