Pharaoh's Five Tricks

God commissioned Moses to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians who have enslaved them and ill-treated them over centuries. He provided him an assistant in Aaron. Though the Israelites have lived in Egypt for about four centuries, they have always been kept separate, treated as menials and exploited. God in His perfect wisdom had decided it was time to rescue them from slavery, give them their own nation in Canaan and fulfill His promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Moses and Aaron got ready to go and meet the Pharaoh, arguably the most powerful man in the world, at that time. It was not easy, and curiously, we are told that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart! Common sense tells us that if we need to get some favour from a higher official or ruler, we need to soften his heart through platitudes, praises and even bribes. But obviously, our ways are neither His ways nor our thoughts His. He did this for many reasons:

1.     One of the chief reasons for the plagues, as well as of the miracles, was to establish the fact that the Jehovah of the Hebrews was the great Being who lives behind the whole apparatus of nature. Pharaoh had told Moses “Who is this God? I know nothing of Him”.

2.     Many centuries have gone by, and the Israelites have adopted the way of life of Egyptians and their religion. It was time to “introduce” Him to His people and let them see by their own eyes His might, authority, and glory.

3.     To give Moses and Aaron an opportunity to experience the truth and faithfulness of the God who commissioned them.

4.     To punish Pharaoh and his people for the way they had enslaved and exploited the “children of Israel”, who had migrated to their country on invitation during Joseph’s days.

5.     To set an example for the Israelites for all times and, through them, to us. 

Examining the interaction that took place between the Pharaoh and his officials on one side and Moses and Aaron on the other side makes an interesting study of Satan’s ways of obstructing believers from coming to Jesus. Today, most Christian believers are under some kind of bondage that holds them back from dedicating their lives totally to the Lord. The good old Satan who tricked Eve is still using his age-old tricks on believers and many of us keep falling for them.

The Pharaoh had absolutely no plan to let the Hebrews escape from his clutches. His mammoth building projects (the remains of which we can see even today) would come to a grinding halt, deprived of the free labor. Besides, his honor and authority as an absolute monarch were at stake. He tried one excuse after another as God sent one plague after another. He was aware, or made aware through the plagues, that he was up against a Superior power, but didn’t want to admit it.

Every time a plague hit he would resort to a trick to keep the Hebrews from leaving the country. He did this five times, before giving in. The similarity between his tricks and that of Satan’s today are surprising.

1.    Exodus 8:10 You can go tomorrow: Postpone / procrastinate

Exodus 8:10 Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. “All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

St Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:11 “…so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes”.

Today might be the last day of your life. Do not postpone the most important decision of your life. Tomorrow might be too late.

2.    Exodus 8:25 Sacrifice in the land: Conform/Compromise/do what everybody does.

Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Acts 2:40 Then Peter continued… strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

3.    Exodus 8:28. Do not go far: Do not go for a deeper experience with God

So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only, you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me”.

John 15:4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

John 15:9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

4. Exodus 10:10 Go by yourself – Do not bother about others’ salvation

Pharaoh said ‘’Not so! Go now, but men alone, and serve the Lord, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

Egyptian Idol Worship

Deuteronomy 16:11 You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant, and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widows who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.

Jesus always cared that when you are saved, your family--your kith and kin--must not be left out. The following verses make this clear:

Genesis 4:9 – Yahweh asked Cain, “Where is your brother?”

John 4:16 – Jesus told the Samaritan woman to bring her husband.

Josh. 24:15 – Joshua affirmed “For me and my household, we will serve the Lord”.

Acts 16:34 -- Paul told the jailor at Philippi  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household”.

5. Exodus 10:24  Leave your cattle back and go – Do not give anything to God

Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.

Exodus 25:2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.

God is pleased with sacrifices; God is pleased with a cheerful giver; miserliness is demonic but philanthropy is Godly. Those who give to the poor gives loan to God; God will return them to you.

Finally Pharaoh let the Israelite go along with their families, possessions and animals. Very soon he regretted his decision and started to chase them. It is history that the sea split into two to let the fugitives escape and closed over the pursuing army.

Moses rescued the Israelites from the clutches of the evil empire of Egypt. Jesus came to rescue us from the dominance of darkness, from the clutches of the Devil. The Bible makes it clear what God’s plan are for His people:

Isaiah 43:21 says “I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world”.

1 Peter 2:9… you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, and God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

God has our work cut out for us:

Acts 26:18… (you are) to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

He has assures us ‘’the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:20).

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