A prophet’s role is to convey God’s message to whomever God designates to receive it. In this case, Moses and Aaron delivered God’s word to the most powerful man in the region.
The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land Exodus 7:1-2).
Moses and Aaron knew the power of the Pharaoh, but they also knew a far more important truth: If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31).
Throughout history, powerful leaders have often been surrounded by religious figures willing to tell them what they wanted to hear. This willingness often stems from religious leaders being tempted by proximity to political power, believing it will help them achieve their own goals.
In contrast, authentic prophets stand solely with God, as Moses and Aaron showed us in their confrontation with Pharaoh.
They speak God’s unwavering word into the situation, rather than changing their viewpoint like a chameleon to align with the leader’s desires.
Holding the World Hostage
One of my current favorite songs is by the singer-songwriter, John Moreland. Moreland is a large Oklahoma native, full of tattoos. I have a link to his song, “One Man Holds the World Hostage,” following his first two verses.
One man holds the world hostage
For his petty satisfaction
To watch the chain reaction
While he makes a redaction
One man holds the world hostage
To satisfy the sickness
While the rest of us bear witness
He’ll say it’s only business
One man holds the world hostage
‘Cause he’s afraid of his feelings
And he’s a fraud when he’s dealing
No telling what hе’s concealing
One man holds the world hostagе
Bulletproof and big as Jesus
Gonna do just what he pleases
‘Til it’s all torn to pieces
In Pharaoh’s day, he held the Egyptians and Hebrews hostage to his unwillingness to surrender his ego and luxurious lifestyle to God’s will.
God had something better for everyone, both Egyptians and Hebrews. He wanted them to know the reality of His presence and character. Exodus records what God told Moses about Pharaoh and what He was going to do.
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
When Pharaoh does not listen to you, I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring my people the Israelites, company by company, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.
The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them” (Exodus 7:3-5).
Throughout the plagues the text alternates between God hardening Pharaoh’s heart and the king hardening his own.
Rudy Ross has researched the Hebrew meaning of “to harden.” He believes “to harden” can also be translated as “to strengthen.” God strengthened Pharaoh’s thoughts and will (the Biblical meaning of “heart”).
I understand this hardening or strengthening to be nothing more than God giving Pharaoh what he wanted and thought best.
Knowing God
The Book of Acts recounts the death of Herod Agrippa I. According to the passage, on a chosen day, Herod arrayed himself in royal attire and delivered a public address.
The people with one voice cried out, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:23).
In that moment Herod Agrippa knew God. He may have thought himself to be a god, but the One True God revealed Himself in judgment.
Pharaoh was destined to know God through His judgment. The same is true for every tyrant who has ever lived and held their subjects hostage through oppressive means.
Paul knew this truth: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10).
We can praise God that there is another way to know God.
Jesus invited the disciples to follow Him. They had an everyday opportunity to be in the presence of God and to witness His character and nature through the life and teachings of Jesus.
As Jesus’ followers, we can experience Him every day too. As we talk to Him and listen to His voice in our lives, we have the opportunity to live in a personal relationship with the Lord.
Through the Holy Spirit, God will invite us to join Him in His work. As we align our lives with His plans, we will experience God in fuller measures.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 