Explore the Bible: Confrontation

• The Explore the Bible lesson for Sept. 10 focuses on Exodus 7:1-13.

After God gave Moses his purpose during the “burning bush” episode, Moses ultimately responded with obedience by moving toward his cause that awaited him in Egypt. Along the way to today’s text, he—and his family—encountered multiple nerve-racking scenarios that left him in a place feeling as if he was doing less good and more harm.

When we follow God’s purpose, we will endure a harsh climate as we seek his cause for us.  Moses again questioned God (5:22-23), and God was swift to answer and prod further by saying, “Now you will see what I will do” (6:1a).  Get ready, friends.  God may be patient with his answer, but his answer will never fall short: God displays his power, reminding all that he alone is worthy of worship.

Strategy explained

God’s strategy for Moses was for him to “be like God to Pharaoh.” This may seem confusing, but Jewish scholar Nahum Sarna explained it well. He wrote that Moses would actually “fill the role of God in negotiations with Pharaoh, who claimed divinity for himself.  Moses’ divinely endowed power and authority will expose the hollowness of that claim” (Sarna, Exodus, p. 36). Aaron was God’s spokesman, showing that both brothers would only speak on behalf of God, while Pharaoh will be shown as a “wanna-be” god.

Within God’s explanation we see very clearly that even though we as humans may not know what will happen, God is proactive by anticipating what will happen. All of the negatives—hardened hearts, gruesome signs and wonders, deafened ears, judgments—already are pre-known by God, and he will use them for his glory. This is clearly God’s intention: He will use bad things to show who he is. Ask your group: How has God used bad things to show how good he is? 

One may easily connect this part of Israel’s history to Joseph, who not only brought Israel into Egypt, but also would enslave them by his political actions.  Remembering how he was enslaved by his brothers, he told them later in life, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).  Yes!  God can take bad things (even slavery) and use them in his strategy for good and his glory.  Perhaps someone in your class may have a similar story. Ask class members to share their experiences and give glory to God together.

Simple obedience

This brief segment points to what our response should be:  Simple obedience. Moses and Aaron’s obedience will play out through the remainder of these coming chapters, and we are shown their decision was made at this critical point. They had seen the glory of God by signs and wonders in private, so it was easier for their faith to be realized in spite of their concerns. Now that this decision had been made to pursue God’s strategy, these signs would become public and God’s plan would begin to unfold.

An interesting footnote is made of Moses and Aaron’s age—80 and 83 respectively. In our retirement-minded society, it is easy to think that once we retire from a daily job, we may retire from other activities—including God’s work. In the case of Moses and Aaron, their journey of following God and leading Israel was only just beginning. What is our response to this? How do we combat culture’s expectation with God’s expectation? Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom wrote, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere.” Remember, Mandela was freed from prison at age 71 and elected president of South Africa at age 75. 

Simple obedience to our God is necessary at any and all ages.

Signs and wonders

God’s public display begins as we move into the “signs and wonders” episode where God unleashed his mastery over creation to show Egypt he really is Almighty God. It starts with a simple sign, one already experienced in private:  The rod became a snake. Sarna remarks that this sign correlates with Ezekiel 29:3, where God says, “I am against you Pharaoh…you great monster lying among your streams.” The word used for “snake” and “great monster” are the same Hebrew word, tannin (Sarna, Exodus, 37).

Sadly, it seems little time is given to awe and wonder. The Egyptian priests were summoned and they successfully performed the same sign, likely giving a (brief) relief to Pharaoh’s assembly. Then things got interesting: Aaron’s rod/snake without command swallowed the others. Consider how this was an added sign of God’s superiority. We see as God won, Pharaoh responded with deeper hardening. With each added plague in the remaining chapters, Pharaoh grew darker and darker becoming more firm in his anti-God stance.

“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (9:16).  Moses confronted Pharaoh with God’s words:  Even as a ruler and hard-hearted man God would get glory. This sad reality will end with God’s glory, yet it also spells the end to a life that intensely resists God. Ask your class for a personal story that reflects this sad reality.

Closing

While we believe in God’s sovereignty, we also believe God allows humankind the decision:  Obey or disobey. We teach our children and grandchildren the same lesson, that obedience results in good and disobedience results in bad, but either way what should happen will happen.  God is ready to confront our lives with his plan that will be established. Stress that obedience and a softened heart will result with the person being on the right side of God’s glory.

Heath A. Kirkwood is lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Lorena.