Exodus 7:1-2
And 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 people of Israel go out of his land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God tells Moses he's been made "like God" to Pharaoh, not because Moses is divine, but because he'll be God's direct representative, wielding power far beyond human ability. Aaron, in turn, becomes Moses' "prophet," essentially meaning his spokesperson or interpreter, highlighting Moses' ultimate authority in this divine delegation.
After Pharaoh's initial rejection of Moses' demands, leading to harsher treatment of the Israelites, Moses expresses his discouragement to the Lord. In response, God reassures Moses and Aaron, commissioning them with divine authority for the daunting task ahead. God declares that Moses will act as God's representative, like a divine authority, to Pharaoh, with Aaron serving as Moses' spokesperson to communicate God's will and pronouncements.
Moses felt unqualified, but God declared He had already made Moses uniquely powerful for this task. What does this tell us about stepping into God's calling?
God tells Moses, 'I have made you like God to Pharaoh.' This isn't about Moses becoming divine, but about God investing him with His own authority. Think of it like a king appointing an ambassador – the ambassador speaks and acts with the king's power, not their own.
Moses was to be 'like God,' but Aaron was to be his 'prophet.' What role did Aaron play, and why was this partnership essential?
God appoints Aaron as Moses's 'prophet.' This doesn't mean Aaron was merely a passive mouthpiece, but rather the one who would articulate God's message, received through Moses, to Pharaoh.
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 at a critical juncture, just before the dramatic escalation of God's power through the plagues. God is equipping Moses and Aaron, who have already faced Pharaoh's initial rejection and the people's despair, by emphasizing the immense authority they now carry as God's direct representatives.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
The Israelites have been living in Egypt for generations and are now enslaved, facing harsh conditions and forced labor under Egyptian rule.
c. 1446 BC
Moses' Call at the Burning Bush
God appears to Moses in the burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses expresses doubts about his ability to confront Pharaoh.
c. 1446 BC
First Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron deliver God's message to Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites. Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he refuses, increasing the Israelites' workload.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
God Appoints Moses and Aaron
The LORD reassures Moses, stating He has made Moses like God to Pharaoh and Aaron his prophet, empowering them to confront the Egyptian king with divine authority.
This passage shows God appointing Jeremiah to a prophetic role, similar to how Moses is given authority and Aaron is designated as his prophet to speak God's word.
1 Samuel 3:15-18Samuel, like Moses, is reluctant to tell Eli the full message from God. This highlights the weight and often difficult nature of delivering God's pronouncements, even when appointed.
Isaiah 45:1-4God declares Cyrus as His anointed, giving him authority to conquer nations and to know that God is with him. This parallels God empowering Moses to act with divine authority over Pharaoh.
Deuteronomy 18:18God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, emphasizing Moses' unique role as a mediator and deliverer. This verse underscores the significance of Moses' appointed authority in Exodus 7:1.
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…
God tells Moses he's been made "like God" to Pharaoh, not because Moses is divine, but because he'll be God's direct representative, wielding power far beyond human ability. Aaron, in turn, becomes Moses' "prophet," essentially meaning his spokesperson or interpreter, highlighting Moses' ultimate authority in this divine delegation.
After Pharaoh's initial rejection of Moses' demands, leading to harsher treatment of the Israelites, Moses expresses his discouragement to the Lord. In response, God reassures Moses and Aaron, commissioning them with divine authority for the daunting task ahead. God declares that Moses will act as God's representative, like a divine authority, to Pharaoh, with Aaron serving as Moses' spokesperson to communicate God's will and pronouncements.
After Pharaoh's initial rejection of Moses' demands, leading to harsher treatment of the Israelites, Moses expresses his discouragement to the Lord. In response, God reassures Moses and Aaron, commissioning them with divine authority for the daunting task ahead. God declares that Moses will act as God's representative, like a divine authority, to Pharaoh, with Aaron serving as Moses' spokesperson to communicate God's will and pronouncements.
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c. 1446 BC
The First Plague Begins
Following God's instructions, Aaron strikes the Nile with his staff, turning the water into blood and initiating the first of ten plagues upon Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues of Egypt
A series of devastating plagues are inflicted upon Egypt, demonstrating God's power over creation and Egyptian gods, progressively weakening Pharaoh's resolve.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally allows the Israelites to leave Egypt, marking the beginning of their Exodus from slavery.
"And 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 people of Israel go out of hi…" — God tells Moses he's been made "like God" to Pharaoh, not because Moses is divine, but because he'll be God's direct representative, wielding power far beyond human ability. Aaron, in turn, becomes…
