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The question of whether God made Moses a god to Pharaoh is rooted in a specific passage from the Bible. This topic requires a thorough examination of the relevant scriptures to understand the nature of Moses’ role and his relationship with Pharaoh in the context of God’s plan for the Israelites. Here, we will explore the concept of Moses being made a god to Pharaoh, examine the scriptural evidence, and provide an interpretation consistent with the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible.
1. The Scriptural Basis
The primary scripture that addresses this question is found in the book of Exodus. This passage requires careful interpretation to understand its meaning within the broader narrative of Scripture.
Exodus 7:1 (NKJV):
“So the Lord said to Moses: ‘See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.'”
In this verse, God tells His leader that He has made him “as God” to Pharaoh. To understand what this means, we must examine the context and implications of this statement.
2. Context of Moses’ Role
To properly interpret Exodus 7:1, it is essential to consider the broader context of the leader’s mission and role in the narrative.
Exodus 3:10 (NKJV):
“‘Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.'”
God commissions Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This mission involves performing miracles and demonstrating God’s power.
Exodus 4:15-16 (NKJV):
“‘Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.'”
In this passage, God clarifies that Moses will act as a mediator and spokesperson, with Aaron as his mouthpiece. The phrase “you shall be to him as God” suggests a role of authority and representation, rather than literal divinity.
3. Understanding the Phrase “As God”
The phrase “as God” in Exodus 7:1 needs to be understood in its cultural and historical context. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a ruler or emissary who performed significant acts of power could be seen as representing or embodying divine authority.
Psalm 82:6 (NKJV):
“I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.'”
This verse from Psalms uses the term “gods” metaphorically to refer to judges or leaders who hold authority. Similarly, the term “as God” in Exodus refers to Moses’ role as a representative of divine authority rather than an actual deity.
John 10:34-36 (NKJV):
“Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, ‘You are gods’”? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because I said, “I am the Son of God”?'”
Jesus refers to Psalm 82 to explain that the term “gods” can refer to those given divine authority or mission, emphasizing the metaphorical rather than literal interpretation.
4. Moses as a Representative of Divine Authority
Moses’ role was to represent God’s authority and deliver His messages to Pharaoh. This role involved demonstrating God’s power through miracles and signs.
Exodus 7:3-4 (NKJV):
“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.”
Moses was empowered by God to perform signs and wonders, which served as evidence of divine authority and power.
Exodus 4:17 (NKJV):
“And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
The rod that Moses carried symbolized the power and authority given to him by God to perform miracles and execute judgment.
5. Pharaoh’s Perception of Moses
Pharaoh’s perception of Moses as a figure of divine authority reflects the cultural understanding of emissaries or representatives of gods. Moses was not literally a god but was seen as a powerful representative of the divine.
Exodus 5:2 (NKJV):
“And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.'”
Pharaoh’s response indicates that he did not recognize the divine authority behind Moses’ mission, which is why he resisted.
Exodus 7:10 (NKJV):
“So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.”
The miraculous transformation of the rod into a serpent was intended to demonstrate divine authority and challenge Pharaoh’s resistance.
6. The Role of Miracles and Signs
Miracles and signs performed by Moses were intended to validate his role as a divine representative and to challenge the gods of Egypt.
Exodus 7:9-12 (NKJV):
“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.”
The miracles performed by Moses were meant to demonstrate God’s power over the magicians of Egypt and to challenge the false gods worshiped by Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
Exodus 14:31 (NKJV):
“Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.”
The miraculous works led to the recognition of God’s power and Moses’ role as His servant, affirming his divine mission.
7. Moses as a Type of Christ
Moses’ role as a representative of divine authority and his acts of delivering Israel from Egypt can be seen as a type of Christ, who also represents divine authority and performs miracles.
Deuteronomy 18:15 (NKJV):
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.”
This prophecy refers to Jesus, who is the ultimate fulfillment of the role of a divine representative and prophet, providing a parallel to Moses’ role.
John 6:14 (NKJV):
“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.'”
Jesus is recognized as the Prophet like Moses, but with a greater authority and role in God’s plan for salvation.
8. Theological Implications
The concept of Moses being “as God” to Pharaoh highlights the nature of divine authority and representation rather than literal divinity. It underscores that Moses was an instrument of God’s power and authority, carrying out His will and delivering His messages.
Exodus 7:1 (NKJV):
“So the Lord said to Moses: ‘See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.'”
Moses’ role was to act with the authority given by God, not as a deity himself but as a representative of God’s will.
Isaiah 45:5 (NKJV):
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me.”
God’s declaration that there is no other god reinforces the understanding that Moses was not a deity but a servant chosen by God to carry out His purposes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the statement that God made Moses “as God” to Pharaoh is understood in the context of divine authority and representation. Moses was not made a literal deity but was given authority and power by God to act as His representative in confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
The role of Moses as “as God” to Pharaoh involves several key points:
- Representation: Moses acted as a divine representative, carrying out God’s will and demonstrating His power through miracles.
- Authority: The phrase “as God” reflects the authority given to Moses to perform signs and deliver messages from God.
- Cultural Context: The use of such language aligns with ancient Near Eastern customs where emissaries or representatives could be seen as embodying divine authority.
The Bible consistently emphasizes that God is the only true God and that Moses was His servant, chosen to fulfill a specific role in God’s plan. Understanding this context helps clarify the nature of Moses’ role and the concept of divine authority in the biblical narrative.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team