Exodus 7 Devotional

A Heart That Will Not Listen

“And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.””Exodus 7:5 (BSB)

The contest with Pharaoh begins. Aaron's staff becomes a serpent and swallows the staffs of Egypt's magicians (7:12). Then the Nile, the river where Pharaoh had ordered Israel's sons drowned, turns to blood. The fish die, the river stinks, and the Egyptians dig along its banks for water to drink (7:20-24). Pharaoh simply goes back into his palace and takes none of it to heart (7:23).

The chapter is frank that two things are true at once. God says he will harden Pharaoh's heart (7:3), and Pharaoh's own heart is unyielding as he refuses again and again (7:13-14). The text does not explain how these fit together, but it holds Pharaoh fully responsible and shows God fully in control. The purpose of these judgments is stated plainly: Egypt will know that he is the LORD (7:5). Each sign is also a summons to recognize him. The warning lands close to home. Hebrews urges its readers, while it is still today, not to harden their hearts when they hear God's voice (Hebrews 3:15).

To think about: Is there a word from God you keep hearing and setting aside, and what would it look like to take it to heart?