Contributor: Alex Kokobili

INTRODUCTION

Chapters 7 and 8 are a continuation of the previous two (chapters 5 and 6), which deepened our understanding of how God revealed Himself to Moses. The previous chapters showed how Moses encountered God as Yahweh, an encounter that revealed Him as the deliverer, requiring Moses to act as His regent on earth, and one who would lead Israel out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Today’s study focuses on deepening our understanding of how God fights our battles, drawing on the display of God’s power in the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. The discussion engages the idea of God’s liberation from the concept of how He does signs, wonders, and miraculous happenings. Moses’ engagement with Pharaoh helps bring this study into context. The example of Moses as a prophet whose assignment can be described as the deliverer was beyond a historical event, but a lesson that is still applicable in our current life experiences.

PART ONE CHAPTER 7
Verses 1-6 (The anointing and obligation for Moses to lead Israel’s liberation)
The discussion starts by pointing to a nuance in how God wanted Moses to take his spiritual posture in confronting Pharaoh over the freedom of Israel from slavery.
Verse 1: So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.”

We observe that the chapter starts with SO, signifying “Ze kakh,” (Hebrew) which refers to pointing to something new that has just been revealed or happened. What is this new thing?
This tells us that God released an instant anointing on Moses to act as a God to Pharaoh for the purpose of redeeming His people.
A similarity of an introduction of a person was introduced as anointed, which showed a shift in the functionality of such a person can also be seen in 1 John 2: 27: "Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you." But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.
“Now” in the New Testament context means “Now or vuv,” referring to instant redemption, or instant arrival. We see similar usage in Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.)
In the case of Moses – Exodus 7: 1, the Bible reintroduced him as one who is anointed for the assignment of liberating Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.
Why the need for such attention on Moses as the anointed for the assignment, and Aaron, the one who would serve as Moses’s associate?
The anointing on Moses was so powerful that Moses was described as a God to Pharaoh, while Aaron was to be Moses’ prophet (Ex 7:1-2).
The anointing is specific to an assignment, and realized that God is mindful of your limitations, which could be physical, educational, socio-cultural, or even health-related, as it was in the case of Moses. Provided the specific project in life is associated with God’s salvation and deliverance, and we are also willing to take up the task, God will create the channel that will assist us in carrying out the task, such as Aaron, for the fulfilment of the project.
Take note: Moses had already gone through various stages of preparation before God could entrust him as God to Pharaoh. For instance:

A. Moses learnt how to approach royalty while growing up in Pharaoh’s household (See Exodus chapter 2). There was an expected behaviour for kings or royalty in the Bible days in the Old Testament. For instance,
1 Samuel 10: 25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home.

B. Moses’ faith in associating himself with the people of Israel and their affliction, rather than being identified as Pharaoh’s son.
Hebrews 11: 24 – 25 Faith enabled Moses to choose God’s will, for although he was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he refused to make that his identity, choosing instead to suffer mistreatment with the people of God. Moses preferred faith’s certainty above the momentary enjoyment of sin’s pleasures.

C. Moses’ faith even while he fled Egypt.
Hebrews 11: 27 Holding faith's promise, Moses abandoned Egypt and had no fear of Pharaoh's rage because he persisted in faith as if he had seen God, who is unseen. That is “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him, God, who is invisible.”

D. Moses’ life in the land of Midian and spiritual oversight from Jethro, the priest of Midian (Exodus chapter 2). The name Jethro means excellence. Note: The burning bush experience happened while Moses was tending to Jethro’s sheep

E. You will realise that in the future chapter, Exodus 18, that Jethro’s spirituality was revealed. Jethro knew the God of the Hebrews, and so he was not a pagan priest. Jethro understood God as the deliverer of Israel, and it reflected in the names of Moses’ children (V- 11)
In Exodus 18:12, Jethro made a burnt offering to God.
In Exodus 18: 17, Jethro advised Moses to appoint elders over the people of Israel.

Verses 7 – 13. (God’s Instruction To Moses And Aaron, And Signs Required For Pharaoh)

The narrative at this point started with Moses and Aaron visiting Pharaoh despite their old age. Moses was 80, while Aaron was 83 years old.
A. They realized that the miraculous dimension assignment was required as Pharaoh needed to be convinced about God’s supremacy.

B. The power dimension is required, especially for a task that is connected to deliverance, provided the foundation has been laid on the word of God. (1 Corin 4:40 The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. It is a matter of power.) Power has various dimensions, and we will observe that different levels of power were displayed by Moses in Egypt to convince Pharaoh.

C. To operate in the power of the miraculous, you will need a life that is fully concentrated and plugged into God. Miracles are meant to enhance our faith in God, and not to replace the authority of the word of God or to be idolized.

D. Aaron’s staff was to be put to work immediately. The turning of Aaron’s staff into a serpent, and while the serpent swallowed those whom the magicians of Egypt produced, was quite symbolic in showing the authority of God upon Moses and Aaron’s assignment above the power of the sorcerers of Egypt.

Verses 14 – 25. (God Instructed Moses To Inform Pharaoh About Events To Happen In Egypt If He Refused To Release Israel From Slavery To Freedom).

A. God told Moses that Pharaoh would not listen to him, but Moses was still required to act on the instructions of the almighty God. Are you going to give up on stubborn challenges? Moses never showed any sign of discouragement at this point, realizing the battle ahead would be a stubborn one.

B. Moses had to go and deliver the message to Pharaoh at the specified time and did not argue. This was Moses’ reality. Make up your mind to stop arguing with God’s instruction. Delay no more.
Moses knew about God’s vision for Israel’s liberation: EXODUS 7:16 “And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”: (Always say what God says without diluting the word).

SIGNS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE ASSIGNMENT IN EGYPT.
There will always be a sign for each assignment. For example:

C. EXODUS 7: 19 – 21. (Turning of water into blood). This was to cut off the supply of fresh water to nature, marine life, and drinkable water in Egypt.

D. Although the Egyptian magicians tried to replicate the same with water they dug from the side of the Nile, the Lord later further struck the river, and they could not drink the water (V23-24).

PART TWO: CHAPTER 8
Verses 1 – 6. (Frogs In The Rivers And Waterways Of Egypt)
Moses, through Aaron, stretched his rod over the rivers, streams, and ponds and caused frogs to come over the land of Egypt. You will notice a similarity between the first sign, which was turning of water into blood, and now, frogs in the waterways of Egypt.

A. Mythologists would tell that frogs were also symbolic to the Egyptians in terms of the god of fertility. So, you can imagine the agony the Egyptians went through to see the replica of one of the types of their gods everywhere.

B. Frogs also depicted that evil spirits were hovering over the land of Egypt. See, Revelations 16: 13 -14 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

• Verses 7 – 10. Although magicians of Egypt brought out frogs from Egyptian waterways, they failed to overturn the reproach inflicted on the land by God.
• Verse 8. Pharaoh agreed to let Israel go to fulfil God’s purpose, “and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” Provided the frogs were taken away.
• Verse 9. Moses offered to pray for Pharaoh so that God would reconsider his judgment over Egypt.
• Verse 10. Moses was obliged to pray for Pharaoh because “And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.”
• Verses 11 - 15. The frogs were to depart from the land of Egypt, but to remain in the RIVER for an extra day. This temporary relief for Pharaoh hardened his heart from repentance.
• Verses 16 – 19. Moses, through Aaron, released lice over the land of Egypt. Yet pharaoh’s heart was hardened.
• Verses 20 – 24. Flies Were Released Over The Land Of Egypt And Corrupted It The Land.

A. Flies are attracted to deadness, bad smells, and odours. (Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause a bottle of perfume to stink.

B. Flies are associated with maggot, which is associated with destruction or humiliation in the Bible (Isaiah 14: 11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.)

C. Flies were not permitted to fly into Goshen (V 22- 23). This was to indicate that a mark of destruction was against the Egyptians, while God displayed His love and redemptive agenda for Israel.
“And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. 23 I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be”.

• Verses 25 - 27. Pharaoh agreed to free Israel and told Moses that Israel could go and sacrifice to God only within Egypt, but Moses rejected it. STAY WITH GOD’S PATTERN.

Moses considered it unholy for Israel to sacrifice to God in Egypt because the land had become an abomination to God. This intention was rejected by Moses.

See an example of a similar situation.
Psalm 137: 1- 6 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! 6 If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

The word mirth referred to the intention of mockery in an action of the Babylonians towards Israel. That is, singing the song in their land was to mock them, because they knew that the God of Israel would not accept such praise.
So, we now understand that Moses had such a high level of understanding to rebut Pharaoh’s suggestion, as God already specified that Israel would sacrifice to Him outside the land of Egypt in the wilderness.

• Verse. 27. Moses would rather accept a three-day journey with the children of Israel to sacrifice to God, rather than in Egypt, where God had already rejected them.
• Verse. 28. Pharaoh agreed to let the children of Israel go, but did not want them far from him.
• Verse. 29. Moses advised Pharaoh to stop his deception of false promises, realizing that they needed to go to sacrifice to God. YOU NEED TO BE SPIRITUALLY FIRM IN LETTING THE ENEMY KNOW YOUR RIGHT AS A CHILD OF GOD. Moses was spiritually firm and not physically arrogant.

CONCLUSION
The surest form of deliverance is the genuineness of the word of God. While many love the display of God’s anointing and power, they lack the foundation of the word of God, which has power to deliver us from all forms of bondage in life (Psalm 107:20 He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. Moses understood the ways of God and was not moved by the signs and wonders in Egypt, despite its significance in facilitating the liberation mandate (Psalm 103: 7 He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel). It is expected that the life of a believer should be filled with signs and wonders, such as healing the sick, ministering the power of salvation to deliver the oppressed and downtrodden in life, and other experiences that affirm the Bible beyond a historical event, but a reality that makes it easy for people to believe that we serve the true and living God.
Having a relationship with God helps us to understand his ways and power. Do not just seek signs and manifestations, but seek God in His entirety, and then you would be able to understand the manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit and diligently carry out a specific assignment as regards to your life, family, school, the church, or the nation at large, which was seen in the study from the ministry of Moses.