09/20/26 - The Book of Exodus Pt. 10

After weeks of preparation, Moses and Aaron finally confront Pharaoh with God's power. In Exodus 7, Aaron throws down his staff and it becomes a serpent, only for Pharaoh's magicians to apparently reproduce the same sign. But Aaron's serpent swallows theirs—a powerful image in a culture where the serpent represented Pharaoh's divine authority and sovereignty.

In Part 10 of The Book of Exodus, Pastor Nate also addresses the difficult question he's been teasing for several weeks: Why would God harden Pharaoh's heart? Looking at the language throughout Exodus and the rest of Scripture, Nate explains that Pharaoh is not portrayed as an innocent man whom God arbitrarily forces into rebellion. Pharaoh already resists God and oppresses His people, while God strengthens that existing resolve so His power and glory will be unmistakably displayed through what follows. As the confrontation with Egypt begins, we're reminded that no government, ruler, circumstance, or earthly power can rival the authority of God.