Exodus 6-11 // Matthew 19-20

God's sovereign reign over hearts flows through all eight chapters!

Exodus 6 reveals that God will use Moses and Aaron to free Israel from Pharaoh's bondage, as He promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Interestingly, the fathers of Israel originally reject Moses, and Moses wonders how he will be effective with Pharaoh. However, God tells him that it will be by compulsion (originally resistance until broken.)

Exodus 7 shows Pharaoh's rejection of God even after the staff and the bloody Nile. In fact, his heart is so hardened to God that he would prefer his own magicians offer the same curses simply for the sake of making his point.

Exodus 8 presents the frogs, which his own magicians again duplicate. Next come the gnats, which his magicians could not reproduce and beg Pharaoh to fix through Moses. Next come the insects, which seems to bring a softening from Pharaoh, originally telling Moses to go and worship, but to stay in the land.

Exodus 9 presents the death of the livestock, however we see God making a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. God also brings the boils, but reminds Pharaoh that it is only by His grace that the Egyptians still live. However, this grace does not turn him to repent. Again, we see the hail come, but not to the Israelites. We also see some Egyptians spared from greater instruction if they were willing to heed the word of Moses and Aaron. Moses is able to see that Pharaoh still does not have a broken heart (possibly visible by his constant attempts to bargain with God.)

Exodus 10 brings the locusts and Pharaoh's bargain that only the men can go and worship. The plague of darkness follows except that it does not effect the Hebrews.

Exodus 11 presents the treat of the plague of the first born and the said statement that Pharaoh still will not listen to this threat.

Matthew 19 immediately speaks to the hardness of the men's hearts in wanting divorce. I'm not sure I ever saw the connection of the hardness of Pharaoh's heart and the hardness of the Israelites' hearts before. But is seems pretty clear to be the same thing. The rich young ruler also exhibits such a hardness in his heart, believing himself to be righteous. Jesus reminds the disciples that the turning of the Lord's heart is the Lord's work alone.

Matthew 20 presents hardened hearts of men who receive what the agreed to receiving, yet are embittered because others receive the same. Jesus also knows how He will be received by those in Jerusalem for He gives quite a detailed description of His death to come.

Just like with Pharaoh, God will use the rejection of Jesus in Jerusalem to declare to the nations that the LORD is God. He is consumed with His glory and rejection and repentance will bring about the magnification of His name!