Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Today, we open our reading with God telling Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh is not going to listen

to them. God says he's going to harden Pharaoh's heart against the request

they're bringing. That's a pretty tough order. He also mentioned this yesterday in 421.

One thing this reveals to us is that God is sovereign over hearts. If you're new to this idea

or it's troublesome for you, resist the urge to read into God's motives or draw conclusions

about him based on this. For now, let's just notice that he can change hearts.

God also mentions several times that he's doing all of this so that Israel will know that he is

the Lord. The meaning of the word no doesn't just refer to some cognizant assent to this reality. It has more

to do with a person's posture in response to that truth. God wants them to believe it in their

bones, not just acknowledge it as a fact, and he wants their lives to reflect it. The plagues will

serve this same purpose for the Egyptians, for them to know

that He is the Lord. But unfortunately, it's possible to know that God is the Lord of all and still not

yield to him. Remember the sons of God we've encountered a few times, including the one called Satan,

the accuser? These fallen angels would have lived in heaven with God before their fall, serving him.

Who would know the truth more than they would?

But they didn't yield to God as Lord.

They insisted on their own way.

So Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh and they warn him that there will be displays of God's power if he continues to rebel,

and that these displays of power will also serve to demonstrate God's judgment on Egypt.

They perform the signs God gave them, but Pharaoh is not impressed,

because his magicians can do similar things.

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