Exodus 7: “The Power of God and the Hardness of the Heart”
1. God Strengthens His Servants
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.’” (Ex 7:1)
This does not mean Moses is divine.
It means he speaks and acts with God’s authority.
Aaron is called Moses’ prophet — that is, one who speaks for another.
This shows an important Catholic principle:
God’s authority is exercised through ordered ministry.
St Augustine explains:
“Moses stands in God’s place not by nature, but by obedience; authority belongs to God, and is shared with His servant.”
(Questions on Exodus)
This structure foreshadows:
Christ, who speaks what He hears from the Father
The Church, where authority is exercised through ordained ministers
2. God Foretells Resistance
“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply My signs and wonders… Pharaoh will not listen to you.” (vv. 3–4)
This statement troubles many people, so the Church is very clear here.
What this does not mean
God does not force Pharaoh to sin
God does not remove Pharaoh’s freedom
What it does mean
God allows Pharaoh’s pride to become fixed
Pharaoh repeatedly chooses himself over God
God uses Pharaoh’s refusal to reveal His own power
St John Chrysostom says:
“God hardens by withdrawing restraint, not by planting evil.”
(Homilies on Exodus)
This is a serious warning:
Repeated refusal of grace can harden the heart.
3. Why God Allows Signs and Wonders
“The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt.” (v. 5)
The miracles are not only for Israel.
They are also a judgment on false worship and a call to truth.
Catholic teaching is clear:
Miracles reveal God’s mercy
They also expose lies and idols
St Augustine writes:
“God’s wonders both save the humble and judge the proud.”
(City of God)
4. Moses and Aaron Obey — Despite Age and Fear
“Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three.” (v. 7)
Scripture deliberately includes this detail.
God chooses:
Not the young and confident
But the weak, the slow, the elderly
This teaches a deeply Catholic truth:
God’s power is not limited by age, weakness, or past failure.
St Gregory the Great says:
“God delays His work so that no one may think it comes from human strength.”
(Pastoral Rule)
5. Pharaoh Demands a Sign
“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle…’” (v. 9)
Pharaoh wants control.
He treats God as a curiosity, not as Lord.
This mirrors the Gospel:
“An evil generation seeks a sign” (Matthew 12:39)
Faith that demands proof on its own terms is already resisting God.
6. The Staff Becomes a Serpent
“Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh… and it became a serpent.” (v. 10)
This is the first public sign.
The staff represents:
God’s authority
The shepherd’s care
The instrument of later deliverance
The serpent represents:
Evil
Deceit
False power
St Gregory of Nyssa explains:
“The serpent appears strong, but only until the staff of God confronts it.”
(Life of Moses)
7. The False Power of the Magicians
“Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers… and they did the same by their secret arts.” (v. 11)
This is very important.
Scripture acknowledges:
Evil can imitate good
False religion can produce impressive signs
But imitation is not creation.
St Augustine teaches:
“The demons can deceive the senses, but they cannot give life.”
(City of God)
This warns Christians:
Not every sign is from God. Discernment matters.
8. The Staff of God Swallows the Others
“But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.” (v. 12)
This is the key moment.
God does not merely match false power —
He overcomes and consumes it.
The Fathers saw here:
The victory of Christ over Satan
The triumph of truth over error
The Church overcoming false worship
St Jerome says:
“Truth does not compete with error; it devours it.”
(Commentary on Exodus)
9. Pharaoh’s Heart Remains Hard
“Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen.” (v. 13)
Despite clear evidence, Pharaoh refuses.
This shows:
Miracles alone do not create faith
Pride can explain away anything
St Augustine warns:
“When the heart loves power, even truth becomes unbearable.”
(Sermons)
10. God Sends Moses Back — Again
“Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.” (v. 14)
God does not abandon the mission.
Catholic perseverance means:
Speaking again
Returning again
Trusting God again
11. The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood
“All the water in the Nile turned into blood.” (v. 20)
This is not random punishment.
The Nile was:
Egypt’s source of life
An object of reverence
God shows:
What the world worships instead of Him cannot save.
St Gregory the Great writes:
“What man trusts apart from God becomes his judgment.”
(Moralia)
12. The Consequences
“The fish died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water.” (v. 21)
Sin poisons what once sustained life.
This plague also points forward to:
The blood of the Passover
The Blood of Christ
But here blood brings death, not life — a warning.
13. Again, False Imitation
“The magicians did the same by their secret arts.” (v. 22)
Notice:
They do not heal the water
They only increase the problem
Evil never truly heals — it only multiplies harm.
St John Chrysostom:
“False power can wound again, but it cannot restore.”
(Homilies on Exodus)
14. Pharaoh Turns Away
“Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and did not take this to heart.” (v. 23)
This is chilling.
Pharaoh chooses comfort over truth.
This mirrors many Gospel encounters where people walk away from Jesus.
15. The Suffering of the People
“The Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink.” (v. 24)
The innocent suffer because of stubborn leadership.
This reminds us:
Sin has communal consequences
Leaders carry grave responsibility
16. Seven Days Pass
“Seven full days passed after the Lord struck the Nile.” (v. 25)
Seven days is the number of completeness.
God gives time:
Time to reflect
Time to repent
Judgment is never rushed.
St Augustine:
“God delays punishment to invite conversion.”
(City of God)
Key Catholic Themes in Exodus 7
| Theme | Catholic Meaning |
| Authority | God works through chosen servants |
| Miracles | Reveal truth, do not force belief |
| Hard hearts | Repeated refusal weakens freedom |
| False power | Can imitate, but not overcome |
| Judgment | Exposes false worship |
| Perseverance | Faith continues despite rejection |
Christ at the Centre of Exodus 7
Moses → Christ, speaking with divine authority
Aaron → apostolic ministry
The staff → the Cross
The serpent → Satan
The swallowed staffs → Christ’s victory
The blood → warning before redemption
St Augustine sums it up beautifully:
“The rod that devoured the serpents is the Cross that destroyed the power of death.”
(Sermons)
Spiritual Application
Do not mistake imitation for truth.
Repeated refusal hardens the heart.
God’s power always outlasts false power.
Miracles call for conversion, not curiosity.
Persevere even when hearts remain closed.
Closing Prayer
Lord God of power and mercy,
You revealed Your authority before kings
and exposed the weakness of false gods.
Harden not our hearts when You speak,
but grant us humility to believe and obey.
Strengthen Your Church to proclaim truth without fear,
and let the Cross of Christ
overcome every power that opposes You.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 