How does Exodus 7:1 connect to God's sovereignty throughout the Bible? Setting the Scene in Exodus 7:1 • Exodus 7:1 — “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.” • The LORD Himself speaks; His word frames the entire conflict with Pharaoh. • God unilaterally assigns authority: Moses will stand in a role “like God,” Aaron will speak as prophet. • The verse opens the plague narrative with a clear declaration that ultimate power lies with God, not Egypt’s throne. Sovereignty on Display in Moses’ Commission • Divine prerogative: Only the LORD can elevate a shepherd to confront the world’s superpower (cf. 1 Samuel 2:7–8). • Delegated authority: God freely shares His authority yet never relinquishes control (Exodus 4:14–16). • Guaranteed outcome: Every plague will unfold exactly as spoken (Exodus 7:4–5). Pharaoh in God’s Hand • Exodus 9:16 — “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you.” • Romans 9:17 cites this event to prove God governs even the hardest hearts. • Proverbs 21:1 — “A king’s heart is a water channel in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” Echoes in the Rest of Exodus • Plagues demonstrate the LORD’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). • Red Sea crossing: God rules nature itself (Exodus 14:21–31). • Manna, water from rock, Sinai thunder—each episode reinforces that Israel’s fate depends on divine sovereignty, not circumstance. Wider Old Testament Witness • Daniel 4:35 — “He does as He pleases… No one can restrain His hand.” • Isaiah 45:7 — “I form the light and create darkness… I, the LORD, do all these things.” • Psalm 115:3 — “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.” • From Joseph’s rise in Egypt (Genesis 50:20) to Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 1:1), God steers nations to fulfill His word. New Testament Confirmation • Acts 2:23 — Jesus was “delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge,” proving the cross itself unfolded under divine sovereignty. • Ephesians 1:11 — He “works out everything according to the counsel of His will.” • Revelation 19:6 — “Alleluia! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” Why Exodus 7:1 Matters for Us • Assurance: The God who assigned Moses his role still directs history and our lives. • Humility: Human power, like Pharaoh’s, is temporary and subordinate. • Mission: As with Moses and Aaron, God equips His people to speak for Him, confident that His sovereign plan cannot fail (Matthew 28:18–20). |
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