MOSES RETURNS TO EGYPT:
God provides Moses assurance through the support of his brother Aaron. He was also given signs and plagues to present to Israel and Egypt to provide proof of God’s power over the Egyptian gods. These were also given to convince Israel and anyone else who would listen that the LORD was in control. With this support, Moses returns to Egypt to stand before Pharaoh to declare: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go” Exodus 5:1. This call to let the people of the LORD go from Egypt is a direct challenge to the Egyptian leader. He is forced to hear the voice of the LORD. Pharaoh refuses to hear the words or even the signs that Moses presents. These signs or ten ‘plagues’ are brought upon Egypt! It is God’s intention that these plagues demonstrate the power of ‘Yahweh’ against the false beliefs and the many god’s of Egypt. Pharaoh’s heart is hard, or ‘obstinate,’ and closed to all the wonders that the LORD unleashes upon Egypt. God uses the hardness of Pharaoh’ heart to bring Egypt to their knees by demonstrating his power in contrast to the God’s of Egypt! Exodus 9:15,16. The nation of Israel was included in the effect of the first three plagues but then are not affected by the remaining seven. This experience was to show Israel “that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land”. Exodus 8:22-23