King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 5 notes
1And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
2Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
3And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4But 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.
5And 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.
6And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
7And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
8And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
It seems this was the 2nd time when they met Pharaoh, because the first time nothing of the sort is stated.
I’m sure after this display, though he did not let them go, he did not punish them senselessly as before, because this time he was seeing the hand of God at play.
But at this time he thought of God as one of the gods, and God played along with that at the beginning.
Allowing himself to be introduced as the God of the Hebrews.
11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
🇪🇬 Egypt was really a dark place, a nation super powerful and also supported in the corridors of power by witchcraft and enchantments.
What manner of power and enchantment is this???
Men who can turn their rods into snakes 🐍 — such deep stuff... And that wasn’t all, they could cause natural disasters like sending fleas etc.
The men of Egypt were indeed powerhouses, and Pharaoh himself I believe was no exception — how else could he have enchantment around him without being involved himself?
This was the kind of spirit ruling over the nation; it was going to take spiritual power and backing to take over such a nation.
And the same happens now, where strange malevolent spirits rule nations and govern states.
And they would not relinquish such sweet control and power. Over their dead bodies — you might as well kill them, and that literally so.
No wonder they will kill you to keep their thrones of influence.
We must know that as we enter and take territories for Christ, else we be beaten at the game because we underestimate the enemy and the nature of the game.
It’s done very clandestinely and like sleight of hand 🖐️ — one moment they are smiling ☺ with you and the next moment voila, you are thrown under the bus 🚍.
12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
Where did these men learn such magic 🧝♂️ and power? Who taught them?
13And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
14And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
15Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
Why did Pharaoh tolerate the presence of Moses and Aaron when he could have just ordered their execution?
Who knows — these people had tried killing Moses spiritually and physically and failed.
Probably, though not recorded, Moses might have disappeared right before their eyes 👀.
They knew Moses to be a powerful sorcerer. After multiple attempts they concluded this was but the finger of God.
16And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.
17Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.
19And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
24And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.