This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to Exodus 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 7 God tells Moses that Pharaoh will not listen to him. This is because God is eternal, that is outside of time, and omnitemporal, that is everywhere in time. But God also knows Pharaoh so well he knows what we will do. This is like parents who generally know what their children will do.
If God knows what we will do, does this mean we have no choice? Not at all, but we should cry out to Him to change us and help us follow Him according to His will.
Next, the really supernatural part of the Exodus story begins, with rod turning into a snake, and the Egyptian magicians doing the same, thus hardening Pharaoh’s heart. Many people in western society think that something like this is mythical, and yet they are not aware that for billions of people, the supernatural is a daily part of life around the world. In the west the devil has a covert strategy, but many other places he has an overt strategy.
Moses then is told by God to use his rod to strike the Nile and it will turn to blood. Presumably this was only in the land of Egypt, as the Nile is a very long river running through other nations. This is the first of the ten plagues.
One wonders why all the people had to suffer for the sin of the Pharaoh, and yet if we paid careful attention to the story from the beginning we realize that all of Egypt had participated in his command to kill Hebrew boys. This is collective sin, guilt and judgement. And additionally, there are a number of other perspectives on why the plagues were collective which you can find out by watching the video. The plagues were God’s mercy, and this video will explain that.
Feb 27, 2021 | Message by David Alley