2025-04-27 Sermon Notes1

To punish Pharaoh

To harden Pharaoh's heart

To reveal that God is the only God, not the gods of Egypt

to glorify God

Romans 9.17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

God warned Pharaoh that He would bring judgment upon Egypt and He brought Pharaoh an opportunity to turn and repent and be spared. But Pharaoh did not and would not do this.

• Exodus 7:8-10 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Perform a miracle!' then you shall tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.'" Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded. Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
• Matthew 12.39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
• God provided a very clear sign: The serpent of Moses ate the serpent of Pharaoh's sorcerer's. This very clearly communicates the message "God is able to swallow you up, just like His snake swallowed up your snakes".
  • But how did Pharaoh respond to this? Pride. Arrogance. His heart was hardened. He still refused to let God's people go.
    • This is not rational behavior. This is what sin causes us to do. To lose all our reason.
    • When we encounter great calamity in our lives, floods and plagues etc. this should cause us to set aside our pride, to see God's incredible power, and to worship Him.
      • But so often, this is not how we react. Instead, many people just become bitter and angry against God.
      • Ecclesiastes 7:4-6 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
      • The same rod that turned into a serpent and ate the Pharaoh's serpents, sent a terrible plague upon Egypt:
        • Exodus 7:15-17 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he is going out to the water. You shall stand by the river's bank to meet him. You shall take the rod which was turned to a serpent in your hand. You shall tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. Behold, until now you haven't listened." Yahweh says, "In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold: I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
          • Notice that Moses and God did not provide another warning, here. He simply brought the plague that He said He would.
    • Pharaoh not only continued in His rebellion against God, He even continued in HIs polytheism.
    • In pride, Pharaoh's magicians also turned water into blood and so Pharaoh denied God.
      • Exodus 7.22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments. So Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.
        • Instead of disproving God, all they did was make the problem even worse. They heaped even more destruction upon themselves.
      • Such foolishness! Thinking that you are as mighty as God simply because you can bring destruction like Him.
        • Do not forget that God not only brought the plague, but God also took away the plague after 7 days (Exodus 7.25).
      • Romans 2:4-5 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;
      • Even Pharaoh's disobedience simply brings God more glory.
        • Psalm 76.10 Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
        • though we rebel against God, deny God His glory and worship, we are only heaping judgment upon ourselves.

• Be warned. God protects His people and smites those who stand against His people.
  • Do not be like Pharaoh. Do not reject the truth, choosing pride and darkness.
• The wrath of God is coming. He will destroy all false gods.