Was Moses as God to Pharaoh?

After Moses’ first encounter with Pharaoh asking for a permission that the Israelites may go and hold a feast for God in the wilderness (Exodus 5:1), Pharaoh not just refused but he also increased his punishment on the Israelites by increasing their work load. Pharaoh commanded his task masters saying, that you no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before (v. 7,8).

As a result, the Israelites got very discouraged and complained to Moses blaming him for their suffering and his “interference” on their behalf. Not knowing what to do and feeling utterly helpless, Moses took the matter before God and asked for help and deliverance (v. 22.23).

God answered Moses saying, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land” (Exodus 6:1). Feeling discouraged, Moses spoke to God, saying, The children of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me (v. 7).

Then, the Lord answered Moses giving him great hope, “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1). As Moses was hesitant to speak a second time to Pharaoh, who was so much his earthly superior, God assured him that as a representative of the Creator of heaven and earth, he was in reality greater than Pharaoh. The King’s power was only that of a limited human being but God’s power was infinite. Moses was to be to Pharaoh as God with authority and power to command submission.

Moses and the Israelites were about to see mighty deeds that were never done before in the history of earth. For Israel’s deliverance could not be accomplished by peaceful methods but would necessitate a display of force on God’s part. The plagues that were about to visit Egypt and the house of Pharaoh were not merely “wonders” or “signs” but also judgments inflicted on a proud and harsh nation by the divine Judge. And God would bring the Israelites into the Promised Land, and give it to them as an inheritance.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team