Moses continued to protest and said to God, “If you please, my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue. If you please, my Lord, send someone else (Ex. 4:10,13)!” At this, God grew angry and told Moses that his brother Aaron would, “Speak to the people for you: he will be your spokesman, and you will be as God to him (Ex. 4:16).”
When Moses was on his way back to meet with his brother Aaron and the Israelites in Egypt, God gave him additional information and instructions. 'Then the Lord said to Moses in Midian: Return to Egypt, for all those who sought your life are dead. So Moses took his wife and his sons, mounted them on the donkey, and started back to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God with him. The Lord said to Moses: On your return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go. So you will say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord : Israel is my son, my firstborn. I said to you: Let my son go, that he may serve me. Since you refused to let him go, I will kill your son, your firstborn (Ex. 4:19-23).
When God said that he would harden Pharaoh's heart it did not mean that God would take away Pharaoh's free will. Pharaoh made himself a God therefore he obeyed no one. Whenever Moses and Aaron told him what the God of the Hebrews said, Pharaoh had to prove that he was superior so he became more and more obstinate no matter the cost. He did not heed any of God's warnings.
God told Moses and Aaron to show Pharaoh a sign of his power before he sent any of the plagues; “When Pharaoh demands of you, “Produce a sign or wonder,” you will say to Aaron: “Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will turn into a serpent.” Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it turned into a serpent. Pharaoh, in turn, summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing by their magic arts. Each one threw down his staff, and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed their staffs. Pharaoh, however, hardened his heart and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had foretold. (Ex. 7:8-13).”
The battle between God and Pharaoh began and the prize was the work and service of the Hebrews. Moses told Aaron to throw down his staff as God instructed and it turned not a snake. Pharaoh showed, from his perspective, that his gods were just as powerful by having his magicians throw down their staffs which turned to snakes. Aaron’s staff swallowed the magicians' staffs showing the superiority of Moses’ God. This made Pharaoh more resolved to show that his gods were more powerful. Pharaoh hardened his heart just as the Lord foretold.
Almighty and merciful God, you know the hearts of all men and how they will act in every situation. You know the course of events and try to guide us along the path that is best for us. Grant us grace that we may not fight against you but cooperate with your loving guidance and receive the goodness you promised to all who love you. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Reference:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
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