Exodus 7:1
And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about Moses being powerful; it highlights that God is appointing Moses as His representative to Pharaoh. Aaron, then, becomes Moses' mouthpiece, underscoring that their authority and words come directly from God, not from their own strength or eloquence.
After Moses' initial frustrating encounter with Pharaoh and the Israelites' subsequent despair, God reassures Moses and Aaron. He tells Moses he will be like a god to Pharaoh, given authority to command and perform miracles, while Aaron will act as Moses' prophet, speaking for him to the king. This divine empowerment sets the stage for the escalating plagues and the dramatic confrontation that will unfold.
Moses felt small and unqualified. But God declared Moses would be like 'a god' to Pharaoh. What does that really mean for us?
God didn't just ask Moses to deliver a message; He empowered him to act with divine authority.
A Divine Commission
When God tells Moses, 'See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh,' it’s not about Moses becoming divine. Instead, God is appointing Moses as His direct representative, His vicegerent. Think of it like an ambassador who speaks and acts with the full authority of their home country.
Power to Command and Control
This meant Moses, through God’s power, could command Pharaoh and control the plagues. He wasn't just relaying information; he was an instrument through which God’s sovereign power would be displayed. Pharaoh was to stand in awe of Moses, not because of Moses himself, but because God was working powerfully through him.
Aaron's role is crucial, but he's not just a sidekick. He’s the vital link between God's appointed authority and the one who needs to hear it.
Aaron isn't just speaking for Moses; he is functioning as a prophet, translating God's revealed will and power.
The Spokesperson for God's Authority
God states, 'Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.' This means Aaron would be Moses' mouthpiece, relaying the divine commands and pronouncements to Pharaoh. While Moses held the direct divine authority given by God, Aaron was the one who articulated it verbally, acting as an interpreter of God’s will and Moses' empowered words.
A United Front for God's Purpose
This partnership was essential. Moses, perhaps feeling inadequate in speech, had Aaron to clearly communicate God's message. Together, they presented a unified front, demonstrating God's power and intent, with Moses embodying the authority and Aaron clearly proclaiming it.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, signifying His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His promises.
nabiy' · Hebrew Noun
In this context, it denotes a person commissioned to speak divine revelations or represent the authority of one party to another. It implies a mouthpiece or mediator who conveys the message of a higher authority.
This verse is spoken right before the dramatic escalation of the plagues. God is positioning Moses and Aaron not just as messengers, but as direct agents of His power, essentially acting as divine representatives before Pharaoh.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
The Israelites have been living in Egypt for generations, and their population has grown significantly. This growth leads to fear among the Egyptians, who then enslave the Israelites.
c. 1446 BC
Moses's Call at the Burning Bush
God appears to Moses in the desert and commissions him to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
c. 1446 BC
First Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron, newly appointed and hesitant, first demand that Pharaoh let the Israelites go. Pharaoh refuses and increases their burden.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
God Appoints Moses and Aaron
God reassures Moses, telling him that he has been made like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron will be his prophet (spokesperson) for the coming confrontation.
This passage shows King Saul, in his desperation, seeking out the witch of Endor because he felt abandoned by God, highlighting the immense authority and divine connection Moses was being given, making him a powerful figure to Pharaoh.
Jeremiah 1:10Here, God commissions Jeremiah, saying 'See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.' This echoes the authority given to Moses to 'root out' Pharaoh's power and 'build' Israel's freedom.
John 10:35Jesus states that 'the Scripture cannot be broken; and he calls them gods, to whom the word of God came.' This connects directly to Exodus 7:1, explaining that those through whom God's Word comes and with whom God's power is demonstrated can be referred to as 'gods' in a representative sense.
2 Corinthians 5:20Paul writes, 'We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.' This verse illustrates the concept of being God's representative, just as Moses was made 'like God' to Pharaoh, speaking and acting with divine authority.
clarkeExodus 7:1: "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet."
I have made thee a god - At thy word every plague shall come, and at thy command each shall be removed. Thus Moses must have appeared as a god to Pharaoh. Shall be thy prophet - Shall receive the word from thy mouth, and communicate it to the Egyptian king, Exodus 7:2.
bensonExodus 7:1: "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet."
Exodus 7:1 . A god to Pharaoh — That is, my representative in this affair, as magistrates are called gods, because they are God’s vicegerents. He was authorized to speak and act in God’s name, and endued with a divine power, to do that which is above the ordinary course of nature. And Aaron shall be thy prophet — That is, he shall speak from thee to Pharaoh, as prophet…
This verse isn't just about Moses being powerful; it highlights that God is appointing Moses as His representative to Pharaoh. Aaron, then, becomes Moses' mouthpiece, underscoring that their authority and words come directly from God, not from their own strength or eloquence.
After Moses' initial frustrating encounter with Pharaoh and the Israelites' subsequent despair, God reassures Moses and Aaron. He tells Moses he will be like a god to Pharaoh, given authority to command and perform miracles, while Aaron will act as Moses' prophet, speaking for him to the king. This divine empowerment sets the stage for the escalating plagues and the dramatic confrontation that will unfold.
After Moses' initial frustrating encounter with Pharaoh and the Israelites' subsequent despair, God reassures Moses and Aaron. He tells Moses he will be like a god to Pharaoh, given authority to command and perform miracles, while Aaron will act as Moses' prophet, speaking for him to the king. This divine empowerment sets the stage for the escalating plagues and the dramatic confrontation that will unfold.
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c. 1446 BC
The First Plague: Water to Blood
As commanded by God, Aaron strikes the Nile with Moses's staff, turning the water to blood and killing the fish, a significant blow to Egyptian life and worship.
c. 1446 BC
Subsequent Plagues Inflicted
A series of escalating plagues, including frogs, gnats, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness, are brought upon Egypt as Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
c. 1446 BC
Death of the Firstborn
The final and most devastating plague strikes, resulting in the death of every firstborn Egyptian son and animal. This leads Pharaoh to finally allow the Israelites to leave.
"And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet." — This verse isn't just about Moses being powerful; it highlights that God is appointing Moses as His representative to Pharaoh. Aaron, then, becomes Moses' mouthpiece, underscoring that their author…
