God's Campaign Against Egypt

God's Campaign Against Egypt

Exodus 3:13-22

‎After answering Moses’ protest of ignorance regarding the divine name, God outlined the entire campaign against Egypt.

‎First, Moses was to go to the elders of Israel and tell them that God had appeared to him. He was to communicate to them God’s concern for their plight, and his promise to bring them out of Egypt to a wonderful land. The land promise which had been given to the patriarchs was now renewed through Moses. Thus, as with any true prophet, the message of Moses was in agreement with earlier revelation. God assured Moses that the elders would believe him.

‎Second, the elders and Moses were then to go to Pharaoh to announce the appearance of God. They were to request permission to make a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to him. Pharaoh would not listen.

‎Third, God would smite Egypt with wonders, i.e., miraculous judgments.

‎Fourth, before they left Egypt the Israelites would plunder Egypt. This also conforms to the promise made to Abraham (cf. Gen. 15:14). Softened by blows from God, the Egyptians generously would bestow upon their former captives articles of gold and silver as well as clothing. The God of Israel would triumph so thoroughly over Egypt that women and children would carry away the spoils.

3. He complained that he lacked credentials (4:1–9). Moses feared that the people would not believe his claims regarding this encounter. The promise of a future sign in 3:12 did not quite Moses’ fears. God responded by granting to him three signs as proofs of his power. First, he was told to cast down his rod. Moses did as he was told, and the rod became a serpent. He was told to take up the serpent, and it became a rod.

Second, he was told to thrust his hand inside his cloak, and it became leprous. He was told to put his hand back into his cloak, and it was whole again.

Third, if his detractors would not believe the first two signs, he was to pour the water of the Nile on the ground where it would become blood.

4. He called attention to his lack of ability (4:10–12). Moses described himself as “slow of speech and tongue.” He did not regard himself as an orator. God responded that he was in ultimate control of man’s communication faculties. He promised to help Moses speak and to teach him what to say. During this encounter Moses addressed God twice (4:10, 13), but in neither case did he use the name which God had revealed to him!

5. He pled with God to send someone else (4:13–17). This unwillingness to serve angered the Lord. Aaron his brother was on his way to the wilderness. He would serve as Moses’ mouth. Moses, however, would be “as God” to Aaron, i.e., he would be the ultimate human leader of the nation. With his staff he would be able to perform miraculous signs, and that staff would be his symbol of authority.

Smith, James E. The Pentateuch. 2nd ed. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 1993. Print. Old Testament Survey Series.