Exodus 7 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Exodus 7 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Moses was born around 1591 B.C. and left Egypt at 40 years old (Acts 7:23).

• According to Exodus 7:7, Moses was 80 years old when he stood before Pharaoh as the representative of God.

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The terms “Israelites” and “Hebrews” are used synonymously. They refer to the descendants of Jacob’s family that grew into a large nation. During this period of history, the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians.

• Moses – A Hebrew who grew up in the house of Pharaoh. He fled Egypt in Exodus 2 and went to live in Midian. God used him to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

• Aaron – Moses’ brother. He was a descendant of Jacob’s son Levi.

• Pharaoh – The king of Egypt who defied the commands of the Lord.

WHERE:

• The events recorded in Exodus 7 happened in Egypt.

• This chapter centers around the Nile River which was the life source of ancient Egypt.

OUTLINE:

• GOD’S JUDGEMENT ON EGYPT AND PHARAOH’S HARD HEART (7:1-6):

  • God told Moses and Aaron to return to Pharaoh and demand he let the Israelites go out of his land, even though God knew Pharaoh wouldn’t listen.

  • God planned to show many miracles in Egypt to prove He was the true God and worthy of worship.

  • After God was finished with His “great acts of judgement,” Pharaoh would relent and release the Israelites.

• THE SIGN OF THE SERPENT STAFF (7:7-13):

  • Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh and told him the command of the Lord.

  • As a sign of their communication with God, Aaron threw his staff on the ground and it transformed into a serpent.

  • Pharaoh summoned his magicians and they were able to turn their staffs into serpents using their “secret arts.”

  • Aaron’s serpent swallowed the magician’s serpents.

  • Pharaoh’s heart remained hard and stubborn, and he did not obey God.

• THE FIRST PLAGUE: WATER TURNED TO BLOOD (7:14-25):

  • God told Moses and Aaron to meet Pharaoh at the bank of the Nile river in the morning.

  • Aaron was to hold out his rod over the river and God would turn the water of the Nile into blood.

  • In the morning, Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them and met Pharaoh.

  • They told him the miracle God was about to perform was to prove that God was Lord over Pharaoh and His commands were not to be ignored.

  • Aaron struck the water of the Nile with his staff, and it turned to blood.

  • The water was undrinkable, the river stank, and all the fish died.

  • All the water in Egypt turned to blood, including the water in the drinking vessels, stone jars, and in the ponds.  

  • But the Egyptian sorcerers were able to recreate a similar trick with their secret arts, so Pharaoh’s heart remained hard.

  • Seven days passed after God turned the Nile to blood.

APPLICATION:

• God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

• Egypt was probably the most powerful empire in the world at this time.

• Pharaoh thought he was a very powerful man, but God was preparing to show him the truth.

• In the upcoming chapters we will see God humbling Pharaoh and proving He is the true King whose commands must be obeyed.

• We will see this theme throughout the Old Testament and it will carry forward into the New Testament in the concept of the Kingdom of God.

• We have a chance to ally ourselves with the True King, the One who will have supremacy and victory over all His enemies when time comes to an end.