#32 Part 5: Introduction to the Exaltation of the Divine Deliverer

I. The Story of Redemption: Chapters 1-13:16

A. The Need for Redemption Chapter 1

B. The Human Deliverer Chapters 2-4

1. The First Forty Years: The Years of Divine

Protection (Exodus 2:1-15)

2. The Second Forty Years: The Years of Divine

Preparation (Exodus 2:16-4:17)

3. The Third Forty Years: The Years of Divine Power

(Exodus 4:18-Deuteronomy)

C. The Exaltation of the Divine Redeemer. Chapters 5-11

D. Redemption by Blood Chapter 12

E. Redemption by Blood Remembered Chapter 13:1-16

We are now ready to move into the next portion of our study in which the LORD exalts Himself as the Mighty Redeemer that redeems and delivers His people from slavery. It is well that we recall the words of God’s prophet (many years later) when, speaking of a terrifying lightning storm, he said:

And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.[1]

There can be no doubt in the minds of mere mortal men that we have never yet seen the full display of the mighty power of God. What we see in these plagues in Egypt is a fraction of His power. But it was enough, as we shall see, to stun the Egyptians into submission before Him.

The following passages from Exodus should be studied carefully prior to the consideration of God’s ‘clash’ with Pharaoh using these plagues in Egypt.

Exodus 7:3-5

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.

Exodus 10:1-2

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him:

2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.

Exodus 11:9

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 14:17-18

17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

It is clear from these passages that the LORD knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart and not let His people go. It was all part of God’s plan to make Himself known among both the Egyptians and the Hebrews. God’s renown spread far beyond Egypt. Forty years later, when Joshua is leading the Hebrew people into the land, the testimony of Rahab (in Jericho) will be that they had heard of God’s mighty acts on behalf of His people.[2] Clearly, God’s intention was successful.

As we look more closely at these interactions with Pharaoh and the plagues that followed, we find that there are two distinct ways in which God exalted Himself.

First: God exalted Himself through dealing directly with Pharaoh’s opposition to letting the Hebrew people go.

The plagues rained down upon Egypt came directly as a result of Pharaoh’s arrogance and pride. It is important to know that Pharaoh was viewed by the Egyptian people as a deity. Thus, as the true God humbled Pharaoh through the plagues, He exponentially exalted Himself before the Egyptian people.

Second: God exalted Himself through conquering all of the gods of Egypt.[3]

The Egyptians had multiple gods. There were gods of the earth, the sky, the sun, death and the atmosphere. They worshipped animals, including flies, beetles, frogs, cattle, serpents, bulls, goats, sheep, crocodiles, hawks, dogs, cats, etc., etc., etc. This false worship so permeated Egyptian life that “a Roman who accidentally caused the death of a cat was immediately ‘lynched’ by the populace.”[4]

[1] Habakkuk 3:4. [2] Joshua 2:10.

[3] There are many resources available that go into far more detail than we will here. Please see Appendix B. On the chart there you will find at least eighteen Egyptian deities identified in relation to the plagues God sent upon Egypt. [4] Ancient-egyptians-animal-worship-to-the-extreme