Êxodo 7
Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin
Êxodo 7
Constable says "Moses was “as God” to Pharaoh in that he was the person who revealed God’s will (v. 1). Pharaoh was to be the executor of that will." Cassuto comments "Replying to Moses’ doubt, which was stated in the preceding verse in the words, ‘Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me?’, the Lord deals with his objections seriatim. He begins in a paternal tone: 1 See, my son, consider the matter well, and you will be convinced that all your anxieties can be easily set at rest. Regarding your first fear, that you are of ‘uncircumcised lips’, let me put you at ease at once: you have no need to do much speaking, for I have made you a god to Pharaoh. You will not only be a god vis-à-vis your brother Aaron (4:16)—that is, you will instruct him what to say, just as God instructs His prophets—but I have also made you a god before Pharaoh. Although Pharaoh is himself considered a deity, he is nevertheless accustomed to hear the prophets of Egypt address him in the name of their gods; now you will appear before him as one of the divinities, who do not speak directly but through their prophets, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet, and he will speak in your name to Pharaoh. These words possibly contain a bitter ironic reflection on the Egyptian deities who ‘have a mouth yet do not speak.’ But you, Moses, will transcend the gods of Egypt in that you will not be wholly dumb: You shall speak all that I command you—words few in number but decisive in content you will be able to speak, and you will utter them at My command; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, delivering speeches before him whenever required, and he will let go—that means to say, so that he may let go—the children of Israel from his land." (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) Thomas on prophet - A prophet is one who represents God to man and, as such, all the Lord’s people are prophets. Are we giving those around a true idea of God? NET - Moses was to be like God to Aaron, and Aaron was to speak for him. This indicates that the idea of a “prophet” was of one who spoke for God, an idea with which Moses and Aaron and the readers of Exodus are assumed to be familiar. Exodus 7:2 "You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. Ex 4:15 6:29 Dt 4:2 1Ki 22:14 Jer 1:7,17 Eze 3:10,17 Mt 28:20 Ac 20:27 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JEHOVAH WILL STILL SPEAK THROUGH MOSES You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land - Notice the pattern. Jehovah speaks the command to Moses and Aaron speaks exactly these words to Pharaoh. One is reminded of the warning in Dt 4:2 that "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." Neither Moses or Aaron were to add to the Word from Jehovah. God's demand remained unchanged and non-negotiable - "Let My people go!" God's plan was unchanged! As Ps 33:11 says "The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation." Exodus 7:3 "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. And I - Ex 4:21,29 multiply - Ex 4:7 9:16 11:9 De 4:34 7:19 Ne 9:10 Ps 78:43-51 105:27-36 Ps 135:9 Isa 51:9 Jer 32:20,21 Mic 7:15 Joh 4:48 Ac 2:22 7:36 Ro 15:19 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE PURPOSE OF PHARAOH'S HEART HARDENING But I will harden Pharaoh's heart - Pharaoh's heart problem is a key theme in Exodus 7-10 and is described in one of three ways - (1) God hardened his heart, (2) Pharaoh himself hardened his heart and (3) with the general statement without indicating the cause "his heart was hardened."
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Constable has an excellent comment - The ultimate purpose of God’s actions was His own glory (Ex 7:5). The glory of God was at stake. The Egyptians would acknowledge God’s faithfulness and sovereign power in delivering the Israelites from their bondage and fulfilling their holy calling. God’s intention was to bless the Egyptians through Israel (Ge 12:3+), but Pharaoh would make that impossible by his stubborn refusal to honor God. Nevertheless the Egyptians would acknowledge Yahweh’s sovereignty.
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Constable - These were not sleight-of-hand artists but wise men who were evidently members of the priestly caste (cf. Ge 41:8). The power of their demonic gods lay in their “secret arts” (Ex 7:11). They were able to do miracles in the power of Satan (1 Cor. 10:20; cf. Mt. 24:24; 2 Th 2:9,10; Rev. 13:13–14). The superiority of the Israelites’ God is clear in the superiority of Aaron’s serpent over those of the Egyptian magicians (Ex 7:12). The rod again represented regal authority and implied that Yahweh, not Pharaoh, was sovereign (cf. Ex 4:2–5). John Hannah - But when they did this Pharaoh's magicians duplicated the feat by their secret arts, probably miracles empowered by Satan, not merely some sleight-of-hand trickery. Satan is able to perform "all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders" (2 Th 2:9) that deceive (2 Th 2:10; Rev. 13:11-15; cf. Mt. 24:24). (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Guzik on they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same - Apparently, this wasn’t mere magic; the enchantments of the Egyptian magicians were examples of dark, demonic power showing itself in what at least appeared to be miracles. Miracles—or at least apparent miracles—are part of Satan’s arsenal. (Read 2 Th 2:9,10). This means that miracles can prove that something is supernatural, but they cannot prove that something is true. Driver adds that "Magic flourished in ancient Egypt; and many magical formulae are known to us from the inscriptions." Samuel Driver - The Egyptian magicians do the same. The art of serpent-charming is indigenous in the East: there are allusions to it in Ps. 58:5, Jer. 8:17, Eccl. 10:11; and it is practised in Egypt to the present day. Modern Egyptian serpent-charmers possess an extraordinary power over serpents, drawing them forth, for instance, by noises made with the lips, from their hiding-places, and by pressure applied to the neck throwing them into such a state of hypnotic rigidity that they can be held as rods by the tip of the tail (Lane, Mod. Eg., ch. 20, in ed. 1871, ii. 93 f.; DB. iii. 889a; EB. iv. 4394: see further references in Di.). The serpent commonly used for the purpose is a species of cobra. As Di., however, remarks, we hear elsewhere only of serpents becoming rods, not of rods becoming serpents: the latter, a also the swallowing up of the magicians’ rods by Aaron’s rod, is ‘peculiar to the Hebrew story (Sage).’ NET says magicians "seem to have been the keepers of Egypt’s religious and magical texts, the sacred scribes." Believer's Study Bible - Though the identity of these Egyptians is not mentioned, the names were evidently preserved in the oral history of Israel, and a form of them is very possibly given in 2 Ti 3:8 as Jannes and Jambres. Egyptian magicians had long ago mastered the art of inflicting a temporary paralysis on a cobra, making him appear stiff and rodlike. However, their "rods" were swallowed up by the "rod" of Aaron, which should have been a message to Pharaoh of the direction of events for the coming days (v. 12). The magicians were able to copy each of the first few miracles (Ex 7:22; Ex 8:7; Ex 9:11) until the plague of lice (Ex 8:18, 19). This suggests that the miracles gradually increased in difficulty and/or severity. This should teach us that something that appears to be the work of God may really be the work of Satan (2 Th 2:8-12). In order to be a genuine work of God, an experience must be associated with the proclamation of truth and must bring glory to God. MacArthur on secret arts - By means of their “witchcraft,” the wise men, sorcerers, and magicians demonstrated their abilities to perform a similar feat. Whether by optical illusion, sleight of hand, or learned physical manipulation of a snake, all sufficiently skillful enough to totally fool Pharaoh and his servants, or by evil supernaturalism, the evaluation given in the inspired record is simply “they also … did the same.” However, the turning of rods into snakes, and later turning water into blood (Ex 7:22) and calling forth frogs (Ex 8:7), were not the same as trying to create gnats from inanimate dust (Ex 8:18–19). At that point, the magicians had no option but to confess their failure. (MSB) NET on secret arts - The term בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם (bélahatehem) means “by their secret arts”; it is from לוּט (lut, “to enwrap”). The Greek renders the word “by their magic”; Targum Onqelos uses “murmurings” and “whispers,” and other Jewish sources “dazzling display” or “demons” (see further B. Jacob, Exodus, 253–54). They may have done this by clever tricks, manipulation of the animals, or demonic power. Many have suggested that Aaron and the magicians were familiar with an old trick in which they could temporarily paralyze a serpent and then revive it. But here Aaron’s snake swallows up their snakes. Driver on secret arts - with their usual mystic words or movements. Exodus 7:12 For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. but Aaron's - Ex 8:18,19 9:11 Ac 8:9-13 13:8-11 19:19,20 1Jn 4:4 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MY STAFF IS SUPERIOR THAN YOUR STAFF For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents - This is one of those scriptures where it is best to avoid dogmatism and argument. The staffs of the magicians are said to have become snakes just as in did the staff of Aaron. Some believe that this can be explained only by assuming that either (1) the magicians themselves had power to create life (WHICH I CONSIDER VERY UNLIKELY); or (2) on this occasion God gave them such power. Preferably it would seem that (3) the rods of the magicians were actually rigid snakes which, when cast upon the ground, were seen to be what they really were - snakes. Snakes were, and still are, a common element in the paraphernalia of Egyptian magicians. Compare Ex 4:2. As here the serpents, symbols of Satan who had the power of death (Heb 2:14; Rev 12:9), are swallowed up, so in resurrection death will be "swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor 15:54). Cp. Nu 17:8. Victory was won by our Lord Jesus Christ through His death at Calvary for sin, and by His resurrection. Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57). But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs - Notice Moses does not say Aaron's snake swallowed up the magician's snakes. It we can take this literally, then for a staff to swallow up another staff is even more of a miracle was a staff is inanimate and has not capability to eat anything! Charles Spurgeon preached a wonderful message titled The Power of Aaron’s Rod, in which he used this as an example of the truth that God’s power is greater than anything else, and can “swallow up” our idols and sins and such. Rod Mattoon - These men duplicated the miracle of Moses, most likely through Satanic powers. This is possible. (See 2 Timothy 3:8) Satan has the ability to imitate parts of God's work in order to lead others astray. He has the ability to offer all kinds of counterfeits, miracles, signs, and wonders to deceive mankind. Satan likes to simulate, to duplicate, to imitate Divine deeds and works. He does this in the spiritual realm in order to deceive mankind into rejecting God's truth and embracing error. Here, it was done to keep Pharaoh from believing God, and Pharaoh took the bait and embraced unbelief as we will see more about shortly....The fact that Aaron's rod swallowed up the magician's demonstrates the power of God is greater than Satan's power. There is a great message here. Aaron's rod will later blossom. Life will come from death. His rod is a type of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the victor over the old Serpent, the Dragon... Satan. One day, God's power will totally swallow up and destroy Satan once and for all. Good riddens! Jesus arose, conquering death, sin, and Satan. It is most encouraging to our faith to know that when God so pleases, He can swallow up any of His enemies. The enemies of God may put on quite a show and deceive many, but God can take care of the best the enemy has to offer. Paul speaks of Satan's power to counterfeit - Then that lawless one (ANTICHRIST) will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming (Rev 19:16-21); 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason (WHAT REASON? THEY REJECT THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD! THEY ARE THEN VULNERABLE TO ERROR!) God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false (THIS IS RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE - GOD GIVES THEM OVER TO THEIR SIN AND UNBELIEF, A FRIGHTENING PLACE TO BE!), (2 Th 2:8-11, cf 2 Cor 11:13-15, Mt 24:24)
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Constable - God designed them to teach the Egyptians that Yahweh sovereignly controls the forces of nature. The Egyptians attributed this control to their gods. John Currid has an interesting comment on vessels of wood and in vessels of stone - The final sentence of the verse reads literally, ‘Blood will be on all the land of Egypt and on the wooden [things] and stone [things].’ The terms ‘buckets’, ‘jars’, and ‘vessels’ etc. supplied by many translations are not found in the Hebrew text. To what, then, do ‘wooden [things] and stone [things]’ refer? Usually when the terms ‘wood’ and ‘stone’ are employed together they make reference to the physical substance of idols (see, for example, Dt. 28:36, 64; 29:17 [ED: SEE ALSO Dt 4:28, 2 Ki 19:18, Isa 37:19, Jer 3:9, Ezek 20:32cf Jer 2:27, ]). Egyptian priests washed the images of their gods in water every early morning. Thus, it may be that the water was turning to blood as they poured it on the idols. Perhaps this episode provides another example of mockery at the expense of Egyptian deities. (Other interpretations abound.) (EPSC-Ex) U Cassuto - The Bible does not, of course, mean to say that Aaron was to tour the whole land of Egypt for this purpose, but that, standing in his place, he would wave his rod to and fro in different directions, and in those directions to which he would point with his rod the water would turn to blood. As a result of all this, there shall be blood in all the land of Egypt (on the use of the word all in a hyperbolical sense, see below). The expression at the end of the verse, in [= on] wood and in stone means: ‘even on wood and on stone’, but it is not quite easy to understand to what the wood and stone refer. Vessels of wood and stone were uncommon in Egypt at that time; other explanations that have been suggested are improbably. When, however, we consider the fact that the term ‘wood and stone’ usually signifies idols in the Bible, and that the Egyptian priests used to wash the images of their gods in water every day early in the morning, we may possibly conjecture that the sense of the passage is that even the water that was poured that very morning over the idols turned to blood, thus providing another example of mockery at the expense of the Egyptian deities. (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) Exodus 7:20 So Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. he lifted up the staff - Ex 17:5,6,9-12 Nu 20:8-12 all the water that was in the Nile - Ex 7:17,18 Ps 78:44 Ps 105:29 Joh 2:9-11 Rev 8:8 Exodus 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries UNHESITATING OBEDIENCE So Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD had commanded - Moses gave Aaron Jehovah's command and Aaron carried out the command. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants - Recall they had come to the bank of the Nile to meet Pharaoh when he came down in the morning. Pharaoh had a "front row seat" to the power of Jehovah. God is going to help Pharaoh come to know Him! And all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood - It occurred just as God had said. The fact that it happened coincident with striking the Nile with the staff is NOT a coincidence but clear evidence of a miracle and the sovereignty of God over nature. Note that Moses does not say "like blood" but "to blood." Both the Hebrew word (dam) and the Greek word (haima) both refer to literal blood. (Ex 7:17, Ex 7:19, Ex 7:20, Ex 7:21). This was literally blood, whether we can fully comprehend that or not. Surprisingly even conservative writers occasionally suggest it was "like blood" but not really blood. J Ligon Duncan - The result, of course, of Moses and Aaron’s actions is an ecological disaster of epic proportions. It affected not only the Nile, but water throughout Egypt. Moses and Aaron don’t do incantations, they don’t do any rituals, they simply do what God tells them without any drama, without any fanfare, and it happens. When the magicians attempt to duplicate, they do it with...secret arts.... As God brings judgment on the Nile, we see here a picture that Egyptian polytheism is futile in the face of the sovereign God of Israel. The Nile was worshipped as a god, and its water was the lifeblood of Egypt.