The narrative of Pharaoh negotiating with Moses and Aaron is a pivotal episode in the Book of Exodus, illustrating the struggle between the divine will of God and the hardened heart of Pharaoh. This account is primarily found in Exodus chapters 7 through 11, where God commands Moses and Aaron to demand the release of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The interactions between Pharaoh and the Hebrew leaders are marked by a series of plagues that demonstrate God's power and judgment.

Context and Background

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for several centuries, and their cries for deliverance reached God, who appointed Moses as their leader. Moses, along with his brother Aaron, was tasked with confronting Pharaoh and securing the Israelites' freedom. God warned Moses that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened, and it would take great signs and wonders to compel him to release the Israelites.

The Initial Confrontation

Moses and Aaron first approached Pharaoh with a simple request: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness'" (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh's response was dismissive, questioning the authority of the LORD and refusing to release the Israelites. This initial rejection set the stage for a series of divine interventions.

The Plagues and Negotiations

The LORD sent ten plagues upon Egypt, each increasing in severity, to demonstrate His power and to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The plagues included turning the Nile to blood, infestations of frogs, gnats, and flies, the death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of the firstborn.

Throughout these plagues, Pharaoh engaged in a series of negotiations with Moses and Aaron. After the second plague of frogs, Pharaoh relented slightly, asking Moses to pray to the LORD to remove the frogs, promising to let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD (Exodus 8:8). However, once the plague was lifted, Pharaoh hardened his heart and reneged on his promise.

This pattern repeated with subsequent plagues. After the plague of flies, Pharaoh offered a compromise, suggesting that the Israelites sacrifice within Egypt, but Moses insisted on a three-day journey into the wilderness (Exodus 8:25-28). Pharaoh agreed but again hardened his heart after the flies were removed.

The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

A key theme in these negotiations is the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Scripture notes that both Pharaoh hardened his own heart and that God hardened it as well (Exodus 9:12). This duality underscores the tension between human free will and divine sovereignty. Pharaoh's obstinacy serves to magnify God's power and to fulfill His purposes for Israel.

The Final Plague and Release

The negotiations culminated in the tenth and most devastating plague: the death of the firstborn. Before this plague, Pharaoh warned Moses, "Get away from me! Take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die" (Exodus 10:28). Moses replied, "As you say, I will never see your face again" (Exodus 10:29).

After the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh finally relented, summoning Moses and Aaron by night and urging them to leave Egypt with the Israelites (Exodus 12:31-32). This marked the beginning of the Exodus, as the Israelites departed from Egypt, laden with the spoils of their former oppressors.

Significance

The negotiations between Pharaoh and Moses and Aaron highlight the power of God to deliver His people and the futility of resisting His will. The plagues served as judgments against the gods of Egypt, demonstrating the LORD's supremacy. This narrative also foreshadows the ultimate deliverance found in Christ, as the Passover lamb prefigures the sacrifice of Jesus for the redemption of humanity.