Read Exodus 7 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs for this chapter:
7:1-7 {p} Moses to tell the word of YHVH to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh will not heed
7:8-13 {s} Aaron’s rod became a serpent/ the magicians’ rods became serpents
7:14-18 {s} Warning that the River will become blood
7:19-25 {p} The River became blood/ the magicians did it also
The teaching tool of Hebrew paragraphs really shine in this chapter! First,
Exo 7:1-7 {p}
This paragraph is a summary of what will happen in the next several chapters. God will tell Moses what He commands. Aaron will speak to Pharaoh for Moses. God will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will not listen. God will multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt, so that he will bring out the hosts of His people by great judgments. And in the end,
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am YHVH, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” Exo 7:5
God is going to reveal who He is to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Pharaoh just haughtily told Moses, “I do not know YHVH, nor will I let Israel go” (Exo 5:2). Well, class is now in session. Next we have:
7:8-13 {s} Aaron’s rod became a serpent/ the magicians’ rods became serpents
7:14-18 {s} Warning that the River will become blood
7:19-25 {p} The River became blood/ the magicians did it also
This set of paragraphs makes the next Strong Theme, Exo 7:8-25 {sx2+p}.
Exo 7:8-13 {s} reveals that 1) God spoke His command to Pharaoh, and moreover confirmed that it wasn’t just idle talk by 2) the sign of the rod becoming a serpent. He introduced Himself, and provided an opportunity to obey, with zero consequences for Egypt.
Exo 7:14-18 {s} reveals that God repeated His command with a stronger warning and a judgment to follow if He is not heeded. That the paragraph ends {s} after the instruction but before anything happens shows that God gave an opportunity for Pharaoh to obey, with zero consequences for Egypt as yet.
Exo 7:19-25 {p} completes this topic; it recounts the accomplishment of the judgment warned. Pharaoh, who did not know YHVH, learns that He follows through.
Do you see how fair God is being with those who do not know Him? The Egyptians could still get water by digging. The judgment increased their inconvenience, but it was not life- threatening. Pharaoh could at any time end the inconvenience to his people by repenting and obeying.
Exo 7:8-25 {s+s+p} Strong Theme: YHVH patiently reveals who He is as the River becomes blood
Why This Matters: When God said that He would multiply His wonders in Egypt, it is true—He is starting out small, both in awesome power and severity. He isn’t slinging out punishments capriciously, but is patiently teaching Pharaoh what he can expect from YHVH whom he did not know.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
The Plagues and the Exodus – Dr. David Livingston
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