Moses speaks to God again

Moses spoke to God again. Moses didn't understand what was happening.  Since he talked to Pharaoh, the Egyptians were treating the Israelites very badly. The Israelites were not happy.
[22] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
[23] For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.


Exodus 6

God told Moses not to worry.  God's plan was working. God said that very soon Pharaoh would force the Israelites to leave Egypt.
[1] Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.


God said that He had appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  God reminded Moses that He promised to give Canaan to Abraham's descendants. 
[2] And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
[3] And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
[4] And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.


God said that He heard the groans and cries of the Israelites. He again promised to take them out of Egypt.
[5] And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.


God told Moses to tell the Israelites that He would free them from slavery.
[6] Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

God also said He would take them back to Canaan as He promised He would.
[7] And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
[8] And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

The Israelites do not pay attention to Moses


Moses spoke to the Israelites again.  They did not pay attention to him.
[9] And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.


God told Moses to go and talk to Pharaoh again.  He told Moses to tell Pharaoh that God said to let the Israelites leave.
[10] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[11] Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.


Moses said that the Israelites wouldn't pay attention to him because of his speech disability.
[12] And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?


The Israelite people were all descendants of Jacob's 12 sons.  God told Moses and Aaron to make some of the Israelites leaders.  Each of the tribes or houses (the families of the 12 sons) would have leaders. 
[13] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

The house of Reuben would have these leaders:  Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
[14] These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.


The house of Simeon would have these leaders:  Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul. Shaul's mother was a Canaanite.
[15] And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.


More detail is given about the house of Levi.  The history of Moses and Aaron is given. Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were sons of Levi.  Kohath had a son named Amram.  Amram married Jochebed.  Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses and Aaron.
[16] And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.
[17] The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
[18] And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.
[19] And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.
[20] And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
[21] And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
[22] And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.


Here are details about Aaron's family. Aaron married Elisheba.  They had 4 children:  Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Eleazar had a son named Phinehas.
[23] And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
[24] And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.
[25] And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.
[26] These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.
[27] These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

God tells Moses and Aaron to go and talk to Pharaoh again.


God told Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh. Moses was worried that he couldn't speak well.
[28] And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
[29] That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.
[30] And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?


Exodus 7


God said that Aaron would talk for Moses.
[1] And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
[2] Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.


God said he would harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would refuse to let the Israelites leave.  The reason for this is so that God could show more of his works to the people. God wanted the Egyptians to see His power. He wanted the Egyptians to know that God helped Israel to leave.
[3] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
[4] But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
[5] And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.


Moses and Aaron did what God told them to do. At this time, Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83.
[6] And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
[7] And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

From the book, Treasures of the Bible, by Henry Davenport Northrop, D.D., published by International Publishing Company, 1894 From the La Vista Church of Christ web site

Aaron's rod


God wanted Moses to tell Aaron to show Pharaoh his rod that changed into a snake. When Aaron threw down his rod, it became a snake.
[8] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
[9] When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
[10] And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.


Pharaoh called for his magicians.  They threw down their rods, and their rods became snakes, too.  But Aaron's rod (snake) swallowed their rods (snakes).
[11] Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
[12] For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.


Pharaoh again refused to let the Israelites leave.
[13] And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

The first plague: Moses turns the river into blood

God told Moses to go meet Pharaoh by the river.  God told Moses to tell Pharaoh again to let the Israelites leave Egypt.  Moses was to tell Pharaoh that if he refused, Moses would use his rod and make the river become blood.
[14] And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
[15] Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
[16] And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.
[17] Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
[18] And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.


God told Moses to tell Aaron to use the rod and hit the rivers, the ponds, and all the water in every place in Egypt.  Then the water would be blood.
[19] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

Moses and Aaron did what God told them to do. All the water in Egypt became blood.  The fish died, the river smelled bad, and the Egyptians could not drink water.
[20] And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
[21] And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh's magicians made some blood, too, but they could not change the blood back into water. Pharaoh refused again.  Pharaoh did not respect God.  
[22] And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Pharaoh went into his house. The Egyptians dug around the river. They were looking for clean water.
[23] And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
[24] And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.


Seven days passed. Then God wanted Moses to talk to Pharaoh again.
[25] And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

The second plague:  frogs

Exodus 8

The Lord God told Moses to talk to Pharaoh again. He was to say, "Let my people go." If Pharaoh said no, Moses was to tell him that many frogs would come out of the river into Egypt. There would be frogs everywhere:  in the houses, in the beds, in the stoves, and in the ovens.
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
[2] And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
[3] And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
[4] And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

God told Moses to tell Aaron to stretch out his arm and move the rod over the water.  That made the frogs come up out of the water.  The Egyptians magicians made some frogs come out, too, but they could not make the frogs go away.
[5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
[6] And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
[7] And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.


Pharaoh asked Moses to ask God to take away the frogs. He said he would let the Israelites leave to go make a sacrifice if the frogs were gone.
[8] Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.


Moses asked Pharaoh how soon he wanted the frogs gone. Pharaoh said that he wanted the frogs to be gone the next day.  Moses agreed and said that the frogs would be back in the river the next day.
[9] And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
[10] And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.
[11] And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.

Moses prayed, and the frogs on the land died. The people put the dead frogs in piles. This made the air smell bad. 
[12] And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
[13] And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
[14] And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.

When the frogs were gone, Pharaoh changed his mind. He said he would not let the Israelites leave.
[15] But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

The third plague: lice

God told Moses to tell Aaron to hit the dirt with the rod.  It made lice (tiny bugs) all over Egypt.
[16] And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
[17] And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

The Egyptian magicians tried to make lice, too. But they could not. The magicians told Pharaoh that God had made the lice. But Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave.
[18] And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
[19] Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

The fourth plague:  flies