Exodus Chapters 7 -9
Special thanks are given to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for the gift of writing and the privilege of sharing this Bible Study. His guidance and blessings have made this work possible, and it is with a grateful heart that can share my study with you. I hope you find it informational and helpful in your spiritual journey. I am asking that you open your hearts and minds to accept the word of Christ into your hearts and accept His word to transform your life in positive ways. This is the first part of my online Christian Bookstore Fellowship and I do accept donations that will further my mission to have a Bookstore in our community, a place where we can sit down face to face and enjoy this Bible Study over open and honest conversation. I will continue this online Study as well to complete the entire year. Thank you for following The Mustard Seed Christian Bookstore Fellowship & Café online Bible Study.
This Bible study is written with inspiration and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, Scripture from the Holy Bible (NIV), NKJV Life Application Study Bible, analytical support and help in organizing and presentation from Grok AI and writing assistance with drafting and editing from Microsoft Co-Pilot.
Beginning Prayer for Bible Study
Heavenly Father, Thank You for gathering us to study Your Word. As we open the Scriptures, we ask for open hearts and minds. Help us to see Your power, justice, and mercy in the story of Exodus. Teach us to trust Your sovereignty, to obey Your guidance, and to remain humble and responsive to Your voice. Remove any stubbornness or resistance within us, and give us a spirit that is teachable and willing to change. May Your Holy Spirit guide our thoughts, deepen our understanding, and draw us closer to You. Let this time of study strengthen our faith, encourage our obedience, and reveal Your purpose in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Exodus 7
1So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to 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 will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My 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 out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
6Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did. 7And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.
Aaron’s Miraculous Rod
8Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ” 10So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.
The First Plague: Waters Become Blood
14So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. 15Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. 16And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear! 17Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. 18And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.” ’ ”
19Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’ ” 20And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck 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. 21The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. 23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this. 24So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river. 25And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river.
Exodus 8
The Second Plague: Frogs
1And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. 3So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. 4And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.” ’ ”
5Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’ ” 6So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”
9And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”
10So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”
12Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. 13So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. 14They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.
The Third Plague: Lice
16So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” 17And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.
The Fourth Plague: Flies
20And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. 23I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ ” 24And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.
25Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”
26And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? 27We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He will command us.”
28So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”
29Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”
30So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. 31And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. 32But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.
Exodus 9
The Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased
1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, 3behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. 4And the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ” 5Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”
6So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. 7Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.
The Sixth Plague: Boils
8So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. 9And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. 11And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
The Seventh Plague: Hail
13Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, 14for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. 15Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. 16But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. 17As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. 18Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. 19Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.” ’ ”
20He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. 21But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field.
22Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
27And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. 28Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
29So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. 30But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.”
31Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. 32But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops.
33So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.
Exodus 7-9 NKJV: Key Highlights
Exodus 7: Moses Before Pharaoh and the First Plague
God tells Moses, “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.”
Moses and Aaron are commanded to speak to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites.
God warns that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened, leading to the display of signs and wonders.
Aaron’s rod becomes a serpent before Pharaoh, but Egyptian magicians replicate the miracle. Aaron’s rod swallows theirs.
The first plague: Waters of Egypt are turned to blood, killing fish and making the river undrinkable. Pharaoh’s heart remains hard.
Exodus 8: Plagues of Frogs, Lice, and Flies
Second plague: Frogs cover Egypt. Pharaoh pleads for relief, but reneges after the frogs are removed.
Third plague: Lice infest people and animals. Egyptian magicians fail to replicate this plague and declare, “This is the finger of God.”
Fourth plague: Swarms of flies invade Egypt, but the land of Goshen (where Israelites live) is spared. Pharaoh again promises release but does not follow through.
Exodus 9: Plagues of Livestock, Boils, and Hail
Fifth plague: Egyptian livestock die, but Israelite livestock remain unharmed.
Sixth plague: Boils break out on Egyptians and their animals.
Seventh plague: Hail devastates Egypt, destroying crops and livestock in the fields. Pharaoh admits his sin but again hardens his heart after the plague ends.
The Message of Exodus 7–9
1. God’s Sovereignty and Power
These chapters repeatedly show that God is sovereign over all creation—including rulers, nature, and nations. God demonstrates His power through miraculous signs and plagues, making it clear that no earthly authority, including Pharaoh, can stand against Him. The plagues are not random acts; they are purposeful signs to reveal God’s supremacy and to show both the Egyptians and Israelites that He alone is the Lord.
2. The Importance of Obedience
Moses and Aaron obey God’s commands, even when facing resistance and danger. Their faithfulness is contrasted with Pharaoh’s stubbornness. The message here is that obedience to God, even when it’s difficult or unpopular, is essential for experiencing His deliverance and blessing.
3. The Consequences of Hardness of Heart
Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to listen and his hardened heart lead to increasing suffering for himself and his people. The text warns against ignoring God’s voice and resisting His will, showing that such stubbornness can result in escalating consequences.
4. God’s Justice and Mercy
While God brings judgment on Egypt through the plagues, He also shows mercy—He spares the Israelites from many of the disasters, and He gives Pharaoh multiple opportunities to repent. This reveals God’s character: He is just, but also patient and merciful, desiring repentance rather than destruction.
5. God’s Purpose in Trials
God explains that the plagues and Pharaoh’s resistance serve a greater purpose: “that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Trials and challenges are sometimes allowed so that God’s power and glory can be revealed, and so that people may come to know Him.
In summary: The message God wants you to know from Exodus 7–9 is that He is all-powerful, just, and merciful. He calls you to trust and obey Him, warns against hardening your heart, and assures you that even difficult circumstances can serve a greater purpose in revealing His glory and bringing about deliverance.
Applying the Lessons to Your Life
1. Trust God’s Sovereignty
Recognize that God is in control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. When facing challenges, remind yourself that God’s power and purpose are greater than any earthly obstacle.
2. Practice Obedience
Like Moses and Aaron, choose to obey God’s guidance, even when it’s difficult or unpopular. This may mean following your conscience, standing up for what’s right, or making decisions that honor God’s will.
3. Guard Against Hardness of Heart
Stay open to God’s voice and correction. Reflect regularly on your attitudes and actions, and be willing to repent when you recognize stubbornness or resistance in yourself.
4. Seek God’s Mercy and Justice
Remember that God is both just and merciful. Extend forgiveness and compassion to others, and seek reconciliation where there is conflict. Trust that God desires repentance and restoration, not destruction.
5. Find Purpose in Trials
When you encounter difficulties, ask God to reveal His purpose and to use your situation for His glory. Pray for strength and wisdom to endure, knowing that trials can deepen your faith and reveal God’s character.
6. Deepen Your Prayer Life
The Book Learning to Pray in 28 days (This will be available in the bookstore when we open, I have one copy available now to check out) encourages you to approach God confidently, pray according to His will, and seek His guidance daily. Use prayer as a way to align your heart with God’s purposes and to find peace and direction in every circumstance.
Practical Steps:
Set aside time each day to pray and reflect on God’s Word.
Journal your thoughts, prayers, and experiences as you seek to obey and trust God.
When facing a decision or challenge, ask yourself: “How can I honor God in this situation?”
Stay connected to a faith community for encouragement and accountability.
What Does It Mean to Harden the Heart?
Biblically, to “harden the heart” means to become stubborn, resistant, or closed off to God’s guidance, correction, or truth. In Exodus 7–9, Pharaoh repeatedly hardens his heart by refusing to listen to God’s commands through Moses and Aaron, even after witnessing miraculous signs and experiencing severe consequences. This stubbornness leads to escalating suffering for himself and his people.
Key Aspects of a Hardened Heart:
Refusal to Listen: Ignoring God’s voice, warnings, or invitations to change.
Stubbornness: Persisting in one’s own way, even when it’s clear that change is needed.
Resistance to Correction: Rejecting opportunities to repent or turn back to God.
Emotional Numbness: Sometimes, a hardened heart can feel emotionally detached or indifferent, not just toward God but also toward others. This can be a spiritual or psychological defense against pain, disappointment, or conviction.
Spiritual Consequences:
Escalating Consequences: Just as Pharaoh’s stubbornness led to more severe plagues, hardening your heart can result in increasing difficulties or missed opportunities for growth and healing.
Distance from God: A hardened heart makes it harder to experience God’s presence, peace, and guidance.
Missed Mercy: God is patient and merciful, but persistent resistance can mean missing out on His restoration and blessings.
In practical terms, hardening your heart means closing yourself off to change, refusing to admit when you’re wrong, or ignoring the gentle nudges of conscience and faith. The antidote is humility, openness, and a willingness to listen and respond to God’s voice—even when it’s uncomfortable.
How to Soften Your Heart
1. Practice Humility and Openness
Regularly ask God to reveal areas where you may be resistant or stubborn.
Be willing to admit when you’re wrong or need to change direction.
Approach God and others with a teachable spirit, ready to listen and learn.
2. Reflect and Repent
Set aside time for honest self-examination. Ask yourself: “Am I ignoring God’s guidance or the wise counsel of others?”
When you recognize resistance, confess it to God and ask for a renewed, responsive heart.
Repentance is not just feeling sorry, but choosing to turn toward God’s way.
3. Stay Sensitive to God’s Voice
Read Scripture and pray regularly, inviting God to speak to you.
Pay attention to moments when you feel convicted, uncomfortable, or challenged—these can be gentle nudges from God to grow or change.
Journaling your thoughts and prayers can help you notice patterns of resistance or openness.
4. Seek Accountability and Community
Share your spiritual journey with trusted friends or a faith community who can encourage you and lovingly point out blind spots.
Be open to feedback and correction from others.
5. Respond Promptly to Conviction
When you sense God prompting you to act, forgive, or change, respond quickly rather than delaying.
Delayed obedience can lead to a gradual hardening of the heart.
Recognizing Signs of Spiritual Resistance
Ignoring God’s voice or Scripture
Persisting in known wrong attitudes or actions
Feeling emotionally numb or indifferent toward spiritual matters
Resisting correction or feedback from others
Rationalizing or justifying stubbornness
In summary: Softening your heart is an ongoing process of humility, openness, and responsiveness to God. It means being willing to listen, change, and grow—even when it’s uncomfortable. Regular reflection, prayer, and community support are key to staying spiritually sensitive and avoiding the pitfalls of a hardened heart.
The Most Important Message from Exodus 7–9
God is sovereign, powerful, just, and merciful. These chapters show that God is in control over all creation, rulers, and circumstances. Through the plagues, God demonstrates His supremacy and makes it clear that no earthly authority, including Pharaoh, can stand against Him. The plagues are purposeful signs to reveal God’s power and to teach both the Egyptians and Israelites that He alone is the Lord.
Obedience to God is essential. Moses and Aaron’s faithfulness in obeying God’s commands—even when facing resistance—contrasts with Pharaoh’s stubbornness. The message is that obedience, even when difficult, is necessary for experiencing God’s deliverance and blessing.
Beware the consequences of a hardened heart. Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to listen and his hardened heart lead to increasing suffering for himself and his people. The text warns against ignoring God’s voice and resisting His will, showing that stubbornness can result in escalating consequences.
God’s justice is balanced by mercy. God brings judgment on Egypt but also shows mercy—He spares the Israelites from many disasters and gives Pharaoh multiple opportunities to repent. God desires repentance and restoration, not destruction.
Trials serve a greater purpose. God explains that the plagues and Pharaoh’s resistance serve a higher purpose: “that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Difficult circumstances can reveal God’s glory and bring about deliverance.
Key Takeaway
Trust and obey God, remain open and humble, and remember that even in trials, God’s power, justice, and mercy are at work for a greater purpose.
If you notice I didn’t do any study questions this time. I want to reflect on hardness of the heart and how to soften the heart. I find myself reflecting messages I receive from others off my ears because I don’t want to be preached to . Reason is because I was preached to all my life by a mother who only preached what she thought was the Bibles lessons on what she was calling punishment as God’s punishment for us. She used the verses all the time like “spare the rod, spoil the child.” “children will turn against their parents” and she wasn’t going to let that happen. She thought we were turning against her like the Bible taught so we got beat even more to keep us in line. So yes, I guess you can say I have a hardened heart still to this day when someone tries to preach to me about what I am doing wrong. I need to learn to soften my heart. So I am going to spend my time reflecting and learning on how to soften my heart. You all have a great day and my God lead you where you need to be. See you tomorrow for Exodus Chapters 10 - 12.
