What role does faith play in Moses and Aaron's actions in Exodus 7:8? Setting the Scene • Israel is in bondage. Pharaoh has refused every diplomatic appeal. • God commissions Moses and Aaron to confront the most powerful ruler on earth. • Exodus 7:8: “The LORD said to Moses and Aaron.” One brief sentence, yet it frames everything that follows. The Voice That Creates Faith • Faith is never self-generated; it begins with God’s spoken word (Romans 10:17). • By addressing both brothers, the LORD reinforces shared responsibility and mutual trust. • The simplicity of the statement underscores certainty—God is not negotiating; He is directing. Faith That Listens • Moses and Aaron have already witnessed God’s faithfulness (burning bush, Aaron’s rod, return from Midian). • Genuine faith tunes its ear to God even when circumstances are intimidating (Hebrews 11:27). • Their history of hesitation is giving way to a settled confidence; every new word from God deepens that trust. Faith That Obeys • The command that follows in verses 9–10—cast the staff before Pharaoh—is impossible without prior faith. • Obedience is immediate; there is no recorded debate or delay. • James 2:17: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Their action animates their belief. Faith That Expects Opposition • God warns of Pharaoh’s resistance (Exodus 7:3–4). • Faith does not guarantee smooth results; it equips God’s servants to persevere in the face of rejection. • Hebrews 11:29 highlights Israel’s eventual crossing of the Red Sea “by faith,” a victory that begins with this initial step of confronting Pharaoh. Faith That Magnifies God • The forthcoming signs are not showmanship; they display Yahweh’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). • Each obedient act allows God’s power to be publicly revealed, turning personal faith into national testimony. New-Covenant Echoes • 2 Corinthians 5:7—“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Moses and Aaron embody this walk long before Paul writes it. • Their reliance on God foreshadows Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father (John 5:19). Living Out the Lesson • Hear God’s Word daily; faith thrives on repeated exposure. • Act promptly on what Scripture commands, trusting outcomes to the Lord. • Expect resistance yet remain unshaken, knowing God’s purposes never fail (Isaiah 55:11). |