God’s words to Moses are powerful: He's not just sending Moses with a message, but making Moses into a divine representative, a god, in Pharaoh's eyes. This means Moses wasn't just a messenger, but was clothed with God's authority and power to enforce His will against the might of Egypt.
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. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Moses' plea that he is unable to speak effectively and that God's previous actions had only angered Pharaoh and oppressed Israel, God reassures him. The Lord declares that He has now appointed Moses to a position of divine authority over Pharaoh, with Aaron acting as his spokesperson to convey God's message and commands. This divine backing empowers Moses to confront the Egyptian king and initiate the series of plagues that will ultimately lead to Israel's liberation.
Imagine standing before the most powerful ruler in the world, and God tells you you'll be like a god to him. What does that even mean? Exodus 7:1 unpacks this incredible, almost unbelievable, commission.
When God told Moses, 'I have made you like God to Pharaoh,' He wasn't saying Moses was divine. Instead, God was declaring that Moses would be His chosen representative, wielding His supreme authority against the Egyptian king.
A Divine Mandate
Moses, famously, had a speech impediment. So how was he supposed to confront the mighty Pharaoh? God’s answer involves his brother, Aaron, in a role that’s more than just a translator.
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While Moses was being elevated to a 'god-like' authority before Pharaoh, Aaron was given the crucial role of 'prophet.' This wasn't just about speaking; it was about being God's mouthpiece.
The Prophet's Role
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.
qashah · Hebrew Verb
To make stubborn, resolute, or unresponsive; it often involves God confirming a person’s existing rebellious trajectory to fulfill His sovereign purposes in judgment or redemption.
mopheth · Hebrew Noun
Extraordinary events or miracles that serve as supernatural evidence of divine power, intended to authenticate a message or messenger and reveal the character of God.
This divine appointment elevates Moses beyond a mere messenger to a divine representative, wielding God's power directly against Pharaoh. It sets the stage for the escalating conflict and the dramatic demonstration of God's sovereignty over Egypt and its deities.
c. 1446 BC
Moses' Early Life and Call
Moses, an Israelite raised in the Egyptian court, flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian. He lives as a shepherd for decades before God calls him from the burning bush to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
c. 1446 BC
First Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses and his brother Aaron return to Egypt and confront Pharaoh, demanding, 'Let my people go.' Pharaoh refuses and increases the burden on the Israelites, leading to despair.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
God Appoints Moses and Aaron
God reassures Moses, empowering him and Aaron to confront Pharaoh again. Moses is told he will be like God to Pharaoh, with Aaron acting as his prophet (spokesperson).
c. 1446 BC
The First Plague: Water to Blood
Following God's instructions, Aaron strikes the Nile with his staff, turning all the water to blood. This initial plague demonstrates God's power over Egypt's sources of life and its gods.
c. 1446 BC
Subsequent Plagues
A series of nine devastating plagues follow, each escalating in severity and targeting Egyptian beliefs. Pharaoh's heart is repeatedly hardened, leading to further suffering for Egypt and a hardening resolve in Pharaoh.
c. 1446 BC
The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn
God sends the final, most devastating plague, striking down every firstborn son in Egypt. This leads Pharaoh to finally relent and allow the Israelites to leave.
This passage shows a king, Saul, seeking counsel from a medium, highlighting the concept of seeking supernatural power or authority. It contrasts with Moses being divinely appointed to act with God's authority.
Isaiah 44:24-25These verses speak of God's sovereignty in creation and His ability to make human pronouncements appear foolish. This connects to Moses, empowered by God, acting as a divine representative against Pharaoh's supposed gods.
Jeremiah 1:4-10Here, God commissions Jeremiah, giving him authority to speak His words and confront nations. This mirrors the empowerment given to Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh with divine messages and power.
Romans 9:17-18This passage discusses God hardening Pharaoh's heart for His purposes. It directly relates to the context of Exodus 7:1, where God equips Moses to confront a hardened Pharaoh, emphasizing divine control over human will for His glory.
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’s words to Moses are powerful: He's not just sending Moses with a message, but making Moses into a divine representative, a god, in Pharaoh's eyes. This means Moses wasn't just a messenger, but was clothed with God's authority and power to enforce His will against the might of Egypt.
After Moses' plea that he is unable to speak effectively and that God's previous actions had only angered Pharaoh and oppressed Israel, God reassures him. The Lord declares that He has now appointed Moses to a position of divine authority over Pharaoh, with Aaron acting as his spokesperson to convey God's message and commands. This divine backing empowers Moses to confront the Egyptian king and initiate the series of plagues that will ultimately lead to Israel's liberation.
After Moses' plea that he is unable to speak effectively and that God's previous actions had only angered Pharaoh and oppressed Israel, God reassures him. The Lord declares that He has now appointed Moses to a position of divine authority over Pharaoh, with Aaron acting as his spokesperson to convey God's message and commands. This divine backing empowers Moses to confront the Egyptian king and initiate the series of plagues that will ultimately lead to Israel's liberation.
"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’s words to Moses are powerful: He's not just sending Moses with a message, but making Moses into a divine representative, a god, in Pharaoh's eyes. This means Moses wasn't just a messenger, but…
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Last reviewed October 2026
